The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce has named Jim and the late Doris Demos as the 2011 Business Legends of the Year, and will honor them at the Chamber’s annual Business at its Best celebration on Friday, Feb. 3, at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center.

Originally from Alabama, Jim and Doris Demos settled in Murfreesboro in 1989 after an extended business career that took Jim to cities throughout the South. Since the restaurant business ran deep in Jim’s family, he and Doris opened Demos’ in 1989, establishing a landmark on the Murfreesboro landscape.

The restaurant has garnered exceptional reviews since its opening and has been the recipient of countless awards for restaurant food and service excellence, including the 2009 Legends Award from the Daily News Journal and the 2010 Talk of the Town Award for outstanding customer service. The founders were also honored as the Chamber’s Business People of the Year in 2009.

Since its founding, the restaurant concept has grown to five locations in Tennessee and Alabama, all delivering authentic family recipes at an authentic family value.  The Demos opened Nashville in 1992, Lebanon in 2001, Hendersonville in 2005 and Florence, Ala., in 2009.

Both Jim and Doris came from humble beginnings. At the age of nine, Jim began working with his father, Pete Demos, a Greek immigrant who owned a small restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. Doris grew up as a sharecropper’s daughter in Alabama and Georgia and met Jim when he was working in the movie theater business.

A few years after their marriage, Jim began his restaurant business, eventually building and operating eight Western Sizzlin’ restaurants and a commissary in the Nashville area. He sold the operation in 1989 to open Demos’.

Jim has managed the operations at Demos’ and Doris handled the customer service. They implemented techniques, particularly on the customer service side, that were innovative for the industry. The couple has also been actively involved in community programs, as long-time supporters of the Child Advocacy Center,  Habitat for Humanity, through both its Whittlemania and Doris Dollars programs,  and other organizations focused on families and youth. Doris was also honored with a Center of Influence Award from the Tennessee National Guard’s 269th Military Police unit based in Murfreesboro for her support of soldiers and their families.

Doris, who passed away in December of 2010, and Jim have two children, both involved in the restaurant; Peter, who serves as president and Felicia who manages the financial aspect of the business.
The Business at its Best reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are $60 for Chamber members and $80 for non-members. To reserve your seat, please contact the Chamber at 615-893-6556 or visit www.rutherfordchamber.org.

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce has named former First Tennessee Bank president Charlie Myatt as the 2010 Business Legend of the Year. Myatt will be honored at the Chamber’s “Business at Its Best – 2011 Celebration” Friday, February 4 at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center.

“Charlie Myatt is truly deserving of this honor,” said Chamber president Paul Latture. “His renowned banking career combined with his many years of community service makes him the epitome of a business legend.”

A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Myatt received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Middle Tennessee State University. He returned to Chattanooga to begin his banking career with First Tennessee Bank.

Myatt served in numerous positions with First Tennessee before becoming the Regional President in 1988 and returning to Murfreesboro.

Throughout his career, he maintained a constant connection with MTSU serving on numerous boards and committees including past president of the Blue Raider Athletic Association; MTSU Presidents Advisory Committee, Chairman of the MTSU Miller Trust Association; MTSU Foundation President and past Board Member, and President of the MTSU Rutherford County Alumni Association. In 2000, he was named a MTSU “Distinguished Alumni” and the Blue Raider Athletic Association “Business Person of the Year.

In addition, he served as chairman for the Chamber and chairman for the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Commission. He is a past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County; board member of the Guidance Center; board member of Main Street; and board member and treasurer of Leadership Rutherford.

He is an active member, deacon, and past chairman of the budget and finance committee at First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.

Myatt has received numerous awards over the years. He was named Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce “Business Person of the Year; The Daily News Journal-SunTrust Bank “Humanitarian of the Year;” Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Foundation International; and State of Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association “Four Star Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation.”

He and his wife Judy, have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Reservations for the Chamber’s Business at Its Best celebration are $60 members and $80 non-members. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. To reserve your seat, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (615) 893-6565.