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.

Murfreesboro, TN – Vibrant. Thriving. Dynamic. These are three words that describe the business community of Rutherford County, and now a new logo helps communicate those characteristics to the world.

“A logo is something that offers a first impression of an organization,” said Chamber President Paul Latture. “We’ve had our previous logo for over 14 years, and it just wasn’t representative of our organization anymore. Our new logo is clean, professional and offers a fresh perspective in marketing Rutherford County.”

Surveys were conducted with Chamber members and key stakeholders, and the feedback received was crucial in helping shape what the new image would look like. The new logo will now be used in all printed and online Chamber materials.

“Branding is crucial in the competitive world of economic development,” said Latture. “We are excited to offer this new brand as we continue our efforts in recruiting new businesses, creating new jobs and diversifying our economic base in Rutherford County.”

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce seeks to promote economic development and a quality of life to benefit all residents of Rutherford County. Programs, events and services are offered to both members and non-members. The Chamber operates out of a main office on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro, and branch offices in Smyrna and La Vergne. Learn more at www.rutherfordchamber.org.

State Farm has made a contribution of $25,000 to Destination Rutherford 2015, a Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce program to attract more high-paying jobs and help grow existing businesses in Rutherford County.

In the attached photo, State Farm Vice President of Operations Jeff Shay (left) presents the check to Destination Rutherford 2015 Campaign Chair Bill Jones, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chairman Gordon Ferguson and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce President Paul Latture.

Since its inception in 2002, Destination Rutherford has been the leader in economic development in Rutherford County. The Destination Rutherford 2015 Campaign, Innovating Our Economic Future, maintains that leadership by continuing to focus on increased tourism and new business attraction, retention and expansion, while embarking on a critical assessment of our current and future workforce needs.

For more information, please visit the Economic Development section of www.rutherfordchamber.org.

The Gateway Village sponsored by Swanson Companies will host the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours monthly event this evening from 5-7 p.m.

The unique, multi-purpose, green living development is located at 820 North Thompson Lane.

Cost for the event is $5 for chamber members, $10 for non members.

Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's Capitol Connection Breakfast will be held March 11 at the Chamber Building located at 3050 Medical Center Pkwy from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.