Nashville's Entrepreneurs' Organization Recruitment Class is Largest in Chapter's History

Nashville, TN, January 08, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Nashville chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) added 29 new members in 2011, making 2011 the most successful recruitment year in the chapter’s 17-year history – and garnering recognition from EO Global as the second-fastest growing chapter in the world.

EO Nashville’s recruitment success comes on the heels of a banner year in 2010, when the chapter added 19 new members. The chapter currently has 97 members, double the size it was just two years ago.

“Our membership co-chairs Joe Freedman and Michael Burcham worked tirelessly to get the word out about EO Nashville and our peer support system for local entrepreneurs,” said Debbie Gordon, president of EO Nashville and founder of S3 Asset Management and Snappy Auctions. “Our organization has received international recognition and has great momentum heading into 2012. It’s going to be a great year.”

In addition to ranking second globally for percentage growth in 2011, EO Nashville also ranked third for adding the most new members, making the chapter one of the fastest growing in the world. To join EO, an entrepreneur must be a founder, or co-founder and controlling shareholder of a company with gross annual sales exceeding $1 million.

The eight new members of EO Nashville who were added in the fourth quarter of 2011 are:

Darek Bell is a partner of Corsair Distillery, which he started in 2007 with his wife Amy Lee Bell and Andrew Webber. Bell is a graduate of Bruichladdich Distilling Academy in Islay, Scotland. He has authored one book, “Alt Whiskeys: Alternative Whiskey Recipes and Techniques for the Adventurous Distiller,” which published in 2011.

Brian Biesman is director of the Nashville Center for Laser and Facial Surgery where he specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. He also serves as clinical assistant professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and clinical associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis. Biesman is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Mark Deutschmann founded Village Real Estate Services in October 1996. He then formed Core Development Services in 2003, and in 2006 Deutschmann partnered with Wells Fargo to create CityLife Lending Group. He serves as sustainability chair for the Nashville chapter of the Urban Land Institute, and on the boards of Greenways for Nashville and the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors.

Peter Hermann is founder and managing partner of Belmont Software Services, an IT company that provides solutions for enterprise service automation and cloud infrastructure initiatives. His previous experience includes stints at Marimba and BMC Software. He completed his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College and received an MBA from Duke University.

Randy Holland is founder and managing partner of Fitness Holdings, LLC. His personal training business Delta Coaching includes Deltatrac, the first online coaching product that uses an individual’s genetic profile to prescribe a workout program. He previously ran Bullet Recording and earned a Grammy in 1989 for his song “Giving You The Best That I Got” sung by Anita Baker. He is a graduate of Belmont University.

Adam James co-founded Wyndham Group, Inc., a consulting group specializing in enterprise resource planning solutions for the hi-tech and professional services industries. He previously worked as an independent consultant, providing SAP software for Fortune 1000 companies including IBM, Deloitte and Bertelsmann. He earned his master’s in accounting from the University of North Carolina.

Brian Prentice is founder and senior partner of Ingenuity Associates, an IT management consulting firm. With more than 20 years of experience in information technology and business management, Prentice began his career on Wall Street. He later worked for Sony Music Entertainment, HCA and a private medication management company. He attended Fordham University.

Alan Young founded Armor Concepts, LLC, a manufacturer that develops and distributes security and repair products. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Young played football for Vanderbilt and briefly professionally before founding ProQuest Sports Management. Young also previously worked as an investment banker for Banc of America Securities.

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization – for entrepreneurs only – is a dynamic global network of more than 8,000 business owners in 40 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. Membership in one of EO’s 120 chapters is by invitation only; the average member is 41 years old with annual revenues of US$17.3 million. For more information on EO, visit www.eonetwork.org or call 1.703.519.6700.

For more information about EO Nashville, contact Sameera Lowe, executive director, at eo@eonashville.com.

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