Celebrating Small Businesses Serving the Community
Saturday, August 25, 2018, People Staff Incorporated hosted its 2nd Annual All White Affair. The event will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St, Chattanooga, TN. The event began at 6PM and end at 11:30PM. Pro Logo Depot was the Platinum sponsor for the event. Gold sponsors included ChattanoogaBlackPages.com, Dorothy L. Grisham Allstate Agency, Roots Hair and Beauty, Prestige Cars (Greg Toney),WNOO Radio, Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga, Key Bonding Company, Mike Jones, Franklin Funeral Home, Gerald Jordan, Herman’s Soul Food and Catering, MRM Wireless, Sports Profiles USA and Uncle Larry’s Restaurant.
The event celebrated small businesses serving the community. Someone once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
The All White Affair will begin with a red carpet at 6:00 PM. Everyone was encouraged to wear “All White”. The event included heavy hors d'oeuvres (carving stations), cash bar and live music.
The live music line up included the following artist:
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Romeo Johnson, Celebrity Vocal Coach was the vocal coach of NBC’s Emmy Award winning “The Voice” Seasons 1 – 4
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Joey Summerville, Trumpeteer, has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists and published multiple songs. He is most known for his songs “Like You Mean It” and School Boy Crush”.
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Sam Sims has played the bass guitar professionally for more than 25 years. He has played with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Gerald Albright, Michael McDonald, Boney James, Dav Koz, a and Maxwell, just to name a few.
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Sonny Emory, Drummer, has over 20 years of live performance and studio work behind Sonny Emory, Sonny maintains a busy schedule in the music industry and is highly regarded in the business. Perhaps best known for his groundbreaking drumming with Earth, Wind, and Fire, he has also performed with a virtual "who's who" in pop and jazz music.
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Rick Watford, lead guitar, has been playing the guitar for over 20 years professionally and has a lengthy list of professional recording credits. Playing with famous artists such as, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Beyonce’, and Ledisi, just to name a few. He has performed on-screen in television and films such as Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Family Reunion”.
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Kipper Jones, our featured singer,
was trained as a session singer at age 15 under the tutelage of Berry Gordy. He has worked with an eclectic, multi-generational group of musicians including Anita Baker, Teddy Pendergrass, Brian McKnight, Teena Marie, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill and Sly Stone.
Kipper has most distinguished himself with his songwriting, which showcases his knack for crafting melodies that stick and lyrics that echo. Writing an indelible song requires more than ingenuity and command of theory—though Kipper has both in spades. What takes a song from good to great is emotional intelligence, and Kipper’s keen observations of life and love have resonated with the likes of Vanessa Williams ("The Right Stuff," "The Comfort Zone"), Brandy (“I Wanna Be Down,” “Brokenhearted,” “Baby,”), Chaka Khan (“Somethin’ Deep”), and Kenny Lattimore (“Never Too Busy”), to name only a few.
The first recipient for the Senior Excellence Award for community service went to Lee Armstrong Clear, President and CEO of WNOO AM 1260 107.3 FM.
In an era where community radio is competing with internet and satellite radio – getting adequate advertising dollars to maintain a station can be challenging; however, Mr. Clear continues to find ways to give free air time 5 days a week for those who otherwise may not be heard.
Our second recipient of the 2018 Community Service and Senior Leadership Excellence Award for community involvement goes to Brother John R. Taylor, Sr.
John Taylor, is the pastor of East Third Street Church of Christ, works in the family business (Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga, Inc.) where he continues to provide comfort to those who have lost a loved one, and has his own community radio program. He has served as a City Councilman. As a City Councilman he fought hard to help push through a grant that started the development of senior homes in Alton Park.
Celebrating Small Businesses Serving the Community
Saturday, August 12, 2017, People Staff Incorporated hosted its 1st Annual All White Affair. The event was held at the Chattanooga Convention Center and celebrated small businesses serving the community. Toyota of Cleveland was the Platinum sponsor for the event. Gold sponsors included ChattanoogaBlackPages.com, Dorothy Grisham Allstate, Eaves Formal Wear, Jammin WJFJ (online radio station), Kids Korner Learning Development Center, Lois Classic Boutique, Roots Hair and Beauty, and The Ware Law Firm.
Someone once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” People Staff Incorporated and many of the area small businesses have worked together on several initiatives. Most recently, People Staff Incorporated – many of the event sponsors and local business owners who attended the All White Affair – purchased tickets for the children and families who were immediately affected by the Woodmore Elementary School bus crash to the Harlem Globetrotters game at McKenzie arena this past January. The response from the school and families could not have been more positive. This and other initiatives have make a difference in the community.
Steven Sawalich said, “Help the life of one person and you can help the community.” Our community service awards winners have been actively involved in joint initiatives, but they also do things on their own to serve the community. Sam Tisdale winner of the 2017 Community Service and Leadership Excellence Award mentors young people, speaks to area youth whenever the opportunity presents itself, gives monetarily to several non-profits, has purchased school supplies, sponsored youth sport trips, donated to the homeless and participated in projects focused on the homeless. In addition, he strives to provide the best customer service you can receive. Sam Tisdale is the owner of Roots Hair and Beauty and he and his staff greet everyone who enters his store with a smile and hello. They are very professional, are knowledgeable about their products and are always helpful, but never overbearing.
Dorothy Grisham, of Dorothy Grisham Allstate Agency is our second recipient of the 2017 Community Service and Leadership Senior Excellence Award. Dorothy Grisham has been in business for more than 40 years. Over the years Dorothy Grisham has given much to the community, especially to area youth, youth initiatives and programs. Dorothy mentors the youth and participates in youth oriented events; she has purchased school supplies and sponsored individuals on sporting events and trips. For the past 14 years she has been actively involved with the Boy Scouts, primarily fund raising for inner city boys’ ages 7 to 18 years old. Her focus is to make sure the boys participate in all of the actives other scouts participate in. In addition, she is on the Foster Care Board. In this role, she goes beyond the average board members participation – once a month she meets with staff members to ensure that the children are getting whatever they need to do well in school – providing tutoring and other opportunities. If you ask Dorothy why she is so passionate and committed to helping Chattanooga area youth, she might tell you that there were several people who took an interest in her when she was a young. Others poured something in her and like them she wants to pour something in others.
Pictured: Sam Tisdale (owner of Roots Hair and Beauty) winner of the 2017 Community Service and Leadership Excellence Award and Gary McClendon (President/CEO, People Staff, Inc.)
Pictured: Dorothy Grisham (Dorothy Grisham Allstate Agency) winner of the 2017 Community Service and Leadership Senior Excellence Award and Gary McClendon (President/CEO, People Staff, Inc.).
