One of the city’s biggest awards ceremonies is scheduled for October 24th to honor the entrepreneurs and urban legends of Central Tennessee.

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) announced new inductees welcomed to the Entrepreneur’s Hall of Fame. The individual will be officially recognized on October 24th at the 2022 NEXT Awards, which will take place inside the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This year’s classes include:

• Andre Prince: Prince is the owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken, the legendary Nashville hot chicken shack her family founded and has been serving Nashville for nearly a century. Since taking over her management from her uncle in 1980, Prince has transformed her one of Nashville’s historic restaurants into a must-see destination in Tennessee for all locals and visitors alike. . Under her leadership, Prince’s Hot Chicken is now a coveted recipe around the world.
• Amy Kurland: Born in Oklahoma and raised in Nashville to parents who were both music and theater trained, Kurland embarked on a culinary journey and founded Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe in 1982. did. Four decades later, she’s one of Nashville’s most popular outlets for talented songwriters and artists to release new songs and gain new fans. A globally recognized place for songwriters to share stories and perform original songs, the café welcomes more than 70,000 guests annually. In 2008, Amy transferred ownership of Bluebird to Nashville Songwriters Association International. She now volunteers in voter recovery, helping people with felony records regain their voting rights, and serves on the board of the 202 Friendship House, helping alcoholics find meaningful and lasting sobriety. is helping
• Mike Schmerling: A native of Nashville, Schmerling began his accounting career in 1977 at the Nashville office of Ernst & Ernst CPAs. After his 17 successful years in public accounting, he dived into entrepreneurship and founded or co-founded 11 businesses, four of which were eventually sold to publicly traded companies. In addition, he participated in the Nashville Regional Chamber of Commerce Partnerships 2010 initiative, eventually creating and launching his EC to serve as a gateway for entrepreneurs looking to set up companies in Nashville. did. Currently, he is the chairman of his private equity firm, Clearbook Holdings Corp. (previously he was known as XMi Holdings, Inc.). Not only did Schmerling founded Abe’s Garden Community, a brain-focused seniors nonprofit, his influence in Nashville extends far beyond his business his ventures. Living health, wellness and purposeful living in honor of his father, he has also served on the boards of 25 non-profit organizations over the last 40 years.
• Steve Turner: Turner is the founder of MarketStreet Equities Company, an investment firm that makes diversified investments in real estate and wetland mitigation conservation. After moving to Nashville from Kentucky in 1986, Turner and his wife Judy quickly became active in civic and cultural initiatives, including an interest in urban renewal. Through Turner’s leadership in urban renewal, MarketStreet Equities has formed his partnership with Nashville, his urban venture, to create The He, one of Nashville’s most vibrant urban neighborhoods known for dining, entertainment and shopping. spearheaded the development of the Gulch.

The Nashville Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame honors individuals who have built long and meaningful careers in Nashville. Past Hall of Fame inductees include influential individuals such as Dolly Parton, Darrell Freeman, Trisha Yearwood, Cordia Harrington, Liatrice McKissack, Phil Bredesen, and John Yabrough.

EC CEO Jane Allen said: Each inductee demonstrates what it means to be a successful entrepreneur, community leader and cultural champion. We can’t wait to celebrate with them what will be a night to remember and invite everyone to join us in this special celebration. ”

The night is supported by major sponsors. Sage: EY; Pathfinder: Dell Technologies, Electronic Arts, Evolution Event Solutions, Nashville Business Journal, Pinnacle Financial Partners. Co-Chairs of this year’s event are Sherry and Mark Deutschmann. Attendees can purchase tickets (only the VIP box balcony remains). Learn more about.

For more information on the Nashville Entrepreneurship Center and its programs, click here.

About Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2010 by business leaders who empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and celebrate the spirit and tenacity of the entrepreneurial community. NEC serves as Nashville’s center of entrepreneurship, empowering visionaries of all backgrounds, industries and stages to connect with critical resources and champion their aspirations to change the world. For more information about NEC, please visit LinkedIn, Facebook, twitterInstagram, and www.EC.co.