Williamson County business icon Nancy Conway honored with Sage Award
Williamson Herald
By Kerri Bartlett • Managing Editor
Well-respected Williamson County business and service icon, Nancy Conway, was awarded today with a Sage Award from the Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee because of her life-long contributions to Williamson County.
Williamson County leaders attended the 26th Annual COA Sage Awards luncheon in Conway’s honor Monday, including staff members of Williamson Inc. chamber, Williamson County Chief of Staff Diane Giddens, Mindy Tate Executive Director of Franklin Tomorrow, financial businessman Dave Crouch, local media outlets as well as others. Also honored at the luncheon were four other Sage Award winners from Middle Tennessee.
Hertha Hines, Director of Community Relations at NHC Place, nominated Conway, her mentor, because of her positive impact on Williamson County throughout her business career and service to the community in various areas. Conway strengthened the business community in Williamson County by serving for 30 years as President & CEO of the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce before it merged with other area chambers to form Williamson Inc.
Hines, who has known Conway since 1995, also called her a “rare jewel” and “an inspiration.”
“She has not quit yet,” Hines said. “She has become the energizer bunny. If you want to know what’s going on in the county or who you can meet, you need to call Nancy.”
“In addition to her leadership skills, Nancy is very compassionate and has a big heart for nonprofits.”
“It was my pleasure to see Nancy be recognized for the Sage Award given by the Council on Aging,” supporter Giddens said.
“As a life-long resident, there is none better than Nancy Conway as a steadfast pillar of our community. Without second thoughts, she has never failed to lend a helping hand, make a phone call or serve others when she was made aware of any needs. Williamson County and friends alike have been well served by her kindness, selflessness and community spirit shared with others.”
In keeping with Giddens’ sentiments, Conway attributed her success to others, when accepting her award.
“It’s not just one person. It takes a lot of people … to maintain the high quality of life in Williamson County,” Conway said.
“Nancy Conway has played and continues to play a significant role in Williamson County’s economy,” attendee Williamson Inc. President & CEO Matt Largen said following the event.
“Through her tireless work as president of the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Nancy was instrumental in laying the foundation for the economic success we enjoy today. She continues to serve our community as an excellent ambassador, and I feel very fortunate to have her as part of our team.”
Nancy Conway holds her Sage Award from the Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee. By Cassie Jones
Conway, who now serves as Williamson Inc. senior vice president of community relations, also serves on the board of Columbia State Community College, Franklin Tomorrow, Franklin’s Charge, The Carter House, Battle of Franklin Trust, Williamson Medical Center Foundation, Advisory Board of NHC Place. She is a founding member and graduate of Leadership Middle Tennessee, serves the Natchez Trace Parkway Association and sings in her church choir.
Conway has served on Natchez Trace Parkway Association, in which she is “very passionate,” since the mid-1980s and has been integral in preserving the park system and forming Timberland Park in Fairview.
Conway later told the Herald that being involved in the national park system and helping to bring Columbia State Community College to Williamson County are some of her greatest accomplishments.
“We are fortunate to have the Trace,” Conway said.
“It is unique and different. It is vital to this community and to tourism. We have so many visitors, even from foreign countries, who travel and visit the trace, a large portion of which comes through Williamson County.”
Conway said the presence of a college, or educational institution, is vital to a community.
“I first noticed in the mid-1980s that we had many people, who wanted to go to nursing school to get a RN degree. They could go out of the county but could not go here,” Conway said.
“I felt like it was so important.”
Conway said she also noticed that many people yearned to become educators, wanted to learn more job skills, and that the business community wanted educated workers with a degree.
“I realized that no community can grow and do what it needs to do to prepare for the future, when they don’t have a college that offers those courses,” Conway said.
Most recently, Conway has been instrumental in developing the COA’s Discover Franklin program, which is being transitioned into Williamson County Parks and Recreation under the new name of “Discover Williamson.” The new program is designed for seniors age 55 and over, which will offer opportunities for seniors to move and exercise, volunteer in the community in a meaningful way and learn about local government through educational opportunities as ways to give back. The program will be unveiled by the WCPR in spring or fall of 2018.
Conway, a graduate of University of Georgia Institute of Mangement School, said over her years of experience in business, leadership and community development, integrity in leadership style and the people she has worked with are most important.
“Be fair, be honest, and uphold the integrity that your leadership position deserves,” Conway told the Herald. “You can make it what you want it to be.”
“Don’t take credit for your something yourself because, most likely, it took a lot of people to make it happen.”