The purpose of The Society of Entrepreneurs is
to educate and encourage entrepreneurship.

SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERS

The Society of Entrepreneurs has elected five (5) new members to the organization; the new members are Gary Shorb, Methodist LeBonheur HealthCare; Bob McEniry, Jr.,
NexAir; Ronnie Randall, Kele, Inc.; Chip Dudley, Independent Bank and Susan Stephenson, Independent Bank. The new members will be officially inducted into The Society of Entrepreneurs at the 20th Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet, which will be held at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

The Society of Entrepreneurs was formed in 1991 to recognize the historical importance of the contributions of individuals who have over a prolonged period, demonstrated a gift of entrepreneurship and used this gift to not only create or build a successful business but have also used their gift in service to the community.

Gary Shorb
Methodist LeBonheur HealthCare

Since October 2001, Gary Shorb has served as president & CEO of Methodist Healthcare. Shorb joined Methodist in 1990 as executive vice president. Before his tenure with Methodist, he served as president of the Regional Medical Center in Memphis for four years. His community service is extensive, serving on the boards of Memphis Tomorrow, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce – where he served as 2005 Board Chairman – the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, the University of Memphis Board of Visitors, the Foundation of Evangelism, and St. John’s United Methodist Church Administrative Council.

In November 2004, Shorb received the Corporate Leadership Award from Volunteer Memphis’ Corporate Volunteer Council, and in 2005, received the Alexis de Tocqueville leadership award from United Way of the Mid-South. Under Shorb’s leadership, Methodist Healthcare was named a 2004 Corporation of the Year during Minority Enterprise Development Week, an event co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Small Business Administration and locally hosted by the Memphis Business Development Corporation.

On October 25, 2007 at the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Board meeting, Shorb was honored with the Meritorious Service Award by the Tennessee Hospital Association. The award was presented by Craig Becker, president and CEO, THA. The award recognized Shorb for his leadership, inspiration and commitment to the faith-based mission of building a culture of patient care excellence at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.

Prior to his health care career, Shorb was a project engineer with Exxon and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Clemson University and a Master of Business Administration from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis).

Bob McEniry, Jr.
NexAir

Bob McEniry, Sr. grew up in the industrial/medical gases and welding supply business. In 1942, McEniry purchased Standard Welders and sought to make Standard a major player in the welding and Supply industry. In 1963, “Young Bob” McEniry came to work for his father and was appointed President in 1971. Bob McEniry saw the company through tremendous growth, acquisitions, and transitions. Bob implemented an employee succession plan to ensure that all of the company’s leaders would progress through the ranks under the mentorship of a senior executive. This plan resulted in well trained and committed employees with very little turn over. In 1996, two family-owned Memphis-based companies combined operations to form nexAir. By merging Mid-South Oxygen Company and Standard Welders Supply/Standard Oxygen Service, nexAir became the second-largest privately owned distributor of gases and welding supplies in the United States. From 1996 until 2007 (when McEniry passed the reigns to his son, Kevin) McEniry was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Bob remains as nexAir’s Chairman. In their latest fiscal year which ended in September, nexAir had gross revenue of $101.1 million and employed 266 people.

Bob is active in the Memphis community. He is the current Chair of Christian Brothers University’s Board of Trustees, has served as Chairman of the Board of Junior Achievement, on the boards of United Way, MidSouth Minority Business Council, SCB Computer Technology, and the Memphis Chamber of Commerce Advisors. He was inducted in the Christian Brothers High School Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ronnie Randall
Kele, Inc.

Ronnie Randall is the retired president/CEO of Kele, Inc. (formerly Kele & Associates). Ronnie became a partner of Kele & Associates in 1985. Previously, Mr. Randall was a branch sales manager and Vice-President of G. H. Avery Co., where he started as an application engineer during his college years at Memphis State (now the University of Memphis). The idea for Kele was formed many years before Roger Johnson actually opened shop in the den of his house in early 1983. As principals in the G.H. Avery Company, a Mid-South temperature controls contractor, both he and business partner Ronnie Randall had personally experienced the birth of the building automation industry. Roger led the transition from a conventional temperature controls contractor to a building automation specialty firm in the Memphis, TN, area while Ronnie was doing the same in the Nashville area. The idea for a single source supplier that could offer a carefully crafted product selection, innovative product designs and convenient customized service for everything input/output grew into Kele, Inc., the first to offer an all-inclusive package. Kele’s customers embraced the concept and Kele has enjoyed nearly 30 years of continuous growth in both the domestic and international market arenas.

Ronnie is a facilitator of Steven Covey leadership and effectiveness principles. He also has served on the board of the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce, the Bartlett Arts Council, Inc., the Bartlett Performing Arts Center Fundraising Committee, the Bartlett Education Foundation and is vice chair of the Youth Villages Board of Directors and serves on numerous committees.

Chip Dudley and Susan Stephenson
Independent Bank

Chip Dudley and Susan Stephenson are the Co-Founders and Co-Chairmen of Independent Bank in Memphis, Tennessee. Established in 1998, Independent Bank now has over $800 million in total assets and over $100 million in capital. It is the second largest bank headquartered in Shelby County with 10 branches and 180 employees.

Stephenson and Dudley have forged a remarkable and unique synergistic partnership. Both strong leaders in their own right, each believes their partnership is the reason Independent Bank has been so successful. Together they designed and executed the unusual denovo strategy to build and position I-Bank as the next great Memphis based banking organization. This year, Independent Bank was recognized by SNL Financial as one of the top 100 community banks in the United States based on its growth, superior profitability, excellent asset quality and strong capital position.

Prior to starting Independent Bank, Chip Dudley was Chairman, President and CEO of Boatmen’s Bank of Arkansas, the largest bank in the state. He was named to this position after producing extraordinary performance results in the same role for the bank’s Tennessee operation. Susan Stephenson was the Chairman, President and CEO of Boatmen’s Bank of Tennessee. When named to the position in 1995, the 37-year-old Stephenson was the first female Chairman and CEO of a Tennessee bank.

Based on their lifelong commitment to improving the communities where they live and work, both Susan and Chip have served on and led numerous civic organizations in Tennessee and Arkansas. Stephenson is the current Board Chair of the Leadership Academy, a past Chair and member of the Executive Committee and Board of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, Treasurer and Trustee of historic Elmwood Cemetery, a member of the Baptist Women’s Hospital Advisory Board, board member of the University of Memphis LEAD program and was recently elected to the St. Louis Federal Reserve Board. Dudley currently serves as the Board Chair of the Family Safety Center, is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Advancement Chair of Christian Brothers University, serves on the Board of Directors of the National Civil Rights Museum and is Chairman of the Endowment Corporation for the West Tennessee Episcopal Diocese.

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