06/18/2026
What a wonderful morning at the Hardeman County Chamber's Men in Business Breakfast!
We were honored to welcome the one and only Mr. Joe Barker with Southwest Tennessee Development District, who shared valuable insight on the passion, perseverance, and drive it takes to sustain and grow a successful business.
We also took time to recognize outstanding Chamber members who continue to make a positive impact in our community. Congratulations to John Kirk of Hardeman-Fayette Utility District, our Men's Man of the Year, selected by public vote! Although he was unable to attend, we are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.
In addition, we recognized Tony Kirk, CEO of Bolivar Energy Authority, as our POWERhouse Platinum Member. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support Mr. Tony and the entire BEA team provide to our Chamber and community.
One of the highlights of the morning was seeing a room full of men from all industries and backgrounds gathered under one roof, networking, building relationships, sharing experiences, and supporting one another. It has been a long time since we've seen this level of engagement, and it was truly inspiring.
A special thank you goes to our sponsors who helped bring this vision to life:
• Bolivar Energy Authority
• CB&S Bank
• Jackson State Community College
• Hooves, Hounds & Hairballs
• Simon's Restaurant for the delicious breakfast and for graciously serving as our venue.
As many of you know, I'm a lady of few words, but today meant a lot to me personally. Seeing men step away from their businesses—some for the first time in years—to connect with one another reminded me why the Chamber's work is so important.
Thank you to our members for your continued support, trust, and involvement. Please continue to watch for Chamber events, opportunities, and programs. We invite you to get involved, make connections, and become part of our Chamber family.
It was truly a beautiful morning in Hardeman County, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event!
Your Chamber Director,
Vickie Walton