Skip to Navigation

CPT Proud Co-Sponsor of Dean Institute Leadership and Integrity Award Presentation

Avenue Bank CEO honored with Dean Institute Leadership & Integrity Award
Click link above to view original press release from Lipscomb University website.

Lipscomb University’s Dean Institute for Corporate Governance and Integrity will honor Ron Samuels, chair and CEO of Avenue Bank, as the recipient of the second annual Dean Institute Leadership and Integrity Award at a special event at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, at the downtown branch of the Nashville Public Library.

"(Ron) Samuels has created a new standard of customer service and community involvement in the banking industry through his consistent, personal approach at Avenue Bank," said Turney Stevens, executive director of the Dean Institute and dean of Lipscomb’s College of Business. "As a strong Christian, as well as a businessman, he is just as committed to treating his customers with respect and improving his community as he is to making a profit for his employees and shareholders."

Avenue Bank has been recognized as a leader in concierge banking and local community involvement, creating a level of customer service not usually seen in the banking industry.

This year the Dean Institute has added a new honor: the Business with a Purpose Award, presented to companies who have demonstrated a commitment to mission as well as money-making. The six companies to be honored as Businesses with a Purpose are:

Tickets are still available for the event, which will feature the awarding of Samuels, a full concert by Grammy Award-winning artist Michael W. Smith and a dessert reception. The evening will be hosted by Al Del Greco, former Tennessee Titans place kicker.

Tickets cost $250 per person and can be purchased by calling 615.966.5345.

The Hilton and Sallie Dean Institute for Corporate Governance and Integrity’s Leadership and Integrity Awards recognize the challenges in ethical business practices and innovative ways to overcome them. The event sponsor is the Purcell Institute; the presenting sponsor is the NASBA Center for the Public Trust; and the medallion sponsor is Glover Entertainment.

About The Leadership and Integrity Award winner

Ron Samuels serves as the chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Avenue Bank. He is very active in civic leadership, and served as the chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce 2008-2010. He serves on the boards of the Tennessee Bankers Association, Country Music Foundation, Nashville Alliance for Public Education and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. He was named a Leader in Banking Excellence in 2009 for career and community contributions by the Tennessee Bankers Association.

About the Business with a Purpose winners

Bridgestone Americas has displayed a strong commitment to helping to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations. The company works toward this goal by practicing habitat enhancement, environmental education and research; improving its natural resource conservation through operational improvements and product design; and reducing greenhouse gases emitted during their product’s life cycle.

Cracker Barrel has practiced ongoing support of organizations that provide for the needs of our service people and veterans, through donating proceeds from special products and sponsoring events such as the Charlie Daniels Scholarships for Heroes Tour.

Jackson National Life established the Jackson National Community Fund (JNCF) to provide assistance to children and elderly focused charities, such as The Alzheimer’s Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Boys and Girls Club, Junior Achievement, The March of Dimes and Meals on Wheels.

Lave MD was created by Dr. David Vanderpool to fund Mobile Medical Disaster Relief (MMDR), a nonprofit that exists to meet the needs of the poor and under-served people in the United States and throughout the world. MMDR ministers to the oppressed, serves the medically vulnerable, supports neglected children, provides pure water and enables self-sufficiency through micro-entrepreneurship.

The Nashville Business Journal has worked to advance women in the workplace through its own annual Women of Influence awards program and through sponsorship of CABLE’s annual Board Walk of Fame event, honoring those women who have been appointed to the boards of public companies based in Tennessee.

William Morris Endeavor has worked to improve the local community by matching employee donations, hosting regular volunteer days for employees and supporting charities through sponsorships and patronage. The organization also raised $50,000 for Kingston Springs Elementary School following the Nashville floods.

About the Dean Institute for Corporate Governance and Integrity

The Dean Institute is a national forum for integrating best practices in governance with integrity and faith to benefit public and private company executives, board members and other top-tier corporate leaders. The institute seeks to address the root issues at play, namely, how character and integrity inform the decisions, actions, culture and performance of corporations.