Former Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Vaughn has been named president of the Nashville-based Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce (TNCCC).
During his tenure at the Rutherford chamber from 1986-97, membership grew from 400 to a thousand, and the annual budget increased from $80,000 to more than $750,000. He also was instrumental in helping raise $1.2 million for construction of the chamber building on Memorial Blvd., recruiting new companies to the area and starting the first Convention & Visitors Bureau to help promote tourism.
“It is my honor and privilege to announce the hiring of Ralph Vaughn as president of the Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce. Ralph has a vast history of business success and brings with him an incredible ability to develop and grow chambers of commerce, as well as other organizations,” said TNCCC Board Chairman Bob Gerard.
“However, the most important quality about Ralph is his heart for bringing ministry to the workplace. This aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to where God is taking this organization,” he added.
Most recently, Vaughn handled special projects for Barrett Firearms Manufacturing in Murfreesboro, which included seeking branding and licensing partnerships with manufacturers; serving as publicist and overseeing community, charitable and political programs on behalf of the company; and managing the Barrett real estate development.
Prior to that he served as president and CEO of the Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce in Georgia; CEO of Swanson Developments, a multi-million dollar real estate and property management company in Murfreesboro; and in various news and management positions for two Tennessee radio stations and for the DeKalb Star newspaper in Smithville, Tenn.
In addition to his new role at TNCCC, Vaughn is volunteer president of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, an organization dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the legacy of radio in the state.
“As Christians, we are to honor the Lord in all that we do, especially in the work world. The Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce is a wonderful opportunity for us to do exactly that,” Vaughn said.
The Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce is a faith-based organization whose mission is to advance the common business interest of its members. Established in January 2008, TNCCC’s purpose is to transform the economic and spiritual climate of the community by invoking the principles of faith at work. More than 300 companies, organizations and individuals are members.
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