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John Lowry named one of Williamson's most influential people

Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 | 

John Lowry, vice president for external affairs and executive director of Spark, has been named one of 31 notable and influential people in Tennessee’s fast-growing Williamson County by the Nashville Business Journal for the second consecutive year.

John LowryLowry was recognized with a Nashville Business Journal Williamson County Impact Award at a luncheon Friday, May 2 and was featured in a special section of the Nashville Business Journal.

“This recognition reflects the impact that Spark and Lipscomb University continues to have on Williamson County as we service this community,” said Lowry. “It is a testimony to many faculty, staff and administrators at Lipscomb University who have embraced Williamson County and those in Williamson County who have embraced Lipscomb University.”

Among other honorees were Darrell Waltrip, owner and president, The Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group; Jim Wright, former CEO, Tractor Supply Company; Dan Crockett, president and CEO, Franklin Mortgage Company; Mike Wells, CEO, Jackson National Life Insurance Company; Mark Cleveland, CEO, Swiftwick; Bill Lee, owner, Lee Co; and Lynda Stone, owner, Puffy Muffin.

“The Impact Awards honors the leaders, community supporters, business owners and developers who are having the greatest impact on the economy and communities of Middle Tennessee,” Alison Nash, Nashville Business Journal associate editor, wrote in the special section, included in the May 2 edition.

Nominations for the recognition came from the public and Nashville Business Journal staff. From those nominations, 60 eligible nominees were identified. Nominees were then asked to vote on each other.

Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the United States, Williamson County is home to more than 185,000 people and more than 6,000 companies, including dozens of corporate headquarters.

Spark is an in-demand destination for corporate meetings because of the flexibility of its meeting space, the technology, custom-branding capability and customer service, among other features. Since its opening in November 2012, Spark has had more than 5,000 people utilize its space and services. It is home to more than 142 graduate students enrolled across seven academic programs, including graduate programs in business, technology, education, and counseling, making Lipscomb the most comprehensive graduate education provider in Williamson County. For more information visit spark.lipscomb.edu.

In addition to leading Spark, Lowry also leads Lipscomb University’s initiative to have a greater impact in the Nashville community and to advance neighborhood relations among other initiatives. Lowry joined the Lipscomb faculty in 2009 as assistant dean for executive education and assistant professor of management. He launched the university’s School of Executive Education and the Certificate in Accountancy Program, an accelerated accounting education program.

He has a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, a master’s degree from Abilene Christian University and a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. Lowry also has completed graduate work in dispute resolution at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and in public policy at California State University, Sacramento.

A member of the Leadership Brentwood Class of 2012, Lowry was selected to represent Lipscomb University on the 2013 Nashville Health Care Council/Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Health Care Trade Mission to France hosted by former U.S. Senator Bill Frist. He was also part of the 2009 Tennessee China Trade Mission hosted by then-Governor Phil Bredesen.

Lowry is on the board of the Blakeford at Green Hills and is on the founding board for the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a featured higher education columnist for the Tennessean.