On Friday, August 22, business and community leaders gathered at The Great Hall and Conference Center in Germantown, Tennessee, for a powerful morning of connection, inspiration, and generosity.
Hosted by Smith+Nephew as part of the cityCURRENT Signature Speaker Series, the event featured keynote speaker Ben Utecht – Super Bowl champion, author, and culture strategist – who delivered a presentation focused on how leaders can be intentional to build and practice strong organizational cultures to benefit their teams and drive increased performance.
Ben drew on lessons learned playing under NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, reminding us that lasting impact is built when leaders prioritize trust, accountability, and purpose. His message resonated deeply with the hundreds of executives, partners, and other attendees, setting the tone for a morning that embodied the very best of what happens when business and community come together.
One of the morning’s most memorable moments came when Ben announced he would donate $10,000 of his honorarium to support Samaritan’s Feet and their upcoming shoe distribution in Memphis. His generosity sparked an immediate chain reaction: Todd Lochner of Principle Toyota matched the $10,000 gift, and Alan Phelps of Phelps Security added another contribution on top. Together, these commitments will provide new shoes and hope to children and families in need this December.
This act of giving honored Samaritan’s Feet co-founders Manny and Tracie Ohonme, who were also present, and reflected the long-standing relationship between cityCURRENT, Smith+Nephew, and Samaritan’s Feet – one that has brought thousands of shoes to children across Memphis, Nashville, and beyond over the last 15 years.
During the breakfast, we also officially welcomed Wilson Public Relations as a new corporate cityCURRENT partner. CEO Beth Wilson and her team have already been instrumental in helping cityCURRENT amplify the voices of fellow partners such as Volunteer Odyssey, and their expertise promises to strengthen OUR efforts in the months and years ahead.
In addition, we were thrilled to host a group of student leaders from Houston High School, whose presence underscored the importance of engaging the next generation in conversations around leadership, service, and community impact.
Of course, attendees enjoyed networking, updates on upcoming events, and capturing memories through photos by Creation Studios.
For those who missed the event, or want to relive the inspiration, the recording of Ben Utecht’s keynote is available to cityCURRENT corporate partner team members and GROWTHcurrent subscribers. Access includes this session and a growing archive of past speaker presentations.
As always, cityCURRENT remains committed to creating opportunities where leaders can connect with purpose, collaborate across sectors, and power the GOOD together.
We extend our deepest thanks to Smith+Nephew, Ben Utecht, our generous corporate partners, and everyone who joined us for making this event one to remember.
Because every connection counts. And when we come together, we rise.