CLEVELAND, Tenn. (Jan. 19, 2010)—“I cannot think of anyone who deserves this special award more than Nancy Casson, for she epitomizes the quality of leadership,” said Brenda Abel, president and CEO of United Way of Bradley County.          

Named for the late Robert W. Varnell Jr., the prestigious award recognizes outstanding community leadership. “I have known the Varnell family, and knew Robert, since moving to Cleveland,” Abel said. “I know that he would have been pleased to have Nancy become a recipient of this special award.”

Nancy Casson adequately embodies the principles of the Varnell Award.

“Nancy is a very energetic and self-motivated person with a constant goal of learning, teaching and sharing in ways that inspire those around her,” nominator Flavis Casson said of his wife, friend and business partner. “She is unselfish and gives a great deal of time to her community.”

Casson moved to Bradley County in 1980 and after years as an educator decided that her best means of professional advancement was to enter private business. In 1986 she joined her husband at Casson Art, promoting female entrepreneurs and networking with female buyers and sellers throughout the United States. She found a niche as a source for matching colors and images to different corporate personalities, particularly government projects and hospital artwork, and served as a color coordinator for two mat board companies.

While at Casson Art she was a member of the Professional Picture Framers Association and was awarded a General Service Administration Contract as a supplier for the Federal Government. Casson Art was also approved as a Government Small Business Administration partner.

Casson became the cofounder and vice president of Reliance Furniture, an extension of Casson Art that took lumber from 100-year-old barns to make antique reproduction furniture. She traveled to several museums to find patterns for the reproductions and helped develop a successful business.

In 2005 the Cassons purchased a small white house on Central Avenue and opened The Red Ribbon in November 2005. She ran the gift shop and continued her duties at Casson Art that business was sold in June 2008. She continues at The Red Ribbon full-time.

“Boundless energy” aptly describes the first woman to receive the Varnell Award.

“Nancy is not just a name on a list of volunteers,” Abel pointed out. “She makes a commitment, works her heart out and juggles all the balls at once. She has more energy and dedication to projects that will make a genuine difference in our community than anyone I know.”

Casson, a fervent advocate for the local community, joined the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce as a small business with Casson Art in 1983 and with The Red Ribbon in 2005. She served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors from 1998-2006, serving as a division vice chairman for five years before becoming chairman of the board in 2005 and concluding service in 2006 as immediate past chairman.

Her passion as a Chamber volunteer led “Casson’s Crew” to the top spot for Chamber membership drives in 2000, 2001 and 2002. She currently serves on the Chamber’s Education/Workforce Development Committee and has coordinated several BEST (Business & Education Serving Together) partnerships.

Casson is a charter member of the Chamber’s Allied Arts Council and served as its chairman two years. Under her leadership, the council undertook several community events that have ongoing name recognition in the community—“Chair-ries Jubilee,” which has put nearly $225,000 in the arts programs of local schools, and “Evening Shade,” a series of free family-friendly concerts in Johnston Park every May.

In 2000 she received the Chamber’s prestigious Athena Award, an international program that recognizes an individual for business or professional accomplishments, for community service, and especially for mentoring others and providing a role model to encourage women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Sandy Moore, president of Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region, describes Casson as “one of those rare individuals who can be involved with several projects at once and have successful results from each endeavor.”

Casson has served on the Junior Achievement board for more than 10 years, including service as chairman of the board, vice chairman and fund drive chairman. She currently chairs the JA President’s Council. She has also taught JA classes at the Boys & Girls Club, worked the Breakfast With Santa event, bowled and lane sponsored for the annual JA Bowl-a-thon, and captained the winning Junior Olympic Team for three years.

In 2004 she received the Junior Achievement Leadership Award and in 2008 received the JA Spirit of Achievement Award.

“Her leadership has resulted in a strongly committed and engaged board willing to tackle many obstacles,” Moore noted. “Her commitment has never wavered, from times of limited funds and organizational challenges to good times as a team leader for the Board Olympics and Breakfast With Santa.”

Laughing, Moore added, “Nancy is a strong and vocal leader, and people know she will persist until she gets what she needs—and it always benefits the community.”

That dogged determination has served her well on many fronts, including the United Way of Bradley County. She chaired the board for United Way in 2008 and currently serves as immediate past chairman and chairman of Division 19 for the 2009 campaign.

Other United Way service includes positions as vice chairman (2007), campaign co-chair (2006), division chair for small business (2005) and small business solicitor (2004).

“She has served in almost all of our volunteer positions and has demonstrated her honesty, concern for others, dedication and tireless leadership,” Abel said. “She also has a terrific sense of humor and makes even tedious tasks more fun.”

Casson’s advocacy for the community extends to the development of downtown Cleveland. She joined MainStreet Cleveland as Casson Art when their location was brought into the MainStreet footprint. She served on the board for nine consecutive years in various positions, including membership chair, secretary, vice president and president.

“Nancy feels so strongly about downtown renovation that she wanted her new gift shop to be in the downtown footprint,” Flavis Casson said, adding that The Red Ribbon is now a MainStreet member.

As part of her MainStreet activity, she has worked on the Block Party and the Christmas Parade and has participated in “Carols in the City.”

Casson’s other community leadership activities include membership on SkyRidge Medical Center’s Healthy Woman board and the hospital’s Board of Trustees. She also serves on the Project YOU committee established by Cleveland State Community College Foundation to help non-traditional students and has served on the Bradley/Cleveland Education Foundation board. She was a charter member of the Museum Center at 5ive Points and is a member of the Cleveland Community Concert Association board.

Casson reflects a busy woman’s need for diversity in her community service through her love of music. She devoted 22 years to First United Methodist Church in Sweetwater as choir director and 18 years to the Sweetwater Valley Citizens for the Arts Community Chorus as director. After a two-year break, she returned by invitation as director of the community chorus, which now performs two concerts a year.

“Nancy embodies the spirit of community service,” said the Rev. Reed Shell, senior pastor at Broad Street United Methodist Church.

The Cassons are members of Broad Street, where Nancy sings in the Chancel Choir and the Living Water Praise Chorus and on occasion participates in the handbell choir or directs the choir. She is also a member of the Music and Related Arts Committee, was one of four stewardship chairs for 2009 and serves on the Finance Committee for 2010-12. She is a member of the Triplett Sunday school class.

“I have known Nancy since both our families lived in the same neighborhood in Athens (Tenn.) and attended church together,” Shell said. “Since arriving at Broad Street as one of its pastors, I have been impressed with Nancy’s level of activity both at the church and as a business woman in the Cleveland community. I am convinced that she is deeply committed to the betterment of the city of Cleveland and its citizens.”

And if she doesn’t give enough personally and professionally, she gives financially to the American Heart Association, Civitan Auction, Make-a-Wish Foundation Golf Tournament, Ratterman/Shell Golf Tournament, local school fall and spring festivals, Lee University summer “Hostel” program, COPE breast cancer awareness, and other community organizations.

“Nancy Casson is a blessing to Cleveland and Bradley County,” Moore summarized.

-30-