J. William Denny is a community leader with diverse business experience spanning multiple industries. He has worked in real estate, insurance, advertising, banking, radio, television, music, higher education and utilities. Denny was President of Nashville Gas from 1983 until 1998. He served on the board of the parent company, Tennessee Natural Gas Lines, Inc., from 1978 until it was acquired by Piedmont Natural Gas, Inc. in 1985. At that time, he became Corporate Vice President for Tennessee for Piedmont Natural Gas, a position he held until his retirement. Prior to his tenure with Nashville Gas, Denny was President & Chairman of Cedarwood Music Publishing Co, Inc. and owner of Hatch Show Print. Today, Denny is the owner of Denny Properties, a real estate investment firm. He hosts “SCORE on Business,” a television show on Channel 50.

Denny is a recognized leader who has served on countless boards for both community and corporate entities. Currently, he serves on the boards of the Country Music Association, the Salvation Army, Leadership Nashville, Leadership Music, Leadership Middle Tennessee, and the Country Music Foundation (the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum). He is a past board member of the Nashville Thermal Transfer Corp., The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Gas Association, the American Gas Association, the Copyright Society of the South, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, The American Heart Association, Baptist Hospital, Big Brothers of Nashville, Brentwood Academy (founding member), Crimestoppers, and Past Trustee of Brentwood United Methodist Church. Denny has served on the corporate boards of Background America, Nashville Bank and Trust Co., Dominion Bank of Tennessee, First Union Bank of Tennessee, Inc., National Tape and Disc, Inc., and WJAT Radio Inc.

Over the course of years, Denny has significantly contributed to the success of Big Brothers of Nashville, and Big Brothers is pleased to honor him.

Decosta E. Jenkins is a recognized leader in both business and civic endeavors. He is the current President & CEO of Nashville Electric Service (NES), a position he has held since 2004. Jenkins joined NES in 1991; prior to his tenure as CEO Jenkins was Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for NES, the nation’s 12th largest municipally owned electric system. Before joining NES, Jenkins spent 11 years with Deloitte and Touche, where he worked in the audit department with both public and private entities.

A Nashville native, Jenkins earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Tennessee. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Jenkins is a recognized leader in civic organizations, in the Nashville business community, and in local and state politics. In the civic arena, Jenkins currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Samaritan Ministries/Project S.E.E.; he also serves on the boards of the Goodwill Industries, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, the Salvation Army, and the Tennessee Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction. In the business environment, Jenkins serves on the boards of the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, Nashville Bank & Trust, and Saint Thomas Health Services; he also serves on the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Finance Committee. Nashville and Tennessee political leaders have sought Jenkins’ leadership acumen as well. Governor Bredesen selected Jenkins as a member of his transition team and also appointed Jenkins to the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. Mayor Karl Dean has appointed Jenkins to the Green Ribbon Committee; Jenkins serves as co-chair of the Energy and Building Subcommittee.

Jenkins has a passion for serving those who are less fortunate, and Big Brothers is pleased to honor him.