Grand Slam for Eddie Wilkes: Ambassador of The Month for Three in a Row

As regional vice president of marketing for Seniors Home Reverse Mortgage, Eddie Wilkes covers around 50,000 miles of sales territory in the Southeast each year. Since joining the Chamber Ambassadors last August, Wilkes has been collecting points about as quickly as he puts miles on his Lexus. Wilkes has tackled his voluntary Chamber job with such enthusiasm, he was named Ambassador of the Month for September, October and November of 2009.

"I believe this is a first," said Chamber Vice President of Member-Investor Services Kristi Haulsee. "We’ve had several Ambassadors to win the award multiple times but no one else has ever made it a grand slam. Eddie averaged over 800 points a month. Ordinarily it takes 400 to 500 points to receive the honor. And it’s also remarkable that to earn the points he is all over the board -- making renewal calls, attending grand openings, recruiting new Ambassadors.

Wilkes says he joined the Ambassadors for the abundance of networking opportunities– at AM Networkings, ribbon cuttings and major Chamber annual events and other activities. "I also like the idea of going out into the community and meeting people," he says. "One day you’re talking with the staff at the Siskin’s Children Institute and the next you’re sampling food at the Melting Pot."

The monthly meetings of the Ambassadors – who number 160 – form an excellent networking event in and of themselves. "I really enjoy being a part of this organization that works so hard to help businesses," Wilkes says. "It’s a great group of people."

Wilkes has spent 20 years in retail sales and management. Before joining Seniors Home Reverse Mortgage he was national accounts manager for a furniture and mattress company. The honoree, who served for nine years with the 181st Field Artillery Battalion of the Tennessee Army National Guard, has two grown daughters and three grandchildren.