Clarksville Conversations with Charlie Koon

Ashleigh Travis was recently sworn in as the Sixth Circuit Court Judge of the 19th Judicial District. This week she joins me Ryan Ploeckelman and Charlie Koon on Clarksville’s Conversation to talk about growing up in Clarksville, how an opportunity in High School led her down the path to study law, the process of being appointed Judge by Governor Bill Lee and more. All on this Episode of Clarksville’s Conversation Powered by F&M Bank.

Racecar driver Tony Schumacher only works for six minutes a year. But he spends the rest of the year in preparation for those critical six minutes. And it's paid off: His career-best speed on the NHRA track is over 336 mph. This week, Schumacher talks about how he got stared in racing, what it's like to travel two football fields per second, and his partnership with Clarksville's Joe Maynard, owner of JCM Racing.

Chad McCabe isn't your typical Episcopal priest. The veteran Marine is a doctoral student at Duke University, and serves as a chaplain in the Army National Guard. This week, the new head pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church joins Ryan Ploeckelman and Charlie Koon on Clarksville's Conversation to talk about feeling called to ministry when he was 12 years old, the challenge of creating community, and being welcomed to Clarksville with fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Kevin Miskimins is the new General Manager of the 5 Star Media Group in Clarksville. This week he joins Charlie Koon, and his predecessor Katie Gambill, to share his story of working in media for decades, how excited he is to be in Clarksville, and what he hopes to accomplish in his new role. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia got a pretty intense welcome to leadership of Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division: 21 days in the training field with Operation Lethal Eagle, which landed during in a heat wave followed by thunderstorms. This week, the new "Eagle 6" joins Katie Gambill and Charlie Koon on Clarksville's Conversation to talk about his priorities and what it's like to know he'll join the wall of portraits of Fort Campbell generals.

After working in agriculture mortgage lending for a few years, Will Sanders "knew a guy who needed a guy" and soon found himself on an airplane to Mongolia. This week, Sanders talks to Charlie Koon and Ryan Ploeckelman on Clarksville's Conversation about his three years in Mongolia working for a mining company, witnessing beautiful landscapes and heart-wrenching poverty.

Everyone in Texas raves about Whataburger, and now the iconic Restaurant chain is coming to Clarksville in a big way with 4 locations opening soon. Courtney Vick, the Field Marketing Coordinator, and Nate Ross, the Regional Training Coordinator for Whataburger stop by to give us all the details.

Kayla Gunter, co-owner of Century 21 Platinum Properties, has been a real estate agent since she was 20 years old. This week, she joins Ryan Ploeckelman and Charlie Koon on Clarksville's Conversation to talk about growing up in Clarksville, her take on the local real estate boom, and her least favorite home decor trend.

Scotty Walden, head football coach for the Austin Peay State University Governors, has played in three conferences in the last three years: the OVC, ASUN, and now the United Athletic Conference. This week, he joins Ryan Ploeckelman and Charlie Koon on Clarksville's Conversation to talk about getting ready for the upcoming road games, connecting his players to the community, and how he's not the head coach at home.

Clarksville native and Architect Daniel Binkley joins Charlie and Katie for an interesting chat about helping to design the new F&M Bank Arena, some of the unique challenges the design team faced and the incredible growth that he has witness in Clarksville over the years. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Clarksville’s Conversation’s very own Katie Gambill was recently named as the Director of Innovative Online News Services for Saga Communications. She is being tasked with launching Clarksville Now style websites all over the country. Find out why one company feels that bringing local news back to communities all over the nation is important and why Clarksville now sparked what could be a news revolution. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

From Little League, to the Major Leagues, baseball has been a big part of Ryne Harper’s life. After a successful college career and Austin Peay, and teams in the majors, Ryne has returned home to Clarksville trying to make his way in the world of Real Estate. He joins Katie and Charlie for a fun chat on this episode of Clarksville’s Conversation powered by F and M Bank.

Lt. Colonel Tony Hoefler and Sgt. First Class Jake Connor from the 101st Public Affairs Office stop by to chat with Charlie and Katie about Operation Lethal Eagle, which is a training operation happening at Fort Campbell in August and is the reason you will be seeing more helicopters flying over town, and why you will most likely be hearing more big booms from Post. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Lee Harrell is the Chief of Staff for Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden. He stops by to talk with Charlie and Chris Smith about his journey from growing up in Arkansas and coming to call Montgomery County home, what a Chief of staff does, and some exciting new projects coming to the county, Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Mark Holleman’s family has been in the insurance and real estate industry in Clarksville since the 1800s. He joins Charlie and Katie to chat about how the real estate market has changed since the 1860s, some fun facts about the city, and something creative he does to help his new agents get familiar with the area. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Kylie Wilkerson is the General Manager of the F&M Bank Arena. She stops by to talk about the process and challenges that came with opening the arena. The process of bringing shows to the arena, and what people can expect from the upcoming free grand opening that will allow you to get a better look at the building that has been the talk of Clarksville for over 2 years. Clarksville’s Conversation is brought to you by F&M Bank.

Jayson Rivas owed a restaurant before the terrorist attacks of September 11th. He sold that business and joined the Army to serve his country. Serving 20 years as a Green Beret in the 5th Special Forces Group on For Campbell he is now getting out of the service and running his own photography business. He joins Charlie and Katie to talk about the skills he learned as a Green Beret that have helped him in the world of business, advice he would have for veterans looking to start their own businesses and more. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Tennessee Valley Brewing Company has been a Clarksville favorite since 2017, and they’ve just moved to a new downtown location. This week, owners Eric and Wendy Brannstrom join Katie and Charlie to tell their story of going from the Army to corporate life’s “golden handcuffs” to turning what they love into what they do for a living. Plus, they share some insights about what makes a delicious beer.

Corey Gipson is the new Head Coach of the Austin Peay Men’s Basketball Team, he is also a former player and assistant coach for the Govs. He stops by to talk about what it feels like to come back to Austin Peay, and how he is building a team based on Servanthood, Brotherhood and Unconditional Love. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Nicholas Nicoletta loves food, and that love has come through in the many variations on his catering business over the years. This week, Nicholas and his wife and partner Virginia joined Katie and Charlie to talk about how they’ve shaped their business over the years to meet customer needs, his side business with bagels, plans for an expansion, and how he’s “really good at eating.”

Major Danny Matthews stops by to talk with Charlie about the incredible Week of the Eagles event happening on Fort Campbell. The Major shares the story behind Week of the Eagles, how it started, what it’s grown into and what people can expect from this year’s event. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F and M Bank.

Welcome to Clarksville’s Conversation, powered by F&M Bank. Today, we have a very special guest joining us - Coach Dave Loos, a true legend in Clarksville. Coach Loos was the head coach of the Austin Peay Governors Basketball team for 27 years and has had a profound impact on the community. In this episode, Charlie and Katie sit down with Coach Loos to hear his inspiring story, starting with his upbringing in St. Louis and his college sports journey, to what drove him to become a coach. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Coach Loos shares his insights on what it takes to succeed in the world of sports and beyond. We are thrilled to have Coach Loos as our guest today, so sit back, relax, and join us for an enlightening conversation with one of Clarksville’s most esteemed figures.

Kelly Sarles and Mark Ryales stop by to talk about all the amazing things MWR does on Fort Campbell and how you can get involved.

Sgt. Major Chad Stackpole is the Garrison Sgt Major on Fort Campbell. He joins Charlie and Katie to share his journey serving in the Armed Forces, what a Garrison Sgt. Major does day to day and some events coming up on Fort Campbell to Celebrate the Month of the Military Child. Clarksville’s Conversation is powered by F&M Bank.

Clarksville’s own Haven Madison has been wowing the judges on American Idol. This week, she joins Katie Gambill to talk about what it’s like to audition and to sing a few bars of her song “This Summer.”

Two retired Fort Campbell generals are on a mission to help get the Wings of Liberty Museum off the ground. Brian Winski and Scott Brower stopped by this week to give Katie and Charlie an update on the massive museum, which will be the biggest between New Orleans and Chicago, and is now set for an opening in 2025. Clarksville's Conversation is powered by F and M Bank.

Get to know State Representative Jeff Burkhart on this episode of Clarksville’s Conversation. From growing up in Woodlawn, his time on the Clarksville City Council, and his first days in the Tennessee House of Representative. He shares his story with Charlie and Katie, and even talks about some of the most important projects he is working on.

Congressman Mark Green of Clarksville is settling into his role as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. This week, he joins Charlie Koon on Clarksville’s Conversation to talk about the reasons border security is important, and about his efforts to reach across the aisle and bridge the partisan divide in Congress.

Joel Wallace has served as a judge for Montgomery and Robertson counties since September 2022, handling a lot of divorce and custody cases. This week, Wallace, a former City Council member, talks about what it’s like being on the bench and his path to community leadership.

If you’re a 19-year-old soldier new to a duty station, it can be hard to find community and fun. But BOSS – Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers – offers day trips, gaming groups, and more to let Fort Campbell soldiers relax. This week, BOSS President Staff Sgt. Russell Lovelace tells Charlie and Chris about how the program works, and how BOSS has expanded. It’s not just for single soldiers anymore.

Leo and Lillie Millan are truly a self-made couple. They grew up together in poverty, came to Clarksville through the military, and through hard work and smart business deals, they created a set of companies that now employ over 1,000 people. This week, Leo and Lillie tell Katie and Charlie about the steps in their success, and about their latest venture: The Millan Center – at 10 stories, the tallest building yet in Clarksville.

While growing up near downtown Clarksville, Wes Cunningham enjoyed visiting the restaurants and shops. Today, he’s the owner of not one but two downtown restaurants: Strawberry Alley Ale Works and now The Mailroom. This week, Wes Cunningham joins Katie and Charlie to talk about the restaurant business and the exciting things happening in downtown Clarksville.

With the heavy lifting done, the F&M Bank Arena is just about ready for move-in day. This week, Miles Markiewicz, director of sales and marketing for the arena, joins Katie and Charlie to talk about concerts, APSU basketball, hockey at the Ford Ice Center, and everything else that visitors can expect when the arena opens in July.

Mark Kelly and Melinda Shepard of the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce stop by for a chat with Charlie and Katie about the incredible growth we are seeing in the city. They also talk about some new initiatives coming to the chamber, and some upcoming events.

2022 was a big year for Clarksville and Montgomery County. Clarksville Now Editor in Chief Chris Smith joins Charlie and Katie for a look back at the biggest news stories in the area for 2022.

Get to know Clarksville's Conversation Co-Host Katie Gambill on this episode. Hear about her journey from Arkansas to Clarksville, her thoughts on leadership and service, and what it is about Clarksville that makes her proud to call the city home.

Santa Claus, the Jolly Old Elf Himself stops by to chat with Charlie and Katie about all the preparations going on at the North Pole as he gets ready for the Big Day, what toys his elves are making a lot of this year, and how proud he is of all the good girls and boys in Clarksville.

It is no secret that Clarksville and Montgomery County are growing at an incredible rate, and big businesses want to call the area home. Josh Ward and Chris Self from the Industrial Development Board stop by to talk about the recent announcement made from LG Chem about an over 3-billion-dollar investment in the community, and various other projects around town.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden joins Charlie and Katie to talk about the lessons he has learned over the first couple of months in office. He also shares some important projects that he is working on how he is trying to balance being Mayor of one of the fastest growing counties in the state and being the father of young children.

Kelli Pendleton is president and CEO of Campbell Strong Defense Alliance. She joins Katie and Charlie to announce a new internship program that will connect transitioning soldiers who are looking for jobs with local businesses that are looking for employees. The internship program is designed to help military families and businesses in both Kentucky and Tennessee.

Sara Hendrix is the Head of School for the new Chapel Hill Christian Academy. She joins Katie and Charlie to talk about the inspiration behind the school, which opened just as the pandemic was starting, and she shares some big news about the land they’ve acquired in Sango for their new school campus.

Now in it's fifth year, Turkeys for Troops is back providing free turkeys to active-duty military, veteran's and their families just in time for Thanksgiving.

Lloyd Nicely has now opened two guitar shops in Clarksville, one of them selling rare, vintage guitars. This week he joined Katie and Charlie to talk about his musician parents and growing up hanging out in Clarksville guitar shops, learning from the best before making his way for two decades with Nashville musicians.

Austin Peay Women's Basketball Coach Brittany Young stops by to talk about what fans can expect to see on the court this season from the Govs in their final season in the Dunn Center and first season in the ASUN.

Austin Peay Men's Basketball Coach Nate James joins us to share his journey from playing at Duke to Coaching the Govs. He also talks about the Govs final season in the Dunn Center and first season in the ASUN Conference.

Roland Fanning is the new baseball coach at Austin Peay State University. This week on Clarksville’s Conversation, he tells Katie and Charlie about growing up in small-town Oklahoma, the importance of getting loud and talking trash in baseball, and his plans to “create chaos” with a unique new center field.

Command Sergeant Major Joseph Harbour is the Garrison CSM for Fort Campbell. He joins Charlie and Katie to share the story of why he joined the army, what a garrison CSM does, what makes Fort Campbell special, and some great events coming to post. This Fort Campbell episode brought to you by F&M Bank.

Joe and Cathy Maynard have a lot of things going on in Clarksville, they stop by with Sara Golden to give an update on their amazing new three-story restaurant, Shelby’s Trio, and talk about an incredible event called Operation Honor, which provides support to the military and their families.

With the F&M Bank Arena set to open this summer, the big question is where will everyone park? Buck Dellinger, president and CEO of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council, has three answers, and they add up to over 2,500 spaces in walking distance of the arena. This week, he talks parking with Katie and Charlie on Clarksville’s Conversation.

Betty Guthrie is the Lead Human Resource Assistant in the Transition Center on Fort Campbell. She is also the Installation Voting Assistance Officer. Find out what you need to do if you are serving on Post or are a Military Spouse and want to vote in the upcoming election. This Fort Campbell Episode is powered by F&M Bank.