YP Bristol
Meet the 2014 Steering Committee
Leslie Boughers is the Customer Relations Representative at Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) where she is responsible for company publications, marketing and writing award applications. She also leads the company’s performance improvement efforts through the Baldrige program. She has served four years on the Board of Examiners for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence and has served as a Team Leader for the past two years. Leslie graduated from ETSU in 2008 where she discovered a love for community service. As a lifelong resident of the Tri-Cities area, she has a passion for helping those in her community and currently serves on the Communications Committee for the United Way of Bristol; is an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, South Holston Lake Cleanup and Appalachian Service Project; and is the President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Tri-Cities at BMS. Leslie was also a recipient of the Tri-Cities 40 Under Forty award in 2012. Leslie believes that providing service opportunities for young professionals is a key in building goodwill in the community and creating a sustainable environment for future generations.
Leigh Chilcot is the Internal Communications Coordinator at Bristol Regional Medical Center and serves on the Community Benefits Committee for Wellmont Health System. She received her bachelor's in Marketing Managment from East Tennesee State University and went on to earn her master's in Business Administration from the College of William and Mary. While attending graduate school, she provided marketing consulting for Smithfield Foods and Riverside Health System. Prior to her current role, she worked for a pharmaceutical advertising agency in New York City and in financial sales.
Jenni Duran currently works as a Graduate and Professional Studies Recruiter and Marketing Coordinator at Milligan College in Johnson City, Tennessee. In 2009, she earned a bachelor's in Business Administration and minored in Psychology. Though she is not a native to Northeast Tennessee, she has grown to love the culture and people in this area.
Ben Igou is currently the Agent/Owner of the Ben Igou State Farm Agency located in Blountville, Tennessee. As a graduate from the University of Tennesse, He is an avid fan of the Tennessee Volunteers. Ben has worked for over 13 years with State Farm Insurance where he began as a State Farm Agent in Anderson, Indiana; worked as an Agency Field Consultant in Columbus, Indiana; and as a Agency Field Executive in Greenville, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. He is an active member in the community participating in the Blountville Elementary School mentoring program and the Booster Club for Town Acres Elementary School. Ben is married to Lesley Igou and has two boys, Cole and Cooper.
Te-kai Shu is curently the Social and Print Media Specialist for Strongwell. In addition to his oversight of the Media Center and trade show logistics, Te-kai holds responsibilities for promoting Strongwell and the composites industry through social media. He also provides content for newsletters, flyers and other marketing literature. Te-kai is a graduate of Emory & Henry College where he earned a bachelor's.in Political Science and was a Bonner Scholar. Te-kai serves on the Marketing and Communications Committee for the United Way of Bristol as their social media manager. In addition to the United Way, he is also a graduate of Dale Carnegie, member of AAF Northeast TN, guest- speaker to undergraduate students regarding social media, volunteer for United Way partner agencies and is currently completing the LEAD Bristol 2014 class.
Wil Sterchi is an Associate Account Executive in the Corporate Sales department at Bristol Motor Speedway. His responsibilities include increasing his client-base and maintaining relationships with current clients. Wil first moved to the area in the summer of 2010 to pursue a master’s degree at East Tennessee State University in Sport Management. Now in his second year as a BMS employee and a member of the 2014 LEAD Bristol class, Wil is ready to commit more time to the community as he realized that the area is a great place for raising a family and for people to retire but saw a lack of involvement and interest in young professionals to unify and serve a purpose. Wil believes that the United Way’s Young Professionals of Bristol group will help close that gap and serve as an opportunity to network, build relationships, and benefit the community.