Ovation Awards: Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Tuesday, Jul 6, 2010

Zurich Homes

Cumberland County

As father-and-son business owners, Stan and Isaac Zuercher of Crossville’s Zurich Homes have built their reputation from the ground up on a foundation of providing quality workmanship and unsurpassed customer service. As a full-service design-build firm, Zurich Homes guides its customers through every step of the process, from concept to design, and from design to construction. The company specializes in producing old-world-style homes built with great attention to detail and in an environmentally conscious way. But as with any good structure, the company’s success was not simply built overnight.

The company was founded in 2005 when Stan, an electrical contractor with almost two decades of experience, sold his interests to his business partner in order to start Zurich Homes with his son, Isaac, who was just graduating with a business degree from Tennessee Tech. After five years in business together, the Zuerchers have flourished in an economic climate many older companies have not been able to withstand, which Isaac believes is primarily because of their unique product.

“As I look at the downturn we’ve just gone through, had we not had that style working for us we probably wouldn’t have made it,” he said.

The style, which Isaac describes as a mixture of French eclectic and English Tudor, has come to be known by many as the “Zurich look.” And that look, according to Isaac, is unique for many reasons.

“Those architectural styles typically aren’t seen at this price point,” he said. “They’re usually around $1 million and up. But those details can still be carried into smaller homes and give them that character.”

While the economy has made home renovations a viable option for Zurich, their primary business is as a design-build firm. Stan typically works as an on-site project manager while Isaac keeps communication going with clients and assists with design and logistical aspects of the project. This open line of contact also sets Zurich Homes apart; the company provides clients with realistic budgets, detailed consultation and regular progress reports. Most Zurich Homes are designed in one to three months, with construction usually taking around six months to complete.

The company’s future looks to build off of this expanding reputation for unique excellence, and it will do so with Isaac at the helm; the younger Zuercher was made company president earlier this year. The firm’s direction will likely move toward producing higher-end homes to accommodate what Isaac perceives as the area’s potential for significant growth in the coming years. But as always, the father and son will move toward the future with an eye toward the past.

“I have a lot of interest in moving toward being able to build historic-style in-fill properties in remaining land in downtown areas, where most people could walk by and not know that the house wasn’t built 100 years ago. To me, I would want to live in a house like that,” Isaac said.

The Zurich Homes office is located in Suite 209 at 29 Taylor Avenue in Crossville.

Watson family

White County

Each founded independently by a member of the Watson family, Watson Metals, Watson Windows and Watson Woodwork have exemplified quality workmanship and entrepreneurial success. Watson Metals specializes in creating innovative roofing and siding solutions for its clients. Using permanent, energy-efficient materials, the company can even reproduce old-world-style architectural features for residences and businesses using its unique metal slate shingles. Watson Metals also offers permanent steel siding to give buildings a lasting exterior. Also in the family, Watson Windows offers professional installation services of vinyl replacement windows, and likewise gives energy efficiency and overall quality a very high priority.

Watson Woodwork, a custom hardwood furniture company also in the Watson family, builds cabinetry as well as Keystone Furniture in its shop. The entire process, from designing to cutting to staining to assembly, is completed on-site to ensure a quality end product. Watson Metals is located in Cookeville at 1270 S. Jefferson Ave.; Watson Windows is located at 288 Beech Road in Sparta; and the Watson Woodwork showroom is located in Sparta at 390 Bennett Road.

John Weaver, Newspaper Owner

Clay and Cumberland counties

In 2002, at the ripe old age of 22, John Weaver took advantage of an opportunity to purchase Tennessee Marketing, a move that has paid off in years since. Weaver has since become president of Upper Cumberland Media Group, the publisher of the Dale Hollow Horizon.

Weaver said that he was able to take solid publications and streamline operations in order to increase quality and profitability. The practical result of this? Weaver does much of the work himself. But that hasn’t slowed him down. The publications currently under his watch include the Horizon, the Fairfield Glade Vista, Celina’s Citizen-Statesman, an annual Fairfield Glade residential directory and an annual U.C. medical directory.

El Tapatio

Putnam and White counties

Since Redolfo Alvarez began the restaurant with three other partners in 1992, El Tapatio has been a haven for Cookeville residents looking for fresh and delicious Mexican food in a welcoming atmosphere. Now with a second Cookeville location and one in Sparta, even more folks can enjoy the kind of comfortable, friendly, family atmosphere that “El Tap” has come to signify.

A family-run business from the beginning, the Alvarez family takes pride in presenting authentic dishes at a consistent level of quality. According to Redolfo’s sister Aurora Alvarez, part of this recipe for success calls for using fresh (never frozen) ingredients, and in making everyone feel welcome. And based on how busy the dining room stays during lunch and dinner, the strategy is working. El Tapatio’s Cookeville locations are at 900 S. Jefferson Ave. and 190 S. Willow Ave., with the Sparta location at 243 N. Spring St.

Cynthia Strong, owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio

Putnam County

Cynthia Strong (commonly called “BQ” for “beauty queen”) has been involved in cosmetics her entire life, and these days, as owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in Cookeville, she channels her entrepreneurial energy into providing quality skin care and cosmetic products to consumers across the region. Having been a sales director for another skin care company, she decided to purchase partial ownership of Cookeville’s Merle Norman.

In addition to expanding the store’s product lines after taking full ownership of the studio in 2006, Strong also added formalwear to her company’s offerings, forming Beauty Queens Boutique within the Merle Norman store. Merle Norman and Beauty Queens Boutique are located in Jackson Plaza at 377 W. Jackson St. in Cookeville.

Jon Powers, Domino’s Pizza

White & Putnam counties

Having begun a restaurant franchise at the age of 26, Jon Powers, who now owns a Domino’s Pizza location in both White and Putnam counties, has gotten to where he is the hard way. After starting out as a delivery driver, Powers worked his way up and eventually began his own franchise in Sparta.

After 10 years of being a franchisee, he has posted sales figures greater than corporate expectations for every single year. He works hands-on in his two stores and always looks to positively influence the many young workers under his charge.

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