CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – From first-time business owners to Circuit Court judges to young creatives, Clarksville is built on leaders who continue to leave their mark on the community.
Here are 10 people under 40 who’ve already made a big difference. We appreciate all they’ve done so far, and we look forward to seeing what they do next!
1. Matt Cunningham
Matt Cunningham is the founder and owner of Old Glory Distilling Co., the first distillery in Clarksville. Cunningham went to school at Clarksville High and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science. He has also served as a Clarksville firefighter. When Old Glory opened its doors in 2016, Cunningham said they knew they wanted to be a Tennessee whiskey and bourbon distillery, and to do that, they had to start making barrels early. Today, Old Glory’s Tennessee Whiskey is on the market and making waves. So is Old Glory itself, with plans announced recently for an Old Glory restaurant and expanded distillery experience.
2. Andral Dawkins
Andral Dawkins, originally from Jamaica, and his wife Rocquell are the owners of Jamrok Caribbean Buffet, a restaurant that presents traditional Jamaican cuisine with a Guyanese twist. The couple opened Jamrok in December 2022 and since then has offered a dynamic family-oriented buffet experience. It is one of the only Caribbean restaurants in Clarksville and distinguishes itself with a mix of stylish décor, unusual dishes and natural fruit juices and bowls. Since opening, they’ve been involved with United Way events and hosted events by the African American Employee Council and other groups.
3. Alexis Goines
Alexis Goines is owner of the Alexis Goines Agency, an Allstate office that is military-based with military employees, serving the entire community. Goines, who has a bachelor’s from Columbia College and a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Austin Peay State University, has about 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. For six years, her agency has held an annual Fall Safety Fest with safety-focused games an activities. As part of that, and with help from the Allstate Foundation, the event has raised nearly $20,000 for community initiatives.
4. Maria Haycraft
Maria Haycraft is the founder and owner of Artlink Clarksville, a nonprofit that serves the community creatively. ArtLink began in 2012 doing pop-up art and music events and grew into a mobile studio in 2018. In 2019, Haycraft opened up her first brick-and-mortar studio downtown on Strawberry Alley, and they have since moved to 98 Franklin St. The studio offers DIY projects and a space where the community can relax and dive into something they are passionate about. Artlink also organizes the annual Artsville Fest, a creative arts festival in downtown. Haycraft is also a professional body piercer and operates a clothing line called Sacer & Savive.
5. Haven Madison
Haven Madison, a singer/songwriter and Clarksville High School student, has had a rise to fame buoyed by massive support from Clarksville locals as she finished in the top 8 on American Idol. Her musical roots stem from her father, Jason Roy, who is a guitarist and lead singer for Building 429. Since appearing on Idol, Haven has stuck with her community and has participated in multiple shows including concerts at Downtown Commons, Govs Fest and Riverfest.
6. Ambar Marquis
Ambar Marquis was appointed in 2021 to the Clarksville City Council. She told council members that, having grown up in an urban area, she hopes to help preserve Clarksville’s sense of small-town community through long-term infrastructure planning. “As our population continues to grow, our residents will begin to lose their voice and sense of community just as those in giant cities have,” Marquis said. “I believe Clarksville’s growth needs to be looked at with long-term goals and not short-term projects to accommodate current numbers. At the end of the day, we have to remember why people are seeking to call Clarksville their home.” In addition to her work on the council, Marquis has helped lead an effort to install Little Free Libraries in neighborhoods across the city.
7. Autumn Simmons
Autumn Simmons won election to the Montgomery County Commission in the new District 20 in 2022. Simmons is a military spouse and a stay-at-home mother of two girls. “My husband and I quickly fell in love with Clarksville and decided to lay our roots here for generations to come,” she said. Simmons supports better road infrastructure and accommodating population growth and development. She also supports full funding of schools to provide quality education and accommodate children with special needs. “I am in favor of keeping our taxes low and bringing higher-paying jobs here.” She was recently named to the Republican National Committee’s Youth Advisory Council.
8. Komplex Simplicity
Komplex Simplicity is a spoken word author, poet and lyricist who helps host Power of Words events at Good People Lounge in Clarksville. She has also co-hosted the Clarksville Juneteenth Festival. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Komplex learned early on that there is more than one side to every story. In August 2016, Komplex released her first poetry book titled It Could All Be So Simple: The Collection, a collection of poems, letters and spoken word pieces.
9. Ashleigh Travis
Ashleigh Travis was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to become the sixth judge for the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial District and is now a candidate for election to the role. She previously served as a child support magistrate. “As the child support magistrate judge, I strove to be courteous to all litigants and attorneys. I swore that I would always give grace and understanding and will work to continue practicing that as a circuit court judge,” she said. Travis is a Clarksville native, having attended Montgomery Central High School, and completing her undergraduate degree at Austin Peay State University.
10. Josh Ward
Josh Ward became vice president of Industrial Development for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board in July. Ward is a Nashville native with a background in recruitment, commercial real estate, and economic development who moved to Clarksville after graduating from MTSU with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He was the commercial property manager with Millan Enterprises from 2017 to 2021 and was director of Economic Development for the IDB prior to being named VP. “I am passionate about connecting companies with the right resources, land, workforce and our great community,” Ward said.
Lily Russell and Jeff Matthews contributed to this report.
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