Ron Fittes AMBASSADOR Award

For more than 50 years, two-time Ambassador of the Year Award winner Ron Fittes has been a Shelby County resident with a deep desire to serve his community. He worked for the Memphis Police Department for 33 years, achieving the rank of Major, and he is an active member of the Al Chymia Shrine, Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Germantown.

Fittes and his wife Sherry have been members of Germantown United Methodist Church for more than 40 years. Along with their three adult sons, they’ve called Germantown home for most of their lives. Fittes’ face is a familiar one among business owners and Germantown locals. Those who know him well know he has a passion for his community and fellow citizens.

“I’ve been involved in the Germantown community for most of my life, and so the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the chamber feels like a natural fit for me,” Fittes says. “I’ve always been a people person and was looking for ways to serve my community. Getting to know and supporting local businesses and people is how I do that.”

Each year, around 15 ambassadors serve the chamber by supporting new and existing members and working to connect future members with opportunities to grow business. In his role as an ambassador, Fittes works to welcome new members through ribbon cuttings and chamber networking events, an obligation he says he is more than happy to fulfill.

“These types of events are important for building community and making sure our members and local business owners feel supported,'' he says. “Members can rely on us. They can call on us, and we can call on them. Ambassadors help bridge that gap between the corporate functions of a chamber and the day-to-day life of a small business owner.”

Fittes also serves as the marketing director for his son’s business, the Garden Center, located at 374 South Germantown Parkway in Cordova. Playing an active role in a local small business, he knows firsthand how important the networking opportunities provided through the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce are.

“It’s an honor to serve as an ambassador,” he says. “We do what we do for the small business owners and for our community.”

By Sarah Vaughan