Fred Dettwiller

The Tennessee native and Vanderbilt University graduate ran his own business in Clarksville soon after he tossing his commencement cap into the air, and then took over DET and its 23 employees in 1973. Today, the private company, operating from its MetroCenter headquarters, has more than 150 employees and is the state’s largest distributor (with more than 100 brands). DET’s annual revenue is estimated at $20-50 million. Dettwiller also carries titles of “chairman” (Tennessee Aeronautics Commission), “past chairman” (Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Tennessee Human Rights Commission), “president” (Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and, since 2004, “Reverend,” serving as Canon for finance, administration and development for the Episcopal Diocese of Middle Tennessee. He is a member of more than a dozen community, state and national organizations, commissions and boards. He juggles responsibilities with relative ease, now giving much of his time to the Diocese while relying on senior managers at DET to handle that company’s day-to-day affairs. He does not short-change his wife and family, nor does he let a second home in Destin, Fla., sit idle for very long.