Robbie Corum and Betty Bullen will serve as ambassadors for Union County Business & Professional Association after being named Man and Woman of 2020. Both are outstanding representatives of the UCB&PA's motto of “Growth Through Giving.” Both also have a history of servant leadership and connecting various organizations to help Union County and surrounding counties of East Tennessee prosper.
In a normal year, Robbie and Betty would be showered with accolades at the UCB&PA Annual Banquet, but due to the spread of COVID-19, the banquet, along with the December BPA meeting, were canceled. Corum and Bullen will be honored in 2021.
However, Shannon DeWitt, who chaired the UCBPA Man and Woman of the Year Committee, wants everyone in Union County to meet these distinguished leaders now instead of later. DeWitt also thanks her committee that included five members from education, the ministry, business, elected officials, and the UCB&PA membership for their outstanding and thoughtful choice in awarding this honor to them.
Robert (Robbie) Corum is homegrown Union County compassion and service. Graduating in 1999 from Union County High School, he joined the ministry in 2000 and has since served as youth, associate, and senior pastor of several area churches.
Possessing a servant's heart by nature, he holds the position of Public Services Manager for the City of Knoxville. In this capacity he is responsible for the completion of the exquisite Christmas light displays and decorations at Market Square, Krutch Park, and other downtown Knoxville locations.
His department also performs the set up and cleanup activities for the numerous downtown festivals. Robbie honed his servant leadership skills by graduating with the Leadership Union County Class of 2019 and is currently participating in the East Tennessee Regional Leadership Program for 2020-2021.
His servant leadership, along with his knowledge of handling the needs of large crowds, led him to volunteer to organize disaster relief strike groups across East Tennessee. His team most recently traveled to Chattanooga to provide aid to the victims of the spring tornadoes.
His experience as a former member of the Union County Rescue Squad and a Tennessee Level 111 Certified Firefighter gives him greater insight into how to provide relief to these victims of catastrophic disasters. Corum is the owner of Corum Bookkeeping Services and founded the Corum Legacy Scholarship along with his wife Gail.
Robbie also serves on the UCB&PA Charities board of directors to maintain and distribute scholarship funding to Union County graduating seniors. He continues to serve Union County when he volunteers annually at UCBPA Golf Tournament, the Union County Under the Tree and the Union County Heritage Festival.
Betty Bullen is a seventh generation Union Countian, who has also served the citizens through her volunteer efforts and her leadership. She has brought much attention to our county through her talent and passion for painting Union County historic sites and individuals who have contributed so much to our county.
Many of her paintings have been used as collectible prints for the Union County Heritage Festivals. As president of Preservation Union County, Betty obtained steel sections from the old 33 Bridge to be used for the uniquely designed entrance sign at Wilson Park.
Betty also organized and led the effort to restore the Oak Grove School in Sharps Chapel, which now serves as an extension of the Union County Public Library System and was instrumental in bringing broadband to the northern section of the county.
When she was President of the Union County Historical Society, Betty wrote several grants to bring nationally known programs such as the Smithsonian Institute Display “Don't Fence Me In” to the Union County Museum. Over 800 area school children and citizens visited that exhibit.
Another grant was instrumental in securing the Union County Heritage Festival as a thriving celebration of the arts, history, and culture of the county.
Her preservation work enabled the Hamilton/Lay Log Home and the Hamilton/Lay General Store to be added to the National Registry for Historic Places.
Her most recent acquisition, the Historic Snodderly House, is being lovingly restored and serves as the location of the Union County Heritage Festival Art Show.
Betty paints and lives in the heart of East Tennessee and her subjects are scenes “from the heart.”
Her favorite quote speaks to this heartfelt appreciation “Put your heart into the picture and jump in after it.”
Through personal perspective and use of color and value she strives to reflect to the viewer not only what is transferred from the eye to the canvas, but also what is felt in the heart while doing so. Her talent for painting has connected her knowledge from studying under world-renowned artists to the eager learning of her amateur and student artists as she teaches the art of painting weekly in her studio and at various East Tennessee locations.
Mark your calendars for November 2021 to honor Robbie Corum and Betty Bullen at the UCB&PA Annual Banquet along with the 2021 Man and Woman of the Year.