Ray Conn accepts award from Dr. Dewayne Thompson, 2021 CBCC chairman of the board
The Chamber’s highest award, the M.C. Headrick Free Enterprise Award, was presented to Raymond A. “Ray” Conn at the 96th Annual Meeting on Thursday. Mr. Conn is the founder and owner of Tri-Con Inc., a construction company originally founded as C&S Contractors in 1982.
"The M.C. Headrick Free Enterprise Award honors the memory of one of the most outstanding businessmen Cleveland and Bradley County has ever produced, M.C. Headrick," officials said.
"Headrick was a man who believed wholeheartedly in the fundamental concepts of the Free Enterprise System. Honorees receiving this award must display success, high morals, growth of business and contributions to community-oriented projects.
"In addition to Tri-Con Inc., Mr. Conn plays a significant role in ArCon Inc., an architectural company, and RAC Inc., a restaurant division that has built over 200 restaurants and owns and operates nine restaurants with 300 employees in Southern Ohio."
Tri-Con Inc. specializes in design-build projects, with its construction offices on Ocoee Street in Cleveland. Beginning as a one man operation, Tri-Con now employs 25 office and supervisory personnel, who direct the work of numerous subcontractors in and around Bradley County.
Tri-Con has completed projects in 26 states, including numerous buildings across Cleveland, and has offices in both Cleveland, Tennessee and Cincinnati, Ohio. Locally, the company is known for the modern buildings of Lee University, the Museum Center at 5ive Points, Cleveland High School’s gymnasium, Don Ledford Automotive Center, the Cleveland Police Service Center and many others.
Mr. Conn is a Cleveland native, graduated from Bradley Central High School. Mr. Conn and his wife, Joan, founded Restavek Freedom Foundation, a charity serving the underprivileged of Haiti. Mr. Conn is also a supporter of The Caring Place, United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the Bradley Cleveland Public Education Foundation. He is a lifelong member of North Cleveland Church of God and a large supporter of his alma mater, Lee University.
For more information, contact Tasha Sullivan at Tsullivan@clevelandchamber.com or 423-472-6587.