by Helen Gaye Brewster, The East Nashvillian Vol. 1, Issue 2
Eric Jans is sometimes laughingly called the mayor of East Nashville. And, when you get to know him, you sometimes start thinking it’s true. If we really had a mayor for the Eastside, he’d get my vote.
Quiet, almost a little shy, and definitely not one to talk about his accomplishments, he gets more done in the community in a day than some of us manage to get done all year.
So, when I had a chance to sit down with him in his “office” at Ugly Mugs, I got to ask how he got started and why he gets so much done for business in our ‘hood.
Eric’s not a Nashville native. He grew up in Fairbank, Iowa with a population smaller than East Nashville. That’s where he learned to have a sense of community. But, when I asked him if he and his wife, singer/songwriter Wendy Jans, chose East Nashville because of the sense of community the answer was, “No. When we moved here in 2002, at first we thought we’d made a mistake! There was very little business and quite a bit of crime. Folks we knew in other parts of Nashville kept asking, ‘Why’d you move there?'”
Eric started his company, Eric Jans Insurance, after getting laid off from a web design job. He was already involved in the community through the Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association and active in crime prevention in East Nashville. He’d worked on the creation of the Shelby dog park, and then became involved with Rediscover East. What he really wanted was a job as a community activist, but the city was in a hiring freeze.
He thought about being a realtor, but decided on insurance instead. When I asked him what he likes about selling insurance, he laughed and said, “Actually, to most people insurance is kind of boring. A lot of my clients are my neighbors, I don’t want to run into them at the coffee shop and have to apologize for selling them something they didn’t need. I try to find people the best health and life insurance for the price. I make it easy. I want to guide people in making smart decisions about their insurance and finances for the long term. I want them to understand what they’re buying.” He started off selling to neighborhood businesses and the majority of his clients are on the Eastside, making him the go-to guy for businesses and individuals who need life and health insurance.
Almost anyone with a business in East Nashville knows Eric because he’s probably asked them to join the Historic East Nashville Merchant’s Association, fondly known as HENMA. Now in his third year as president, Eric’s been involved with HENMA since the beginning, when it was known as the Greater 5 Points Merchant’s Association. The first time he went to a meeting was to talk about the Lockeland Springs Christmas Home tour, but before he knew what had happened, he was a member. He originally joined HENMA for networking, but at that time the focus was primarily on group advertising. When he found HENMA wasn’t as effective for his business as he’d hoped, in typical Eric style, he set out to make it better. And, in 2008 when they were looking for a new president, Meg MacFadyen of Art & Invention Gallery asked him if he’d run. Now in his third year as president, he says he gets his ideas for changes for HENMA through a collaborative effort with his co-officer Vice President Wynn Smith of the Chop Shop and Secretary/Treasurer Amber Robertson-Smith of Art Dude. They love working together. They all planned to do one year as officers but are still together in their third year.
Some of the changes Eric and his team have made have been holding monthly networking mixers hosted by member businesses (previously mixers were held on a less regular basis), having workshops for members, bringing in speakers and starting sponsorships. Eric and his team also created the East Nashvillian of the Year Award. This award is given in two categories: One is for a business or business owner that portrays the best of what East Nashville has to offer. The second award is for a private citizen who best symbolizes what being a good East Nashville neighbor means. Each winner receives a cash prize, plaque and recognition at the first HENMA meeting each year.
I asked Eric what he thought when he looks to the future of HENMA, “Weird to say, but I feel like it’s still in the beginning stages. It’s going to explode over here with developments like 800 Main St. and Main Street in general. Then there’s 701 Porter and the Walden development on Eastland. HENMA’s area covers all the way to Trinity and Ellington so we’re poised for business up and down Gallatin, rather than just concentrated at Five Points and Riverside Village. ”
Eric would also like to see the installation of a full board of directors for HENMA.
I also wanted to know if he felt HENMA has a role in economic development here. Currently HENMA focuses on helping existing businesses or new businesses that have already decided to move here. But, as HENMA moves to having a board of directors, attracting business may become a role the organization plays. “HENMA shows businesses that East Nashville is a vibrant community.”
Eric’s not planning to run for HENMA president again. Instead he’ll focus on his position on the board of Chamber East, the Area Advisory Council of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce made up of Nashville Chamber members who are located in East Nashville. Chamber East provides an opportunity for getting involved in solving problems, discussing issues and implementing special projects and events for the benefit of the area. He was attracted to Chamber East when he began looking for the next natural step after HENMA presidency. He joined the Chamber and became part of the Chamber East board. When he started, he knew no one on the board but now works with all of them for the benefit of East Nashville. When I asked why he wanted to be on the board of Chamber East, he replied, “To work on larger issues; for instance working on a business incubation center for East Nashville.” He’s seen small businesses come here and open without ever having a business plan. “They don’t get involved in the community and then they close and no one ever knew they were here.”
I asked if Eric saw any alignment with Chamber East and HENMA. “There’s some crossover. The work hand in hand.”
Since we were talking about the future, I asked Eric what his dream businesses are for East Nashville. “More retail. Shopping, shopping, shopping. Specifically books, clothing, gifts. More ethnic food. A mom & pop business center for faxing, copying, mailing, shipping. And, an independent theatre and performance space. ”
When Eric’s not dreaming about or working on helping East Nashville businesses, or selling insurance, or volunteering for the Tomato Art Fest, well, he’s still busy. He loves working with his wife’s music. I wanted to know what his current favorite song of Wendy’s is. “I love all of them. It’s like a constant soundtrack.” Then I asked what he does if he ever takes a second to stop working. “I don’t watch much TV, but I love to read. One of my recent favorites was Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller.”
As we were getting ready to leave I asked Eric if there was anything he’d like to change in his business or volunteer life. Not surprisingly, coming from a guy who does so much in our community, his reply was, “I’d want more hours in the day! I get to the end and wish I just had time to do more.”
