Elisa Comer, Tennessee Small Business Person of the Year for 2005, typifies the theme of this year's Economic Summit, "Partnering for Economic Progress," which will be held Thursday at the Centre at Millennium Park.

"We started this company with a $12,000 retirement policy and a passion for patient care and stay-at-home moms," said Comer, founder and CEO of Eagle's Landing Transcription Service based in Johnson City.

"People here put small business first. They don't just give lip service" like she found in some other communities, she said.

A bicycle wreck, broken arm and conversation with a Waynesville, N.C., emergency room nurse who was married to a Johnson City physician led Comer and her husband, Chris, to Johnson City.

In 2004, the Comers relocated to Johnson City from outside Atlanta to raise their three children and to get away from big city life. "That was the best thing that could have happened to us," she said.

Today, ELTS serves clients in 13 states, evolving from a meager start under the tutelage of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Johnson City.

Comer and the ELTS success story are featured in a 15-minute summit video to showcase economic progress in Johnson City, Jonesborough and Washington County. It was produced by WJHL News Channel 11 in conjunction with the city of Johnson City Office of Community Development.

In the video presentation, Comer describes the assistance she received from Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce officials, who extended a helping hand and said, "We will help your business grow."

Comer said ELTS's Business Plan has been chosen as a model by the American Association of Medical Transcription, which will take the Johnson City success story to audiences on a nationwide basis.

The Economic Summit's Focus Group Information and Planning Sessions will take local economic development to the next level, according to Dr. Jon Smith, director of the East Tennessee State University Bureau of Business and Economic Research and summit chair.

Focus groups and facilitators are:

• Livable Communities: Todd Wood, DT Wood engineering, and Kevin Whalen, Tri-Cities Economic Development Alliance;
• Workforce Development: Ed Fennell, city of Johnson City director of human resources, and Cynthia Tauscher, Northeast State Technical Community College;
• Infrastructure: Brenda Clarke, TCI Property Group, and Robert L. White, Johnson City Power Board;
• Entrepreneurship: David Lawrence, ETSU Business Innovation Lab;
• Existing Business Expansion and Retention: Ruth Roberts, Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Economic Development Board, and Wayne Anderson, Wayne Anderson Consulting;
• Health/Medical: Jeff Bedard, Crown Laboratories;
• Tourism/Hospitality: Brenda Whitson, Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and Lori Cogan, Tombras Group.

The conference begins at 7:30 a.m. Thursday with registration and continental breakfast in the Second Floor Forum of the Centre at Millennium Park.