BusinessTN

Former U.S. military personnel with a desire to make a difference founded CMSS in 2006. CMSS is a diverse business that specializes in construction, logistics, IT, infrastructure and security. CMSS has grown from a $7 million company in 2007 to a projected $80 million company in 2010. It has current projects in Iraq and Afghanistan and humanitarian efforts ongoing in Africa. CMSS develops solutions that fit the clients’ requirements, local culture and laws and wider international conventions. CMSS operates U.S. based offices in San Antonio, Texas and Maryville. It also maintains offices in Iraq, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, Africa, Turkey and Jordan. Because of the planning and carefully executed efforts of hiring well qualified personnel, expert consultants, joining the right organizations and securing their footprint in Afghanistan, CMSS is poised for a great future.

Has led 304-bed Blount Memorial Hospital since 1985, overseeing tremendous expansion in facilities, workforce and technologies in a service area growing by leaps and bounds. Dawson has had good success retaining that business in his home market--keeping it from going to nearby Knoxville, where every major hospital has made a run at taking over his facility. As an independent provider, Dawson must be a jack-of-all-trades in dealing with issues that arise, strategically marshalling his resources. And speaking of a jack-of-all-trades--in addition to serving on multiple Blount County boards through the years and recently being honored with a community leadership award, Dawson is a football official for the Southeastern Conference.