[259] Two MTSU alumni inducted into Nashville entrepreneur hall of fame

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center has honored two Middle Tennessee State University alumni with induction into its hall of fame.

Darrell Freeman (Class of ’87) and Joey Jacobs (Class of ’75) made up two of the three recent inductees, as reported by The Nashville Post in December. The publication published profiles of the latest class that can be found here.

In its online story, The Post applauded the Entrepreneur Center, saying it “has quickly established itself as a place for visionary businesspeople and companies — and for its hall of fame recognizing local entrepreneurs.”

Freeman is founder and executive chairman of Zycron Inc., a Nashville-based company that helps hospitals manage information technology. It began in an MTSU dormitory room. Freeman is also a co-founder of Williamson County-based Reliant Bank as well as co-founder and chairman of Pinnacle Construction Partners.

Freeman has a bachelor’s degree in computer technology and master’s degree in industrial sciences from MTSU. He was the 2002 MTSU Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient and in 2012 was named by Gov. Bill Haslam to represent the 7th Congressional District on the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Jacobs is chairman and CEO of Acadia Healthcare, a rapidly growing behavioral health company based in Franklin, Tenn. Jacobs, who received his B.S. in accounting from MTSU, was awarded the Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award in 2013.

Before joining Acadia, Jacobs cofounded Psychiatric Solutions Inc. and served as its chairman, president and CEO from April 1997 until November 2010. Before that, Jacobs served for 21 years in various roles with Hospital Corporation of America in Nashville, most recently as president of the Tennessee Division.