From a childhood rooted in country living to scaling and exiting a multi-million-dollar business, and now building the largest online social hub in the Upper Cumberland, Influential Person Blair Dudley has lived a diverse journey grounded in advocacy for others.
“I grew up on a farm outside of Nashville and learned independence and how to think on my own as a boy in rural Tennessee,” Blair shared. “As an adult, I built and sold a successful company, and along the way, I realized I genuinely enjoyed learning people’s stories and connecting needs with solutions.”
That passion ultimately shaped his mission with Hip Cookeville.
“My mission with Hip Cookeville is to create positive, collaborative spaces that connect people, businesses, and solutions while fostering a sense of community,” he said. “That’s what we’ve done with our business directory, and that’s what we’ve done with our Facebook group.”
Hip Cookeville is deeply committed to building up Putnam County by promoting local businesses, celebrating the arts, and addressing critical community needs such as access to resources. “By using local talent, local resources, and technology, our team is working to create a stronger, more connected Upper Cumberland,” Blair explained.
That mission is evident through the organization’s many partnerships and events. Hip Cookeville partners with the Cookeville Performing Arts Center to present the popular Summer Concert Series each year, bringing fresh musical talent to the community. Each Halloween, the organization teams up with the City of Cookeville for the Cookeville Treat Trail, providing a safe trunk-or-treat experience in Dogwood Park. Hip Cookeville also produces the Upper Cumberland Hispanic Heritage Festival each September and the Firefly Festival each April, both celebrating local culture and talent.
“When I moved here from Nashville in 2014, I missed three things,” Blair recalled. “Lightning 100 radio, Nashville hot chicken, and the ability to hear live music anytime I wanted.”
Motivated by that gap, Blair gathered a group of like-minded individuals and booked their first show—Forever Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band.
“We sold around 250 tickets and knew we were onto something,” he said. “Through these concerts, the community has learned to see CPAC as a legitimate concert venue, and I’m incredibly proud of our team for helping shift that perception.”
Beyond events and online engagement, Hip Cookeville also helps manage Cookeville Community Cares, a resource group launched in the winter of 2022 to assist individuals seeking shelter during extreme weather conditions.
“Last year, we housed and fed 43 people during a brutally cold stretch of weather in the Upper Cumberland,” Blair said. “We’ve received tremendous support from local businesses, individuals, and the city, which made that care possible. We’re already preparing for this year and need donations and volunteers to continue serving those impacted by weather-related conditions.”
As the interview came to a close, Blair reflected on being recognized as an Influential Person and what he hoped readers would take away from the feature.
“I would love for this article to bring awareness to Hip Cookeville’s team and mission,” he said. “While I’m the president, none of this would be possible without the incredible people behind the scenes—especially our moderators, who often receive pushback while making decisions in the best interest of the community.”
He continued, “I also hope this inspires businesses to join our local business directory, where our 80,000 members actively search for local services. And for individuals, we need continued support to serve the hundreds of thousands of people who interact with our platform each year. It truly takes a village, but seeing the positive impact on the Upper Cumberland makes it all worth it.”
Blair Dudley and the Hip Cookeville team give tirelessly to the Cookeville community, and we are proud to celebrate their incredible impact in this edition of Influential People.
— written by Andrew Buckner | Photos by Abby Weeden
