Why 3 Tech Entrepreneurs Built Their Business in Williamson County 

Three tech entrepreneurs found a welcoming community to start and grow their businesses. Here are their stories. 

By Joe Morris on December 5, 2022

Start here, grow here and stay here.

Businesses, especially newer ones, value stability, which Williamson County offers in abundance. From the unmatched quality of life to a business-friendly environment, Williamson County offers tech entrepreneurs a great place to put down roots. 

Here are some entrepreneurs that call the area home and how the companies they lead are helping continue Williamson County’s growth as a hub for the diverse tech industry.

Chris Cochran, CEO

FreightWise
FreightWise began in 2014 after Cochran spent years working for other freight-technology providers. He and his team had great ideas, proven by 733% growth from 2019 to 2021 and landing on the Inc. 5000 list.

FreightWise provides cloud-based software that helps clients streamline processes, automate tasks, gain cost-saving insights and improve their customers’ experience.

The team’s experience and the company’s buying power mean that clients can optimize their supply chain and get the best pricing while also managing contracts and other operational tasks. And it’s all done with transparency, innovation, trustworthiness, respect and gratitude.

Spencer Patton

Founder & President, Patton Logistics
Area native Spencer Patton is a Vanderbilt University graduate whose Patton Logistics serves as an independent service provider, or ISP, to FedEx Ground. The company manages a fleet of 275 trucks and 225 employees across the U.S. He also owns Route Consultant, one of the fastest-growing logistics and e-commerce experts in the United States.

Patton is an active investor in bitcoin, stocks and commodities for himself and others. In that area, he owns 26 S corporations with more than 400 employees across 10 states. His expertise has been sought out by such media outlets as Fox Business, the Washington Post, NASDAQ.com, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.

Away from the office, he is a Little League umpire, a tutor for underprivileged youth and chairman of the Williamson County Red Cross board.

Dr. Bill Dickinson, AU.D, & Dr. David Gnewikow, PH.D.

Founders, Tetra Hearing 
Tetra Hearing develops audio-enhancement hearing devices and is one of the Franklin Innovation Center’s first-round startups. Dickinson and Gnewikow co-founded their business to create devices that are as good as custom aids for most any audio needs, from music production and engineering to medically necessary hearing loss correction.

A huge growth market for Tetra has been outdoor sports, with hunters hailing the devices as a game-changer. Its AlphaShield product won the Best Technology of the Year award from Guns and Ammo in January 2020, followed by American Hunter’s 2021 Golden Bullseye award for Gear of the Year.

“We make your hearing normal, so you’re fully engaged, you’re fully

connected, you’re fully immersed in whatever your passion is,” Dickson told the Williamson Home Page. “You can be completely connected to your surroundings, and we have identified the specific frequencies that you need to hear for that pursuit.”