Tullahoma native Jared Hood is no stranger to work. In fact, he might be one of its biggest fans.
As the sun rises, so does he, eager to conquer the day, take care of business, and look for new opportunities. Since he was 16, he has worked in the Tullahoma community, growing and learning in whatever position he has taken.
Some of you, like myself, know him as the friendly and courteous cashier at the Food Lion grocery store. Others have been helped significantly through his extensive knowledge of banking at Coffee County Bank. Now, he’s pushing his knowledge and skills further and in a new direction, as he owns a well-known and long-held business in the community, Access Title & Escrow Inc. You could call Hood a local entrepreneur of sorts. At just 26 years old, he’s already making an impression on his small town and is just getting started.
GETTING STARTED
Hood knew hard work would carry him far, and with that in mind, he got started. At 16 years old, he was hired as a cashier at Food Lion in Tullahoma. Hood said he enjoyed the job and his customers and fellow employees.
“I just really enjoyed working there,” he said. “You get to know people who come through your line, and they become friends. I also enjoyed my co-workers.”
Upon graduating in 2014, Hood went to Motlow and then on to the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH). He majored in accounting — a love Hood said he got from his mother, Jeri Lynn Allman. Also, while attending school full time, he continued to work full time at Food Lion.
“My mother has worked in the banking industry since I was born, so I knew I wanted to pursue accounting. While attending UAH, I decided to commute to campus and continue to stay here in town. I loved my job and where I lived,” said Hood.
After graduating from UAH, Hood took a job with Coffee County Bank. He would also continue to work at his much-loved first job, Food Lion. Hood was also venturing into another vital role as a husband during this time. Marrying his sweetheart, Martha Brooke, in 2018 was a moment that Jared was very proud of. It also solidified his determination to be able to provide for his wife.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Always looking for new opportunities, Jared began to do just that. After speaking with Ginny Pack Wehrle, long-time owner of Access Title and Escrow, he decided it was time to enter a new adventure.
“Ginny told me she was thinking about selling the business,” said Jared. “I had worked with her several times during my time at the bank. So I made her an offer, and she accepted. I was 25 when I took ownership in January 2022. It was a little bit of a learning curve, but it’s been worth it.”
Jared said it’s been a joy to work with the community as they become homeowners and citizens of the community.
He also keeps busy as the landlord of several properties in town, along with recently purchasing a farm where he and his wife, Martha Brooke, intend to build a home for their two daughters. While there isn’t much time for a vacation for Jared, he wants to do his best to be an asset to the community while making a good life for his children.
“I just wanted to provide and make a good life for my kids,” he added.
Martha Brooke added that Jared’s work ethic is truly unique.
“Jared has one of the best work ethics I’ve ever witnessed,” she explained. “Many people met him when he worked at Food Lion in high school and college. He worked countless hours here and truly enjoyed every second of it. Jared has worked so hard to get to where he is now and continues to have bigger plans for the future. He has had to work for everything he has accomplished this far in life, but I don’t think he would have it any other way. He loves to work and provide for our girls and me, [and] help Tullahoma thrive and grow. I am so, so proud of him.”
She also stated that she and Jared are proud to be active members of the Tullahoma community and proud to call the town home.
“One thing that has always bugged me is when people say that to be successful and happy, it’s important to leave where you came from and find your way somewhere new,” she said. “While this may be true for some, it isn’t true for everyone. If it were, family-centered towns like Tullahoma would have difficulty existing. I believe it’s important for young couples to settle down where they are happy and invest in that community. This can happen in many ways, not just by owning a business but by working with your child’s school’s Parent Teacher Organization, participating in a South Jackson Civic Center production, or helping with vacation Bible school during the summer at your church. Young couples need to use the talents that God gave them to pour back into their community. We cannot expect things to keep improving for our children if we don’t help make it happen.” GN
