After more than a decade of building his craft and business from the ground up, Memphis filmmaker and entrepreneur Jason Thibodeauxhas received one of the state’s top honors, being named Tennessee’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The recognition, announced by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Tennessee District Office as part of its 2026 National Small Business Week honorees, places Thibodeaux among a select group of leaders driving innovation and economic growth across the state.
Each year, National Small Business Week highlights the role small businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening communities and shaping the nation’s economy.
“After 10+ years of staying consistent, being named Tennessee’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year is a powerful validation that I’m on the right path and very motivating,” Thibodeaux said. “It also shows that young creatives from Memphis can build something impactful and sustainable here instead of having to leave, and that hard work will be recognized.”
Thibodeaux is the founder of Millenium Media Label, a production company he launched in 2017 after beginning his filmmaking journey with a single camera in 2011. He has built a reputation for high-quality storytelling and working across documentaries, commercials and film projects throughout the region.
His growing portfolio includes serving as director of photography for several notable productions, including the feature film “Damaged Goods,” the documentary “A Spirit of Memphis,” which won Best Hometowner Feature at the 2023 Indie Memphis Film Festival, and “Hoop Street,” which has been accepted into the upcoming American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Fla, May 27-30. He also produced “Sistahood: A Story of Strength,” a powerful film highlighting Black trans women in Memphis, now recognized across multiple film festivals. Earlier in his career, he worked as a camera operator on “Queen Rising,” which screened in multiple Memphis theaters.
But for Thibodeaux, the work has always been about more than film — it’s about building infrastructure for the next generation.
Between 2024 and 2025, Thibodeaux expanded beyond production, developing a dedicated video production warehouse and studio in Memphis. In 2023 he purchased an 18,000-square-foot property with revenue generated from his work in the local creative economy. He later acquired two adjacent properties totaling nearly 40,000 square feet for future expansion.
“I’ve always wanted my own studio, but I never imagined it would be coming together this soon,” he said. “Seeing the clear gap in Memphis for a professional creative space that actually serves local talent and small businesses pushed me towards my goal faster than I expected.”
Once completed, the facility will include soundstage capabilities, production headquarters, collaborative workspaces and programming such as workshops, youth initiatives and cultural events, creating direct pathways for Memphis creatives to learn, grow and build sustainable careers.
“Memphis is home,” he said. “This city’s creative community gave me the tools and opportunity I needed to even dream this big, so I’m investing serious time, energy and money to build it here instead of leaving.”
Thibodeaux’s expansion has been supported by key partnerships, including guidance from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Southwest Tennessee Community College and financing through Pathway Lending. In 2025, he was awarded a $25,000 Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) ICE Loan/Grant.
Statewide, the SBA recognized several additional business leaders:
- Tennessee Small Business Person of the Year: Steven Cassidy, EOD Gear, Franklin
- Small Manufacturer of the Year: Temel Islamoglu, Anatolia Granite and Marble, Baxter
- Rural Small Business of the Year: Josh Flory, Flory Custom Woodworking, Riceville
- Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: Luke Dressman, Building and Repair Systems, Nashville
- Women-Owned Small Business of the Year: Erin Sparks, Sparks Vintage, La Vergne
Kelly Loeffler, SBA administrator, will honor state and territory winners during a national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 3. Steven Cassidy, Tennessee’s Small Business Person of the Year, will represent the state at the national level.
In addition, the SBA’s Tennessee District Office will host a statewide awards ceremony in Nashville on May 12 to celebrate all honorees.
“During National Small Business Week, SBA is honored to recognize the job creators, builders, and innovators who fuel our nation’s economy and anchor communities across America,” Loeffler said in a statement.
Since 1963, National Small Business Week has been recognized by the president of the United States as a time to celebrate the impact of entrepreneurs nationwide.
