photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph Tom Mullins speaks to a group of students at W.A. Peete Elementary in Tyler Wednesday after he was announced as the 2015 Laureate of the year. The elementary participates in the JA program which provides hands-on experiences that give students knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.

Tom Mullins was named the Junior Achievement 2015 Business Hall of Fame Laureate of the Year in a Junior Achievement of the Greater Tyler Area press conference on Wednesday.

The award is the organization’s highest honor. Junior Achievement will present the award to Mullins at a ceremony on April 30 at the Rose Garden.

Mullins has served as president and CEO of the Tyler Economic Development Council since June 1989 and as the president and CEO of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce since March of 1992.

“Recently, Tom won the Road Hand Award from the Texas Department of Transportation for his outstanding work on the Loop 49 expansion project. Junior Achievement of Tyler is honored that Tom has accepted our invitation to be inducted,” said Chad Cargile, president of Regions Bank.

Cargile thanked Mullins for being a role model for other aspiring business leaders and entrepreneurs.

“During his 30 years as a Certified Economic Developer, Tom has assisted hundreds of companies with startup or expansion plans like John Soules Foods, Mentoring Minds, Hebb Industries, Distant Lands, the Target Distribution Center, Sealtite, SPEA America, Motor Trike and Genesis,” Cargile said.

The role of Junior Achievement is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy, according to a press release.

The JA programs provide hands-on experiences that give students knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Junior Achievement estimates it serves 4,000 Tyler area students, totaling more than 90,000 students since 1988.