Former Speaker of the House and General Chairman of American Solutions, Newt Gingrich, recently honored Ms. Tammy Francis, RN, Administrator of Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice as American Solutions' 2009 Entrepreneur of the year from Tennessee. Speaker Gingrich recognized Ms. Francis at an American Solutions awards dinner on Sept. 23, 2009 at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC.

"While Washington politicians are busy pushing for job-killing health care and energy taxes, it's important that successful businesswomen like Tammy are recognized for doing what it takes to create jobs. Unlike Washington, business leaders like Ms. Francis realize that America does not work if Americans are not working. I look forward to working with Tammy on advancing real solutions to help create more jobs and get our economy moving again," said Newt Gingrich.

Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice has been a leading privately owned home health and hospice agency for over 27 years serving 13 East Tennessee counties. Offices are located in Newport, Morristown, Greeneville, Kingsport and Knoxville (for hospice services only).