Five people all newcomers to Nashville should know

New to town? Welcome to Nashville!

Yeah, yeah, hot chicken, country music, celebrity chefs, exploding growth. But the people make it special. Here are five you should know. These folks will get you plugged in fast.

• Renata Soto — The city’s (and maybe Tennessee’s) leading immigrants’ activist, Soto runs Conexion Americas, home to all sorts of agencies and activities for new Americans — and longtime ones, too. Soto’s bright personality and easy demeanor endear her to virtually anyone she meets. That includes President Barack Obama, who visited Conexion Americas in December .

• George Armistead— A former Metro councilman, Armistead is a big guy with a gigantic personality. In a room of 200 Kiwanis and guests, Armistead can call about 180 names.

• Marcus Whitney — The coolest of Nashville’s tech entrepreneurs, Whitney has pumped up innovation more than any other. Oh, and the guy gives TED talks! And talk about diverse: Whitney changed the look of the congregation at The Temple when he converted to Judaism a few years back.

• Joey Newkirk — A longtime hot bartender at PLAY Dance Bar on the city’s gay club strip, Newkirk charms with natural high energy and a super-positive outlook. Oh, and he’s a singer, too. That’s sooooooo Nashville.

• Avi Poster — A Chicago native, Poster is an energetic, funny Nashville figure in all things education, liberal, cross-cultural, human rights and deli. Poster has hosted every Middle Tennessee community leader — and a few celebrities — at his favorite restaurant, Noshville, in Midtown.

Reach Brad Schmitt at 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.