Jim Kennedy, Ann Coulter, Christian Rushing and Stroud Watson are pooling their talents to form an urban planning firm.
Mr. Kennedy, former head of the Chamber of Commerce and also the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said his Kennedy and Associates will become Kennedy, Coulter, Rushing & Watson.
He said the group is already working with LaGrange, Ga., and will also be involved in the redevelopment of Knoxville.
Mr. Kennedy said the firm will be working with a number of cities around the country in revitalization efforts.
Ms. Coulter, who formerly had top positions at the Planning Agency and RiverCity Company and who ran for mayor, said, "There is not a finer example of revitalization than Chattanooga."
Mr. Rushing and Mr. Watson were formerly at the Urban Design Studio.
The group held a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Hunter Museum to announce the new firm, which has offices at Jack's Alley.
Mr. Kennedy said, "We have been looking for great strategic thinkers to help grow our consultancy, and we hit the jackpot. Now we have the ability to offer planning and development services to cities as well as the individual companies, civic agencies and organizations they comprise."
He added, "This is a fabulous collection of expertise. As a Havard Design Loeb Fellow, Ann is recognized and respected in community development circles throughout the country. Christian has an incredibly bright planning mind and an amazing breadth of computer and design knowledge. And, of course, Stroud is in a class by himself when it comes to understanding what makes cities work."
Mr. Watson said, "This is a next step for me. I'm retired from the university, and I no longer have day-to-day responsibilities at the Design Studio, so I have the time to devote to it. And I'll be working alongside people I've been collaborating with for years. It's a very exciting proposition, and I know there are communities out there who can benefit from our experience."
Kennedy and Associates was founded in 2001. Mr. Kennedy said the firm first planned to do more marketing and public relations work, but wound up with more involvement in urban planning.