After 10 years with The Enterprise Center (TEC), Joe Ferguson said he is leaving TEC but plans to stay actively involved in other public initiatives in the community. Mr. Ferguson was originally appointed in 2003 by then Mayor Bob Corker to launch The Enterprise Center, which was established to “serve as the economic development arm of the city and bring together an even more powerful way for programs to strengthen our economy.”
One of TEC’s first undertakings was the funding and development of high speed rail between Chattanooga and Atlanta. Mr. Ferguson has worked to promote the initiative since its inception and more recently as director of special projects under TEC President and CEO J. Wayne Cropp, who took the helm in 2006.
“It has been a great honor and privilege to serve two mayors, city council members, The Enterprise Center’s boards of directors, as well as Wayne and his staff,” said Mr. Ferguson. “This is purely about timing and wanting to focus more on my family. As chairman of the EPB Board of Directors, I also want to devote the time required to working with the EPB Board and staff as we continue initiating exciting fiber optics projects and further develop the Smart Grid, which facilitates job creation in our region.”
Mr. Cropp said, “Joe has worked tirelessly for many years in the both the private and public sector to help make our region economically viable for business start-ups and existing business growth. He may be formally stepping away from his role here, but there is no doubt that we will all be working together through other partnerships for many years to come.”
Mr. Cropp said the high speed rail initiative, which includes securing funding to move the corridor study forward, remains a key area of focus for The Enterprise Center.