The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia’s largest hunger relief organization serving 20 counties, announced the hiring of Melanie Hammontree as the new Northwest Georgia development officer. Mrs. Hammontree, a third generation Daltonian, will support the nine counties the Food Bank serves in Georgia. She will be based out of the Food Bank’s Northwest Georgia branch, 1111 South Hamilton St. in Dalton. "Mrs. Hammontree’s expertise will ensure the Food Bank’s long term strategies to eliminate hunger and promote better nutrition for the most vulnerable people in the area," officials said.
With prior experience in the banking industry at Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo), Mrs.
Hammontree has spent the past 13 years working with various non-profits in the Dalton area. Most recently, she worked at Dalton Arts Project and the Dance Theatre of Dalton, as well as served as president of the Dalton Middle School Booster Club.
“Combining Melanie’s expertise and dedication for our mission with her passion for serving her friends and neighbors in the Northwest Georgia community will allow the Food Bank to support our nine counties more effectively and efficiently,” said Gina Crumbliss, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. “We have the utmost confidence in Melanie as a respected leader in the Northwest Georgia community and have already seen a positive impact in our organization from having her on our team.”
A native of Dalton, Mrs. Hammontree attended Dalton Public Schools, earned an associate of science degree from Dalton State College and a bachelor of science in biology with a minor in psychology from Kennesaw State University. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves as a committee member for Dalton Arts Project.