Holly Ashley
The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute announced Holly Ashley as its new executive director, effective Oct. 17.
Prior to joining CWLI, Ms. Ashley worked with the economic development team at the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce from 2014 to 2016, supporting domestic and international business recruitment, expansion and entrepreneurship projects. She has worked in the social service nonprofit sector since 2004, previously leading fundraising and communications projects and managing programs at United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Ms. Ashley completed her master’s in business management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2013, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in Human Services Management in 2004. She is a Hamilton County public schools graduate and a first generation college student.
Ms. Ashley’s current volunteer leadership activities include serving on the YMCA’s Youth Leadership Chattanooga committee and as president of the CSLA strings committee and vice president of the Friends of CSLA fund at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts where her daughter attends. She is also a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, class of 2011, and a member of the LCAA.
Ms. Ashley and her husband of 16 years, Shane, and 12-year-old daughter, Isabella, live in Chattanooga with their two cats, two dogs and an abundance of intentional silliness. She is originally from Cleburne, Texas and has lived in Chattanooga since she was four years old.
Patti Frierson, board president, said, "On behalf of our search committee, I want to let all of you know how excited we are that Holly will be joining us. Her vision, talents, skills and experience are a perfect match for CWLI."