The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce announces the membership roster for the incoming Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2023.
"Leadership Chattanooga is the premier leadership-development and civic-engagement program for established professionals in the greater-Chattanooga region," officials said. "Since 1984 the program has positioned local civic, nonprofit and business leaders for personal and professional excellence through experiential learning opportunities, community service projects and exclusive access to Chattanooga’s top leaders."
Over a 10-month period --beginning in August and adjourning with a graduation event in May-- participants meet monthly for daylong sessions where they learn leadership skills, as well as more about Chattanooga and what’s needed to support the region’s ongoing growth and success.
"We welcome our incoming Class of 2023 and applaud their dedication and commitment to learning more about our community as they also advance their leadership skills," said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. "Leadership Chattanooga is a development program unlike any other, where talented people from all walks of life come together to find real-world solutions to challenges facing our community."
This year’s class of 45 leaders from all backgrounds showcases the professional, geographic and demographic diversity found within greater Chattanooga, officials said.
Candidates admitted to the incoming Class of 2023 include:
- Stephen Adams, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
- Lisa Atkins, Alorica
- Laura Bass, Zillion
- Shawnice Beard, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- Sam Berry, Rise Partners
- Jeremy Bradford, Xpress Global Systems
- Hamilton Brock, Twelve Stones Property Group
- Micah Chapman, Word Empowerment Church
- Tracy Collings Reed, Siskin Hospital for Rehabilitation
- Jennifer Crum, Chattanooga Lookouts
- Bobby Dolan, Reagan Outdoor
- Josh Eckelberry, Solas Bioventures
- Ronald Elliott, City of Chattanooga
- JP Evans, Urban Story Ventures
- Amanda Fabrizio-Grzesik, Tivoli Theatre Foundation
- Katrina Farmer, The Double Cola Company
- Janette Goldsmith, The Knowledge Firm LLC
- Adam Gutzman, First Horizon Bank
- John Haley, Unum
- Randal Harrell, Synovus Bank
- John Hawbaker, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- Judy Herman, Counselor/Author
- Alisha Hixson, Tennessee River Gorge Trust
- Amber Hoyle, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga
- Rachel Inman, Cempa Community Care
- Jake Johnson, CHI Memorial Foundation
- Calandra Jones, Tennessee Valley Authority
- Stacey Keating, CBL Properties
- Gabe Kurtz, Tennessee Valley Authority
- Kim Leffew, Girls Preparatory School
- Shaquanta Locke, Volkswagen Group of America
- Sue Luse, Astec Industries
- Stacy Martin, Displaycraft Inc.
- Jack McAfee, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority
- Layra Navarro-Flores, Hamilton County Dept. of Education
- Cindee McBride, Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians
- Tenasa McGhee, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga
- Casey Miller, The Enterprise Center (Tech Goes Home Chattanooga)
- Chloé Morrison, The Company Lab
- Beth Norton, Chattanooga State Community College
- Carolyn Ridge, Parkridge Health System
- Jasmin Rippon, Journey Health Foundation
- Jessica Stack, Tinker Ma LLC
- Andrew Stephenson, CrowdCheck Law LLP
- Leanna Young, FirstBank
Dr. Trae Cotton, interim dean of Humanities & Fine Arts and assistant professor of speech communication at Chattanooga State Community College, will chair Leadership Chattanooga’s Curriculum Committee for 2022-2023. In recent years the program’s curriculum was updated to align with the Chamber’s Chattanooga Climbs strategic plan.
"A diverse group of LC-alumni volunteers will assist Dr. Cotton and Chamber staff on a yearlong effort to build on this strong foundation and continue improving programmatic curriculum, to reflect both contemporary topics and the Chattanooga community," officials said.
On Thursday the Chamber will launch the 2022-2023 program year with an Orientation and Welcome Reception for the incoming Class at its new Chattanooga Chamber Connection Center by EPB. Leadership Chattanooga alumni are invited to stop by and greet the new class between 5-7 p.m. at 811 Broad St.