Office of the President & CEO

Charles Wood

President & CEO

Leads all Chamber efforts. Serves as primary interface with the Chamber Board. Directs senior management team.

423.763.4335

 

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Provides administrative support to the president and CEO, as well as to the Chamber’s senior staff members and Board of Directors.

423.763.4396

OPERATIONS – MEMBER-INVESTOR RELATIONS, ACCOUNTING, HR, IT, FACILITY MGMT.​​

Yolonda Hayslett, MBA, PHR

Vice President, Finance

Leads all efforts related to member-investor services, accounting, finance, human resources, information management, legal and risk management, compliance, and facilities operations, as well as providing ancillary support to collaborative initiatives.

423.763.4349

Ben Cairns

Director, Member and Investor Relations

Generates revenue for Chamber and Foundation by developing strong relationships with existing and potential members and stakeholders. Promotes transformational investments for the Chamber and supports ongoing fundraising efforts and investor engagement for the Foundation.

423.763.4331

 

Account Executive

Generates revenue for the Chamber by building relationships with potential members and onboarding new members. Supports member businesses by engaging them in Chamber activities to promote retention and lasting relationships.

Brenda Harrison

Administrative Assistant, Operations

Responds to and routes in-bound calls from Chamber members and people seeking information about the Chattanooga area. Provides administrative support to various Chamber departments. Prepares and sends relocation packets.

423.763.4320

Ann Riley

Administrative Assistant, Operations

Responds to and routes in-bound calls from Chamber members and people seeking information about the Chattanooga area. Provides administrative support to various Chamber departments. Prepares and sends relocation packets. 

423.763.4352

Jesse Branum

Director of Accounting

Directs the daily operations of the accounting and finance department with primary responsibility for financial reporting, cash and treasury management, accounts receivable, and employee compensation and benefits.

423.763.

Dustin Harris 

Senior Director, Information Technology

Directs the daily operations of the Chamber’s information management systems, computer hardware and telephony systems including maintenance, updating, and acquiring new systems to ensure seamless operation and minimize downtime. 

423.763.4354

Lauren Topping 

Database and Applications Specialist

Responsible for deployment and maintenance of membership database and other application, SharePoint and reporting.

DonTée Merriwether

Manager, Facility Operations

Provides a full range of support services to ensure the optimization of Chamber facilities, including tenant relations, vendor management, maintenance, room setup, technology support, and other duties related to the efficient and effective use of the 811 Building.

Public Policy

Cathy Humble

Coordinator II, Public Policy

Provides administrative support for public strategies and coordinates volunteers and event details for the School-to-Work programs.

423.763.4321

Ross Katayama

Coordinator, Councils

Provides support by performing coordination and execution of Council related activities including board and regular monthly meetings as well as other membership related duties.

423-763-4368 

Diversity & Inclusive Growth

Lorne Steedley

Vice President, Diversity and Inclusive Growth

Works closely with the Senior Director of Talent Initiatives, other members of the talent team and key business leaders and volunteers to develop and manage an aligned talent attraction and retention system for greater Chattanooga. Manages Young Professionals of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Insight, ChattaNewbies, talent recruitment supports and more.

Darian Scott

Director, Talent & Economic Inclusion

Leads the Chamber’s economic inclusion efforts by engaging with and recruiting historically disadvantaged segments of the community while promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and workforce development.

423.763.4362

Chattanooga 2.0

Keri Randolph

Executive Director

As Executive Director of Chattanooga 2.0, the Cradle-to-Career partnership of Greater Chattanooga, leads Chattanooga 2.0 in building cross-sector partnerships to ensure every student has the resources and support they need to unlock their full potential.

423.763.4345

Jennifer Andrews

Director of Early Childhood Strategies

Provides intensive daily support to the Chattanooga 2.0 team and coalition. Responsible for planning and coordinating meetings, collaborative projects, and events for Chattanooga 2.0’s action teams, as well as researching best practices, developing promotional materials, and serving as a communications liaison.

423.763.4355

Brandon Hubbard-Heitz

Director of Literacy and Student Strategy

Aligns and leads community-wide efforts to increase early literacy in partnership with Hamilton County Schools while also collaborating with stakeholders to improve whole child supports outside of school time.

Andrew Hudson

Director of Viable Pathways

Provides project management and implementation support to design, launch, and support the viable pathways to prosperity initiative, creating career pathways for students and young adults.

Samantha Eaton

Program Assistant

Helps coordinate innovative projects to support Hamilton County’s early care and education system.

Economic & Talent Development

Adam Myers

Vice President, Economic and Talent Development

Manages and coordinates all efforts related to economic development including business recruitment, existing business, and research. Serves as the Chamber’s primary business recruitment officer.

423.763.4350

Steve Hiatt

Director, Existing Business Development

Directs the Chamber’s existing business development team in implementing strategies that both retain existing businesses and support their expansion. 

423.763.4333

Miriam Hamilton, TCEcD

Director, Research

Leads Chamber’s research efforts, which include compiling statistical data sets related to economic and workforce development. Assists with information gathering for recruitment RFIs, members, investors and regional economic development partners.

423.763.4334

Lindsay Hiatt, TCECD

Director, Economic Development

Manages project activity related to the recruitment of prospective businesses and serves as the Chamber’s first point of contact for all related inquiries, including the coordination of formal responses to Requests for Information. Provides technical support to companies and site consultants considering a location in the Chattanooga region.

423.763.4337

Marcherie Savage

Marketing Coordinator, Economic Development

Helps with developing and executing marketing strategies, marketing plans, as well as conceptualizing and designing creative marketing assets for a range of platforms to promote the growth of Chattanooga’s economy.

423.763.4369

Christina Henderson, SHRM-CP

Director, Talent Development

Develops and maintains partnerships with Hamilton County Schools and other workforce partners focused on workforce training, youth apprenticeships and work-based learning in support of our target industry sectors.

423.763.4370

Tessa Vance

Administrative Assistant

Provides professional administrative and organizational support to the economic and talent team. 

423.763.4338

The INCubator at the Hamilton County Business Development Center (BDC)

Bill Lupia

Director, Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Manages The INCubator program that provides resources for growth and financial stability for 70+ start up business. Serves as staff liaison to the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

706-962-3329 

Kelly Greene

Office Coordinator

Coordinates day-to-day operations at The INCubator.

423-752-4301

Jossy Garcia

INCubator Marketing and Events Coordinator

Serves as marketing coordinator for the INCubator and INCubator events. Manages social media accounts and online platforms for the INCubator.

423.648.2941

Robert Clark

Facility Maintenance Technician

Oversees facility maintenance and vendor relationships at The INCubator.

423.752.4301, ext. 2005

Kwang No

Janitorial Technician

Provides janitorial and light maintenance services for The INCubator.

423.752.4301

Marketing & Engagement

Sybil Topel, MFA, IOM

Vice President, Marketing and Engagement

Leads Marketing Communications, Leadership Development, and Events teams, and serves as Chamber spokesperson. Builds the Chamber brand and manages marketing communications on the national, regional and local levels. Leads in developing and executing a world-class communications program through managing activities that advance, enhance and protect the brand reputation of the Chattanooga Chamber, the Chamber Foundation and their respective programs.

423.763.4347

Kerry Beth Carico, IOM

Director, Investor Engagement

Leads and directs all programs and initiatives designed to deliver superior benefits and services to our top investors, including top investor engagement and relationship-building. Directs the Chattanooga Chamber Signature Event Sponsorship Program. This includes retention of sponsors and execution of benefit delivery. Oversees social media marketing as related to external events. 

423.763.4357

Toya Moore

Leadership Development Director

Develops and manages an aligned talent engagement system for greater Chattanooga – focusing on the professional development of early career, mid-career and established professionals through programs including Young Professionals of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Insight, ChattaNewbies, talent recruitment supports and more.

423.763.4378

Matthew Gines

Leadership Development Coordinator

Works closely with the Leadership Development Director in coordinating the logistics and support of Leadership Chattanooga, Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association, Young Professionals of Chattanooga, Protégé Chattanooga, and ChattaNewbies.

Melissa Wallace 

Coordinator II, Events

Supports programs and initiatives designed to deliver superior benefits and services for Top Investors. Assists with planning and implementation of Chamber Signature Events including coordinating marketing for signature events through trade agreements with local TV and radio outlets. Primary lead for event planning of AM Networking Events, Business After Hours and ribbon cuttings. 

423.763.4376

Caleb Stambaugh

Designer, Interactive Content

Creates digital content for the Chamber. Serves as in-house videography and podcast producer. Updates and maintains Chamber’s website.

423.763.4374

Lori Slatton

Executive Assistant, Marketing and Engagement

Assists RDG consulting firm with Chattanooga Climbs campaign, supporting CEO Roundtable and High-Growth CEOs

423.763.4351