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
Nickie Gates, MBA
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.
Meredith Rivers, IOM
Senior Director, Member Services
Implements strategies to engage prospects as well as current members and investors. Directs efforts to retain members and investors. Manages membership team, develops and implements programs designed to retain members and investors. Manages and provides support to the Chamber Councils and Ambassadors program, oversees non-dues revenue.
423.763.4372
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
Randy Harr
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.
Charlye White
Coordinator, Member Services
Supports membership team through sales plan execution, new member onboarding, fulfilling information requests and engaging members in Chamber activities to promote retention and boost member capture of available benefits.
423.763.4353
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
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.
Yolonda Hayslett, MBA, PHR
Vice President, Finance
Directs the daily operations of the accounting and finance department with primary responsibility for financial reporting, cash and treasury management, accounts receivable, employee compensation and benefits.
423.763.4349
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
Justin Groenert, CCE, IOM
Vice President, Public Policy
Coordinates all governmental affairs and governmental relations strategies of the Chamber at the local, state, and federal levels.
423.763.4379
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, Chattanooga 2.0
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, Chattanooga 2.0
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, Chattanooga 2.0
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.
Economic & Talent Development
Charles Wood, CEcD
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.
423.763.4335
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
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
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
Abdiel Vallejo-Lopez, MFA
Senior Manager, Creative
Develops creative for promoting Chamber events and programs, as well as materials to market the area’s business assets. Administers the Chamber’s social media efforts including Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.
423.763.4371
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 alongside the Leadership Development Director in coordinating the logistics, promotion, 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
Yasmin Rubayo
Specialist, Social Media and Public Relations
Responsible for researching and developing digital, social, and paid media content to amplify engagement on social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as providing public relations support.
423.763.4378
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
