Contact Us
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Ron Harr, President & CEO Leads all Chamber efforts and acts as primary |
Lori Slatton, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO (423) 763-4351, email Provides administrative support to the president and CEO, as well as to the Chamber’s senior staff members and Board of Directors. |
As the epicenter of the Chamber network, the membership department works to grow and retain Chamber membership by delivering valuable products and services that match member needs. Through 12 Councils representing each subsection of the community, the membership team provides opportunities for members to network, discuss issues and participate in civic projects that benefit businesses and the community. The department also helps publicize members’ major events and milestones, advocates for their interests to decision-makers and connects them with the discounts and resources needed to help their businesses grow.
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Sandra Brewer, Vice President of Member-Investor Services (423) 763-4346, email Leads all efforts related to the delivery of member-investor value and benefits for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce including area councils, events, new member sales, member retention and a variety of programs. |
Stacy Carmosino, Event Coordinator Manages and coordinates all preparations and logistics related to events. Also manages Chamber Champions sponsorship program. Supports membership programs and Chamber events. |
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Whitney Dodson, Membership Administrative Assistant (423) 763-4375, email Assists with scheduling appointments, providing information to callers, maintaining records and files, coordinating meetings and providing a full range of support to the Membership Department. |
Brenda Harrison, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant (423) 763-4320, email Responds to and routes in-bound calls from Chamber members and people seeking information about the Chattanooga area. Prepares and sends relocation packets. Provides administrative support to various Chamber departments. |
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Ann Riley, Receptionist Responds to and routes in-bound calls from Chamber members and people seeking information about the Chattanooga area. Prepares and sends relocation packets. Provides administrative support to various Chamber departments. |
Meredith Rivers, Member & Investor Relations Coordinator (423) 763-4372, email Coordinates efforts to retain members and investors. |
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Mandy Senn, Director of Community Outreach Manages and supports the Chamber’s eleven area councils, the Chamber Ambassadors and related programming. |
Stratton Tingle, Account Executive Account representative for new member sales and EXPO Chattanooga booth sales. |
The economic development department supports job creation by recruiting new companies and assisting existing companies as they expand. Serving as a one-stop-shop for regional business information, the Chamber’s economic development team responds to requests for information (RFIs) and all other project requests related to the recruitment of new companies. As part of the existing business program, the department proactively conducts research on local industry to identify both expansion opportunities and potential threats to retention. In addition to serving as the region’s premiere source for business statistics and information, the economic development team also works to recruit business to the area by traveling the globe to build relationships with site selectors and prospective companies.
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Charles Wood, Vice President of Economic Development (423) 763-4335, email 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. |
Diane Beecher, Administrative Assistant Provides administrative support to the vice president of economic development, director of existing business development and the economic development staff. |
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Miriam Hamilton, Director of Research Leads Chamber’s research efforts, which include compiling statistical data sets related to economic development and workforce development. Hamilton also coordinates the Chamber’s response to Requests for Information on recruitment projects and existing business expansions. |
Lindsay Hiatt, Business Development Coordinator Provides administrative support to economic development and the recruitment program. |
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Steve Hiatt, Director of Existing Business Development (423) 763-4333, email Leads the Chamber’s existing business programs. |
Lucky Rouse, Business Development Specialist Provide support in the areas of existing business retention and expansion, existing business visitation, survey program management, volunteer coordination, B2B matchmaking, international business matchmaking and business recruitment. |
Entrepreneurial & Start Up Services
The Chamber manages the largest and most successful business startup and incubation program in the state of Tennessee. Located within the Hamilton County Business Development Center (BDC), INCubator is a strategic development program that takes a business from its conceptual stage through a defined three-year maturation process. Nearby at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), the Chamber manages the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth Accelerator (CEG). Designed for tech-based entrepreneurs who aren’t yet ready for bricks and mortar, the CEG serves as a catalyst for developing bright ideas into viable businesses or processes. Through a cooperation between Chamber staff, Hamilton County and the UTC School of Engineering, the INCubator and CEG offer access to free resources, affordable office space, counseling, mentoring and technical assistance from professors at the UTC School of Engineering.
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Kathryn Foster, Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (423) 752-9406, email Manages the INCubator and CEG. Foster also serves as staff |
Bill Lupia, Office Manager (INCubator/CEG) Coordinates day-to-day operations at the INCubator/CEG. |
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Tabitha Erickson, BDC Resource Coordinator (INCubator/CEG) (423) 752-4301, email Serves as receptionist of the INCubator/CEG and provides |
Robby Clark, Facilities Maintenance Manager (INCubator/CEG) Manages facilities maintenance for the INCubator/CEG. |
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Kwang No, Janitorial Technician (INCubator/CEG) Provides janitorial and light maintenance services for the INCubator/CEG. |
The public strategies department works to develop a friendly environment for the local business community through public policy advocacy at local, state and federal levels. Through partnerships with leaders in business, education and workforce development, the public strategies team also provides leadership training and community awareness to emerging leaders in the Chattanooga area with the goal of supporting a well-prepared workforce. Initiatives managed through the public strategies department include the Principal Leadership Academy, employability certification, Leadership Chattanooga, Chattanooga Insight and intercity visit coordination.
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Rob Bradham, Vice President of Public Strategies Leads public strategies and handles all public policy research and advocacy. |
Cathy Humble, Administrative Assistant Provides administrative support for public strategies and coordinates volunteers and event details for the School-to-Work programs. |
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Mattie Moran, Director of Workforce Development and Education (423) 763-4339, email Manages and implements workforce development and education programs. |
Diane Parks, Director of Leadership and Community Development (423) 763-4353, email Coordinates and manages community leadership programs including Leadership Chattanooga, Chattanooga Insight and intercity visits. |
African American Business Development
The mission of the African American Business Development Program is to support established and emerging minority owned businesses in the Greater Chattanooga Area. The program strives to be a civic model for the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies that advance productivity, innovation and economic growth. We believe that purposeful economic inclusion efforts will provide for greater success of the entire business community.
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Maria Noel, Director of African American Business Development Leads the Chamber's African American Business Development Program including working with minority owned businesses, engaging community leaders in the effort, and developing new initiatives to achieve the African American Business Development mission. |
The marketing and communications department is responsible for communicating the Chamber’s value to members and investors and for marketing the Chattanooga area to business recruitment prospects. Through local, national and international public relations campaigns, members of the marketing and communications team keep an expansive range of audiences informed about trends and opportunities for growth in the local business community. Publications coordinated by this department include Business Trend, a quarterly magazine circulating to 8,000 area business leaders and national site selection consultants, BottomLines, a bi-monthly member e-newsletter, the Chattanooga Resource & Relocation Guide, an executive recruitment publication and Chamber member directory, and Investor Insider, a quarterly briefing that delivers economic development information to investors and volunteer leadership.
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J.Ed. Marston, Vice President of Marketing and Communications (423) 763-4347, email Leads Chamber communications and efforts to market the region for business recruitment and relocation, serves as Chamber spokesperson, handles both national and local media calls and acts as creative director and lead copywriter for Chamber communications. |
Tia Capps, Writer & Communications Coordinator Serves as managing editor for Business Trend magazine, scripts and recruits guests for Taking Care of Business, manages the department’s internship program and serves as copywriter for Chamber communications. |
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Jeremy Henderson, Graphic Designer Develops creative for promoting Chamber events and programs, as well as materials to market the area’s business assets and administers the Chamber’s social media efforts including Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. |
Eric Lisica, Web Content Administrator Manages the Chamber’s membership database, produces BottomLines and takes lead in updating and implementing new content to the Chamber’s Web sites. |
The finance and administration department delivers technical support services that enable other departments to access the resources required to provide exceptional programming to area businesses. Members of the finance and administration department ensure adequate cash flow is available to support programming and make certain vendor relationships are handled in accordance with best practices in purchasing and procurement. Through the human resources function of the department, staff members manage the payroll, benefits and training needs of Chamber employees to ensure the organization is positioned to recruit and retain top talent. The finance and administration department also coordinates the Chamber’s information systems, which supports and informs decision-making in all aspects of the organization. As the Chamber’s administrative entity, the department manages the INCubator program at the Hamilton County Business Development Center and the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth (CEG) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).
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Cheryl Millsaps, Vice President of Finance and Administration (423) 763-4344, email Leads and manages all efforts related to finance, human resources, facilities management, and the INCubator. Serves as staff liaison to the Finance Committee and the Chamber Foundation. |
Yolonda Hayslett, Accountant II Primarily responsible for accounting relating to the Foundation; accounts receivable for Chamber and Foundation, employee payroll and benefits. |
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Stacy Yakimowich, Accountant Handles accounts payable, cash control and financials for all Chamber Councils. |
Dustin Harris, Network Administrator Manages the Chamber’s computer systems including maintenance, updating, and acquiring new systems. |
