Dorothy Lee Grisham, AllState Insurance

Dorothy Grisham runs a full-service AllState Insurance agency, licensed in Tennessee and Georgia, that she has owned for more than two decades. She and her associates offer their customers a full range of personal and business services which include home, auto, life, property and workplace insurance coverage. The complement of offerings is rounded out by financial and estate planning.

When Grisham was being recruited by AllState Insurance 27 years ago, she had a choice of two locations -- Chattanooga, Tennessee or Raleigh, North Carolina. After visiting both cities, she recognized even then that Chattanooga held a great deal of promise for her and her business.

As the first African-American agent licensed in Tennessee, she was seeking an environment that was supportive of minority professionals. She noted the growing number of minority business owners – physicians, attorneys, accountants, and others. Over the years many of these professionals have become long-time customers.

Centrally located within the region, Chattanooga allows Dorothy the ability to easily conduct business in Chattanooga and North Georgia. A fertile environment for business, coupled with the quality of life offered by Chattanooga, attracted Grisham to the city. Twenty-seven years later, they are the same factors that keep her and her family here.