Organizational Achievements

• Achieved a 4-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, placing the Chattanooga Chamber among the top 10% of chambers nationally.
• Blane, Canada, Ltd. recognized the Chamber for excellence in the design, execution and impact of its existing business strategy.
• Raised $9.3 million to fund Chattanooga CAN DO from July 2007 to June 2011.

Member-Investor Services

• Retained 82% of member-investors. Maintained 17% market share of approximately 8,500 local businesses.
• Hosted 161 events with more than 11,000 attendees.
• Referred more than 1,000 member-investors to customers via phone and email.
• Launched Quick Connect speed networking to sell-out participation.
• Introduced monthly Business Building Blocks seminar series.

Economic Development

• During the four years of the Tell the World! campaign, the Chattanooga regional economy netted 15,100 new jobs and achieved a job growth rate of 6.5%.
• Completed business development efforts across the U.S., in Europe, Japan, and China.
• Hosted 14 site selection consultants from around the country for a Red Carpet Tour of Chattanooga.
• Provided leadership training to 40 emerging leaders in business, government and non-profit sectors.
• The Business Development Center continued to house some 60 start-ups with about 400 employees.
• Center for Entrepreneurial Growth assisted 47 technology-based companies that employ over 135 people.
• Workforce Development carried career readiness programs to 15,000 Hamilton County students.

Public Policy

• Contributed to the legislative effort to equalize the state’s Basic Education Plan funding formula resulting in an additional $11 million to Hamilton County schools this year.
• Successfully advocated for several measures providing tax credits and financial incentives for existing industry and recruited companies.
• Joined our area’s legislative delegation to secure funding and approval for a new library and other capital projects at UTC.

Marketing & Communications

• External PR campaign reached over 10 million readers, which included placements in US Airways Magazine and USA Today.
• Implemented “Best Business Connections Around” brand messaging and campaign.
• Coordinated 13 press conferences and handled over 300 media inquiries.
• Assisted more than 100 member-investor companies with press releases.

Education Initiative

• Wrote a grant resulting in $49,811 for the Education Initiative Business Plan.
• Recruited and trained two “Education Emissaries” to promote the initiative.
• Completed a study of the business community’s workforce needs and the opportunities for developing a comprehensive career academy system.