Alan Richelson

Two Chattanoogans and an Ohio resident are the three finalists in the city’s Office of Multicultural Affairs’ search for an executive director.

“All three of these individuals are very qualified,” said Dr. Barbara Medley, the OMA’s interim executive director.

The finalists are BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee manager Beverly Cosley, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga professor Dr. Jean Howard-Hill and Kimberly J. Moss, a work force development specialist/human resource representative from Akron, Ohio.

The OMA search committee mailed a letter Wednesday to Mayor Ron Littlefield informing him of the advisory board’s recommendations. Mr. Littlefield will interview the three candidates and select the OMA executive director or reject them and continue the search process, officials said.

Dr. Medley said she hopes to have the position filled by the first of October.

“This is a city department that has a very vital service to fill toward Chattanooga in terms of compliance and ensuring that we meet the city’s objective for inclusion of all citizens in the growth and benefits of the city,” Dr. Medley said.

The Multicultural Affairs director will be responsible for overseeing three full-time employees, one contract employee and an annual budget of $459,296, officials said. The office is responsible for investigating housing and employment discrimination complaints and promoting cultural and religious tolerance.

The salary range for the position is $75,000 to $85,000, according to the job announcement.

Beverly Cosley holds a master’s degree in administration supervision and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She has been the manager of the Tennessee Health Foundation at BlueCross since 2004. Before that, she served as director of the Office of Communication Outreach for the Chattanooga Police Department from 1998 to 2004.

Dr. Howard-Hill received a nod from Jacqueline Strong Moss, the former Office of Multicultural Affairs executive director.

“She produces a professional, high-quality product that exceeds expectations,” wrote Ms. Moss in a letter about Dr. Howard-Hill’s work.

* Experience: Workforce Development Specialist/Human Resources Representative at Summa Health System, Akron, Ohio, 2006-present; manager of Recruiting, Employee and Organizational Development Center for Families and Children, Cleveland, Ohio, 2004-2005

* Education: Master’s degree in nonprofit organizations; bachelor’s degree in journalism

Dr. Howard-Hill has done research for the OMA office and holds a doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville and a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and government from Wheaton College in Massachusetts.

Ms. Moss of Akron, Ohio, holds a master’s degree in nonprofit organizational management and a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

As a work force development specialist/human resources representative with Summa Health System in Akron, she developed several programs to create future health care professionals in medical science and nursing. She also has researched and found funding resources to support work force development initiatives, according to her resume.