Deserved Kiwanis honor for Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce leader Tom Edd Wilson

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Tom Edd Wilson

It would be hard to think of a more deserving recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga's Distinguished Service Award than Tom Edd Wilson, chief executive of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.

With direct help from the chamber, scores of companies have produced a total of more than 13,000 local jobs during Wilson's time at the organization. Moreover, the chamber had its biggest economic development capital fund drive under Wilson's leadership. It raised $9 million from public and private sources to promote a far-reaching job creation strategy from 2003 to 2007. Subsequent campaigns have raised tens of millions of additional dollars to boost the local economy.

Helping bring the massive Volkswagen plant to Chattanooga and helping persuade Alstom to expand operations in the city are just two of the many other accomplishments by Wilson and his team.

That record of service to the community has justly led to his being honored by the Kiwanis -- on top of previous honors such as Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year and the Boy Scouts of America National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

We offer hearty congratulations.