Ann Ball
Native Chattanoogan Ann Ball has been a visible and important force in most of the premier events in Chattanooga. Demonstrating a reputation for quality and creativity both as a paid marketing and management employee and an enthusiastic volunteer, she serves all the citizens of Chattanooga and the surrounding region who have enjoyed and been proud of any major high-profile event in our city.
Currently as the Operations Manager of Chattanooga Presents and formerly as the Project Manager for the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, Ball's leadership is evidenced in the high visibility and success of many award-winning programs. She helped design and manage RiverRocks, a 10-day festival of outdoor activity featuring more than 100 events. Ball and company designed and produced the Grand Opening of Volkswagen's Training Facility, involving around 1,200 people. She also produces many events centered around the river and downtown such as the Nighfall Concert Series, spark, the Four Bridges Arts Festival, Pops on the River, the 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival, the TaleSpin Festival, Swingfest, Christmas on the River, the Grand Illumination, the Downtown Gallery Hop, Holiday Starlight Parade and the Rhythm & Noon Series. She served as production assistant for Winter Days & Lights and produced the McKamey Animal Center's First Look Grand Opening and the 21st Century Waterfront Grand Opening.
As the owner of Marketing Matters, a business providing creative marketing and special events for businesses and nonprofits, Ann was involved as a consultant in a variety of projects. As the marketing director for Friends of the Chattanooga Zoo, Ball designed and produced marketing efforts as well as producing all the zoo's special events including originating Banana Ball and Holiday Lights.
Ball's work and volunteer efforts flow seamlessly from one to the other. It's often hard to know where one picks up and the other leaves off. Her job is not governed by the clock, nor is her work effort. With almost all the events Ball participates in, once the job is in place, Ball pitches in with all the tireless volunteers.
Ball also serves or has served on the Board of Directors for Chattanooga Endeavors, Siskin Possibilities Luncheon Steering Committee, treasurer of the Brainerd Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Committee of Executive Women International and past chair of the McKamey Animal Center Board of Directors.
Julie Betts Brandao
A pioneer in her field, 2013 Women of Distinction honoree Julie Betts Brandao, was not only the first Personal Lines Producer for her company Huffaker & Trimble, she also was named the first female and only female partner by the firm that is now BB&T Huffaker & Trimble.
In the midst of juggling her thriving career and raising her two daughters Katie and Emma as a single mom, Brandao has consistently found time to give back to the community she was raised in since moving back to Chattanooga in 1990. For the past six years she has served on the Chattanooga Women's Leadership Board, filling a variety of different committee chairmanships. She has also served on the Bright School Board of Trustees, the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Vestry, the PINK committee for four years of the event's eight-year history and as the Hullabowloo Food Chairman for two years of that event's five-year history.
Out of all of her accomplishments, she listed raising two great daughters as her biggest accomplishment. In addition to work and philanthropy, Brandao enjoys adventure travel, reading, watching club volleyball, cheering on her alma mater Vanderbilt during football season and boating. Her parents Cliff and Sally Betts along with her sister Katherine Betts currently reside in Chattanooga. Brandao's other sister Summer Betts Booker lives in Austin. Locally, Brandao is a graduate of the Bright School ('74) and Girls Preparatory School ('84.)
Kim Chapman
Kim Chapman has worked in the television industry for 22 years. She is currently employed as an anchor, writer, producer and evening assignment manager at WTVC NewsChannel 9. While a paid position, Chapman's job has afforded her numerous opportunities to make a difference in others' lives. She lives by her father's words: "Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God."
Chapman has epilepsy, and spends many volunteer hours trying to educate people about seizure disorders. She has been on the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee for a decade and served as Vice President. She serves as a frequent guest speaker for the foundation's support groups and is responsible each year for promoting the organization's annual Chocolate Fling fundraiser. She was also elected to the national Board of Directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of America, serving as a host, speaker and advocate to people with epilepsy during national conferences.
She has served as a member of the Kids on the Block Board of Directors for seven years, as well as working fundraisers for the organization such as The Southern Brewers Festival and wrapping Christmas presents at Hamilton Place Mall.
Chapman serves enthusiastically as co-captain of the NewsChannel 9 team in the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and as emcee for the MaryEllen Locher Foundation's Pink! fundraisers. Other charitable events for which Chapman has served as guest speaker or emcee include the annual Mardi Gras fundraiser for Chattanooga Catholic Schools and Charities, the annual Everyday Heroes gala to help raise money to find a cure for ALS, and walks for Chattanooga Cares, which provides medical assistance and housing for those affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Ronald McDonald House annual telethon is a big part of Chapman's heart. On her own time, she takes advantage of the opportunity to meet families who desperately need help from RMH, and has come to love the people who have reached out and received its help.
As a Lady Shriner, she is involved with charity work and local shrine events such as fashion shows and gospel night, for which she serves as emcee. Chapman met Patrick Sharrock, who suffers from brittle bone disease, at an Alhambra Shrine fundraiser and successfully nominated his family for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Holly Harwell
From helping people find their home in Chattanooga, to helping organize the region's largest festival, 2013 Woman of Distinction Holly Harwell is committed to making the Scenic City a better place for everyone to live, work and play.
A graduate of the Girls Preparatory School and the University of Tennessee Business School, Harwell has been involved in serving the Chattanooga community since her teens. She has served as a Board Member for the American Heart Association, past Board Chair for Hosanna Community and the Arts and Education Council, is a past member of the Junior League of Chattanooga and is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga. She is currently serving on the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce North Chattanooga Council Board as the immediate past president, the Friends of the Festival 2012 Board Chairman and the Memorial Foundation Board Chairman elect for 2012-2013. She is also a member of Chattanooga's Downtown Rotary Club.
In addition to these activities Harwell also finds time to minister through her church, St. Paul's Episcopal, where she recently Co-Chaired the major gifts component of the capital campaign.
Early in her career, Harwell gained leadership skills through working as finance chairman for Zach Wamp's congressional re-election campaign in 1996 and Bob Corker's successful mayoral campaign in 2001. For the last 10 years, she has worked as a residential Realtor and is currently an Affiliate Broker with Real Estate Partners.
Among all of her accomplishments, Harwell lists her partnership with her husband, Marc Harwell, as her most important. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, traveling and reading.
Pam Ladd
Whether in the role of a business woman or public servant, Pam Ladd has given her all to the Chattanooga community over the years.
Her master's degree in Industrial Organization Psychology went to good use during her time as vice president of Operations at ServiceMaster, a manager at Tennessee Valley Authority, and vice president of Support Services at Provident (now Unum). At one point she set out on her own as CEO and president of her own company, Custom Custodial, at which she employed over 140 people until she sold the firm in 2011.
She has served as District 3 representative and chair of the Chattanooga City Council and continues the role of adjunct professor at Covenant College. She's deeply rooted and involved in the Chattanooga community as a 1999 graduate of Leadership Chattanooga and a 2007 graduate of Neighborhood Leadership Chattanooga. She has served on the Board of Directors for the North River branch of the YMCA for over 10 years as well as on United Way's Center for Non-profits Board. Pam is a past president of the North Chattanooga Council of the Chamber of Commerce, Murray Hills Neighborhood Association, Small Business Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and is currently the chair of Choose Chattanooga. She has been honored in the past as Chattanooga State Community College's 2009 Eye of the Tiger Award, Associate Member of the Year for the Building Operation Managers Association, Small Business Advocate of the Year and Small Business of the Year Finalist.
Pam serves as a strong leader in the community and is an exceptional choice for the Women of Distinction award.
MaryStewart LewisMaryStewart Lewis
MaryStewart began her career in school admissions with two of her alma maters, Wesleyan College and then with Girls Preperatory. She joined BellSouth (AT&T) in 1999 and quickly used her leadership skills to rise within the organization. In 2008, while still in her 30s, MaryStewart was named Regional Director for stockholders.
Her community involvement, both through her role at AT&T and her personal volunteer roles, is extensive. Some of her many volunteer roles include Urban League Board of Directors, Siskin Children's Institute Family Association Co-Chair, Hamilton County Read 20 Board of Directors, Wesleyn College Board of Managers, Junior League of Chattanooga Board of Directors and Memorial Health Care System Foundation Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Downtown Rotary Club.
In 2011, MaryStewart was honored with the President's Volunteer Service Award presented by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. She has also been named a Wesleyan Woman of Success.
MaryStewart is a hard worker and although she has achieved much success in her relatively short career, she says that her single greatest success is her family. Impressively to those who know her, MaryStewart is able to juggle her career, family and volunteer activities while always maintaining a friendly and down-to-earth attitude. She is a wonderful role model for women in our community, making her an excellent choice for the Women of Distinction honor.
Kristina Montague
Kristina Montague has proved her passion for education reform and leading young people through her various efforts in the Chattanooga community and beyond.
The Seattle, Washington, native received her master's degree in Public Administration from University of Washington before she took a position as program associate at the Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga. Her career spans from working on the merger of the City and County schools and coordinating major grants programs to helping build parent engagement in one of the nation's top magnet schools. In her current role as Assistant Dean of External Affairs at UTC's College of Business, she helps prepare students for the business world and works to engage community partners in the business school's diverse programs. She has also worked in multiple roles at Normal Park Museum Magnet as development director, parent involvement coordinator and classroom teacher. She has served on the Board of Directors for countless local nonprofits, including Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Young Women's Leadership Academy, Normal Park Education Fund, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Chattanooga Nature Center, Partners for Academic Excellence and Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association. Kristina also participated on the Director's Search Committee for the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy as well as served as the Normal Park Museum Magnet PTA president from 2008-2009.
Her belief in giving back is evident throughout her 17 years living in Chattanooga, and that commitment makes her an excellent choice for the Women of Distinction award. Kristina is married to Tom Montague, and they have two children, Chapin, 13, and Max, 10.
Carol Mutter
Carol Mutter's notable achievements don't just include being an accomplished lawyer, although she is definitely that. After graduating in the top 1 percent of her law class at Georgetown, her nearly 35-year career in law and teaching law has had many highlights. She has served on the Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee on TennCare and as Chair of the health law section of the Tennessee Bar Association. She continues to teach for a bar review company, but some of her biggest accomplishments have nothing to do with her distinguished career.
Carol names her greatest achievements as being a devoted wife and the mother of three grown sons. Despite commuting to the University of Tennessee School of Law in Knoxville two to three times a week for 20 years, she and her husband, Dr. Mitch Mutter, raised capable, engaged members of society who now give back much like their parents through the fields of education, law and medicine.
For many years, Carol has worked behind the scenes in support of the Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti, a program founded by her husband.
Not one to sit still, she also gives back on the home front. For six years she has served on the Board of Commissioners for Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, and she is the current mayor - the first woman to hold that position. Carol Mutter is truly a woman of distinction.
Diane Parks
Chattanooga has come a long way to become one of the best cities in America. Diane Parks has been at the forefront of that change, acting as a mentor and teacher to many of the change-agents that have and continue to make the city she was born and raised in the best it can be.
Distinguishing herself early on in her 35-year career with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Diane continually climbed the ladder from receptionist/switchboard operator to become the current director of leadership and community development. Also, as the 14-year director of Leadership Chattanooga, a 10-month leadership development program implemented by the Chattanooga Chamber, she has helped prepare hundreds of the city's leaders.
The extensive list of who have completed the program under Diane's direction reads like a "Who's Who" of Hamilton County: U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, Chattanooga Chamber President and CEO Ron Harr, First Things First President and CEO Julie Baumgardner, Judge Christie Mahn Sell, and the list goes on and on.
Diane is also a leader herself, having served as president of the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Association of Community Leadersip (TACL) and as a board member for Goodwill Industries. She has rightly been recognized as the best in her field by TACL and she is deserving of today's honor as well.
Jean Burke Young
Whether she is offering a card, phone call, a meal or a warm hug, Young is always reaching out to those in need. She has been a mentor and a role model for many, and has given back to myriad organizations in the community.
She was the Co- Chair of the AIM Center annual fundraiser, "Once in a Blue Moon," and has served as Vice Chair, Board of Director and Board Member, and is currently serving a second three-year term as Vice Chair.
Young has also served alongside her husband, Geoff, as Co-Chair of PINK! with the Memorial Health Care Foundation, as Annual Chair for "Go Red for Women," benefitting the American Heart Association, and as Vice President for the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians. This position allowed her to serve more than 16,000 girls and more than 6,700 volunteers in three states.
Other community involvement includes: Junior Achievement Board Member, Siskin Children's Institute Board Marketing Committee, Habitat for Humanity Board Member and member of the "Circle of Red" Alumni Society.
Young has completed two marathons while in Chattanooga, and last year she hiked in the Italian, Swiss and French Alps around the peaks of Mont Blanc with her three older sisters from New England.
2013 Women of Distinction Committee
Back Row(left to right): Paula Henderson, Nancy Collum, Lynda Minks Hood, Chairman, Rickie Pierce
Row 3 (left to right): Charlotte Thompson, Sue Culpepper, Kathie Fulgham, Patti Frierson, Linda Morris, Jennifer Nicely
Row 2 (left to right): Bea Lyon , Debbie Brown, Jo Coke, Donna Killian, Becky Browder, Jo Ann Yates, Kirby Oldham, Sandra Brewer
Row 1 (left to right): Maxine Alper, Barbie Standefer, Finette Winer, Dr. Mary Barker, Lillie Wills, Bobbie Abercrombie, Gail Chapman, Linda Thompson, Charlynne Fry, Dr. Nell Mohney
Not Pictured: Sheila Boyington, Kim Coffey, Pamper Garner Crangle, Susan Davidson, Missy Elliott, Deborah Everhart, Joyce Godsey, Robin Grant, Linda Harwell, Jayne Holder, Dr. Mukta Panda, Dr. Susan Raschal, June Scobee Rogers, Jeanie Scanland, Cindy Sexton, Laurie Shipley, Scottie Summerlin, Barby Wilson and Sonia Young