In the Chattanooga region, 2016 was a year of building for the future. The first new nuclear reactor of the 21st century and the biggest plant construction project ever in the region was completed, while a record amount of new housing, hotel and retail development was launched in downtown Chattanooga to soon double the number of residents in the central city. One of the biggest floorcovering plants took shape in North Georgia as two carpet companies combined and Chattanooga's airport added another airline and parking facility. Tennessee's biggest heath insurer prepared to implement its biggest rate hike under the so-called Obamacare program, while the business trio that built one of Chattanooga's most successful startups in the past decade began a fund and program to bring more logistics companies to Chattanooga.
The individuals who led such efforts and did the most to reshape the regional economy are our Most Valuable Players in business in 2016. Our top list of MVPs includes both seasoned veterans and newly named heads of local businesses and reflects the diversity of Chattanooga's changing economy.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
* Tennessee American Water President Valoria Armstrong pushes new boundaries
* Dynamo Accelerator's founders get back to their trucking industry roots
* River City President Kim White helps bring record investment to Chattanooga's central city
* Developer Chris Curtis revitalizing MLK with Douglas Heights, other projects
* Terry Hart charts a growth course for Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
* Stacy Lightfoot helps students 'Step Up' and learn through internships
* Bob Shaw grows Engineered Floors to four plants, 3,000 employees
* DeFoor brothers embark on $88 million of new projects in central city
* Mike Skaggs leads startup of first new nuke in America in two decades
* BlueCross CEO J.D. Hickey scales back individual coverage amid tumult in Obamacare