Dionne JenningsThe Bessie Smith Cultural Center has a new leader.
Dionne Jennings, who helped head a local halfway house for woman, will take Executive Director Rose Martin's place. Martin resigned in October after a critical audit revealed how thousands of dollars had been stolen after the Bessie Smith Strut, the center's largest annual fundraiser.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center, comprising an African-American museum and an event hall, came under scrutiny last summer after former employee Torrey Hines stole about $42,000 in cash. The center has also been struggling to break even as donations have decreased in the last
three years.
Jennings, who has a masters in business administration from Bryan College, was a longtime employee for SunTrust, a news release stated, and she recently worked as the development coordinator for The Next Door Chattanooga.
"We know the Bessie has a strong future with Ms. Jennings leading the way," Board Chairman Jeffrey Wilson said in a prepared statement.