Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce promotes and adds staff and more Chattanooga-area career moves

Chamber promotes and adds staff as part of organization’s restructure

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has added new staff members and promoted others as part of the organization’s restructuring.

“We are always thinking ahead and seeking to improve how we champion our members and promote regional economic growth,”Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce said in a news release. “These changes provide us an opportunity to more closely align our skills with the strategic goals that serve our community.

Yolonda Hayslett was promoted to senior director of accounting and HR. Hayslett directs the accounting team and produces financial statements, as well as organizing the Chattanooga Chamber’s finance committee and overseeing onboarding, compensation, and benefits of Chamber team members.

Dustin Harris was promoted to senior director, IT. Harris researches, procures, and deploys cutting edge technology solutions to enhance Chattanooga Chamber programs and support team member activities.

Meredith Rivers was promoted to senior director of member services. Rivers creates and executes strategic sales, retention, and benefits plans to drive revenue, boost membership value proposition, promote volunteer engagement and improve business support.

Ben Cairns was promoted to director of member and investor relations. Cairns generates revenue for the Chattanooga Chamber and the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation by developing strong relationships with existing and potential members and stakeholders.

As part of the reorganization, Charlye White moved from talent coordinator for talent development to coordinator of member services. White supports the membership team through sales plan execution, new member onboarding, fulfilling information requests and engaging members in Chattanooga Chamber activities to promote retention and boost member capture of available benefits.

Brenda Harrison transitions from administrative assistant in membership to administrative assistant of operations. Harrison provides administrative support and customer service including fulfilment of member benefits and organization of member information and she serves as a liaison for visitors, members, and stakeholders.

Ann Riley transitions from administrative assistant for membership to administrative assistant for operations. Riley provides administrative support and customer service including fulfilment of member benefits and organization of member information. Riley serves as a liaison for visitors, members, and stakeholders.

Lindsay Hiatt was promoted to director of economic development in the Economic and Talent Development team. Hiatt is responsible for managing recruitment projects, regional support, product development and economic development marketing.

Abdiel Vallejo-Lopez was promoted to senior manager of creative. Vallejo-Lopez is responsible for managing the creative team. He oversees creative development and execution of the Chattanooga Chamber’s communication, marketing, and design projects.

Kerry Beth Carico was promoted to director of member-investor engagement. Carico leads and directs programs and initiatives designed to deliver superior benefits and services to top investors, including top investor engagement and relationship-building. She also directs Chattanooga Chamber Signature Event Sponsorships, as well as sponsorship growth across all teams.

Melissa Martin was promoted to coordinator for events. Martin supports all programs and initiatives designed to deliver superior benefits and services to top investors, including planning and implementation of Chamber Signature Events.

Lori Slatton, an executive assistant, transfers to the Chamber’s Marketing and Engagement team, where she will continue to assist with CEO Roundtable programs, High Growth CEO programs, and updates on Chattanooga Climbs, which is the name of both the organization’s capital campaign and its economic and talent development work and results.

Ross Katayama transitions from his role as community outreach coordinator of membership, into a new role as coordinator of councils, Public Policy. Katayama manages 12 area Chattanooga Chamber councils and coordinates community functions to improve business and civic climates within specific geographical areas.

Cathy Humble transitions from her role as coordinator of talent development, into a new role as coordinator of Public Policy. Humble supports Public Policy efforts by managing calendar and assisting with events. Humble also assists with area Chattanooga Chamber councils to improve business and civic climates within specific geographical areas.

Joining the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce are:

– Antonio DeVaughn joined as accountant in operations. DeVaughn is responsible for accounts payable processing, cash control and handling duties, daily sales processing, monthly closing activities and providing reports to management to assist in budgeting and financial decision-making.

– Randie Nichole Gates joined as executive assistant to the CEO, a critical part of the executive team. Gates provides professional administrative and organization support to the CEO, executive team, and volunteer leadership, serving as gateway to the C-Suite and building critical relationships with peers across all member industry sectors.

– Christina Henderson joined as director of talent development, part of the Economic and Talent Development team. Henderson develops and maintains partnerships with Hamilton County Schools and other workforce partners focused on workforce training, youth apprenticeships and work-based learning in support of the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation’s target industry sectors.

– DonTée Merriwether joined as manager of facility operations. Merriwether maintains physical structure and mechanical systems of the Chattanooga Chamber’s Broad Street building..

– Yasmin Rubayo joined as specialist for social media an public relations. Rubayo is responsible for researching and developing digital, social, and paid media content to amplify engagement on social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as providing public relations support.

– Caleb Stambaugh joined as designer of interactive content, with the Marketing & Engagement team. Stambaugh creates, develops and curates multimedia content for audiovisual storytelling projects such as marketing and event videos, member stories, recruitment videos and podcasts.

Hunter Phillips named financial center manager at First Horizon Bank

First Horizon Bank recently named Hunter Phillips manager of their North Highway 58 financial center, according to a news release.

Phillips has spent his entire career with First Horizon and is looking forward to the challenge of his latest position.

“Throughout my time with First Horizon I’ve had great managers who’ve supported me and provided opportunities to advance my career,” Phillips said in the same release. “I am fortunate to work for a business with a great company culture. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead as I begin this new chapter with First Horizon.”

Along with his new responsibilities, the Soddy Daisy native is also licensed to sell life insurance and annuity products.

Jackson named COO for Wesbanco Bank

Wesbanco, Inc., a multi-state bank holding company, has hired Jeff Jackson senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective August 15, 2022. Jackson comes to Wesbanco after a successful career at First Horizon Bank. He most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Regional Banking based out of Memphis, TN; Regional President for the state of Florida; and Market President for Southeast Tennessee and Atlanta. Prior to his career in banking, he spent 15 years with IBM in a variety of positions.

Mr. Jackson, 49, is a graduate of Auburn University and received a certificate of Corporate Strategy from Columbia University. He has been active in numerous community activities, throughout his career, including the Red Cross and the Urban League. He received the South Florida Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizens Award in 2020.

Jackson and his wife, Ronna-Renee, will reside in the Wheeling, West Virginia area. They are the parents of 2 children.

Karen Sloan awarded Certified Fund Raising Executive designation

CHI Memorial Foundation announced in a news releases that Karen Sloan, annual fund coordinator, has been named a Certified Fund Raising Executive by Certified Fund Raising Executives International.

“CHI Memorial Foundation staff who are Certified Fund Raising Executives signify a commitment to rigorous standards and ethics as we work to engage the community as our donors. We are proud of Karen Sloan’s achievement as a CFRE,” shared Jennifer Nicely, CHI Memorial Foundation president in the same release.

Individuals granted this credential have met a series of standards set by the organization, which include tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated fundraising achievement. They have also passed a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.

John Bilderback joins Thrive Regional Partnership

John Bilderback has joined the Thrive Regional Partnership team as program director for the Natural Treasures Impact Area. He brings two decades of experience in public health and collaborative community initiatives that have informed policies and improved neighborhood environments that support better food access and active living opportunities for their residents.

In his former role with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, Bilderback acquired and managed a $350,000 Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The work during this grant empowered residents to identify healthy food access solutions, increase physical activity opportunities, and strengthen community leadership capacity.

One of John’s proudest accomplishments was facilitating the revitalization of Milliken Park in the Alton Park neighborhood of Chattanooga. This resident-led collaboration with the City of Chattanooga secured a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant for the restoration of the park in an area where little green space was available for the recreation of its residents.

In his role at Thrive, Bilderback will collaborate with teams of stakeholders to design strategies and coordinate research that sustain the natural assets of the region, which strengthen economic vitality and community character, as well as improve the health of people and places in the community.

Terran Anderson joins United Way of Greater Chattanooga

Terran Anderson has joined the United Way of Greater Chattanooga as vice president of community and corporate engagement. With more than a decade of experience in the non-profit field, she brings a wealth of expertise related to development, non-profit marketing and community engagement.

She will be responsible for all fundraising, marketing and communication and development, as well as community corporate and engagement activities. Anderson will manage the annual workplace campaign, volunteerism, and engagement groups. She will also help create and execute a strategic engagement plan that adds measurable value to United Way’s audiences – community members, companies, donors, and community partners, according to a news release.

– Compiled by Brandi Dixon

Information about new hires, promotions and business awards should be sent to onthemove@timesfreepress.com.