As a long-time businessman, civic leader, and church deacon, Hicks Armor approaches community challenges and opportunities like a puzzle — working to put the right pieces in place.
Armor, who chairs the board that oversees the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center, says Chattanooga has the chance in the next few years to put the pieces of the downtown puzzle in place to help not only the trade center and tourism industry but the entire downtown ecosystem.
By this summer, the trade center expects to hire a new executive director to replace the retiring Mike Shuford. Within the next year, planning could begin to upgrade the 40-year-old convention complex.
Armor and the six other members of the Carter Street Corp., which oversees the trade center, aim to better integrate the facility with the evolving downtown landscape. Their efforts come as the Tennessee Valley Authority downsizes its Chattanooga Office Complex next door and the city moves forward with plans for a more pedestrian-friendly Broad Street.
“Between the renovation and expansion of the trade center, the TVA property changes, the Broad Street redevelopment and even new development on Hawk Hill, I see a beautiful mosaic that lets us showcase Chattanooga and all of our natural and tourism attractions to a regional, national and even international market,” Armor says. “I think we have all the pieces, but I don’t think we’ve ever spent the time to complete the puzzle.”