These seven Chattanoogans have been selected to spend a year traveling across the state to study issues affecting Tennesseans

June 11, 2019 at 11:20 a.m. | Updated June 11, 2019 at 12:41 p.m.

by Staff Report

Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold, M.D., looks at the throat of patient Enrique Gmez at the Clinica Medicos on Holtzclaw Avenue. The facility, open since March 1, is the first comprehensive bilingual medical clinic targeted toward the city's Latino population.
Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold, M.D., looks at the throat of patient Enrique Gmez at the Clinica Medicos on Holtzclaw Avenue. The facility, open since March 1, is the first comprehensive bilingual medical clinic targeted toward the city's Latino population.
photo Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold, M.D., looks at the throat of patient Enrique Gmez at the Clinica Medicos on Holtzclaw Avenue. The facility, open since March 1, is the first comprehensive bilingual medical clinic targeted toward the city's Latino population.

This year's class of Leadership Tennessee members, 46 leaders chosen from across Tennessee to spend a year traveling the state studying issues affecting Tennesseans, includes 7 Chattanoogans and the city manager of Athens, Tennessee.

The group, the seventh class of Leadership Tennessee, will meet for the first time in August, according to a news release. It includes Chattanoogans Dr. Kelly Arnold, founder and medical director of Clínica Medicas; Dr. Rebecca Ashford, president, Chattanooga State Community College; Christy Gillenwater, president/CEO, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent, Hamilton County Schools; Scott Pierce, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee; Marcus K. Shaw, CEO, CO.LAB; and Britt Tabor, executive vice president and CFO/treasurer of Erlanger Health System. C. Seth Sumner, city manager of Athens, Tennessee, also is in the group.

The class members represent each Grand Division of Tennessee and will take part in a statewide study course.

"Tennessee has a lot of momentum right now, but Tennesseans continue to face significant challenges that require new and innovative partnerships to overcome them. Each class brings its own unique perspective and insight to the conversation, and we're excited about Class VII joining the Leadership Tennessee network," Leadership Tennessee Executive Director Cathy Cate said. "Each class comes together during the course of the year, having difficult conversations that challenge their points of view on issues in their communities, and we're looking forward to Class VII and developing our seventh cohort around their chosen focus areas."

Leadership Tennessee also will lead "Vote Tennessee," a statewide effort to increase voter registration, the release states.

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