AT&T stockholders coming to Chattanooga

AT&T plans to hold this year's annual meeting of stockholders in Chattanooga, the first time the communications giant has ever held the meeting in the city.

AT&T expects about 250 investors to attend the meeting, which will take place at 9 a.m. on April 30 at The Chattanoogan hotel. However, there is no way to know for sure the number of investors who could choose to attend, said investor relations spokeswoman Dru Cessac.

"Last year we had about 700 in Dallas, but it was also a lot of employees because it was a union contract year," she said.

AT&T spokeswoman McCall Butler said, "We like to have our meetings in cities that are in our traditional service terrority, and we like to give folks in different areas the chance to attend our meetings."

Tom Edd Wilson, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, was pleased and surprised by the news when he heard it.

"You don't see a lot of large companies, particularly a company of that size, coming to small towns like Chattanooga for their annual meeting," Mr. Wilson said. "You've made the rotation with a company that's international in scope and has the wherewithal to go wherever they want to go."

Chattanooga is a city that is ripe for conventions large and small, said Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"When you look at a company like AT&T, a global company that chose Chattanooga, it speaks well not only to the facilities, but also to our willingness to work well with these companies," Mr. Doak said. "We're large enough to handle your business, but small enough to appreciate your business."

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