Chattanooga Chamber Announces Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2023  

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce today announces the membership roster for the incoming Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2023.  

Leadership Chattanooga is the premier leadership-development and civic-engagement program for established professionals in the greater-Chattanooga region.  

Since 1984 the program has positioned local civic, nonprofit and business leaders for personal and professional excellence through experiential learning opportunities, community service projects, and exclusive access to Chattanooga’s top leaders.  

Over a ten-month period –beginning in August and adjourning with a graduation event in May– participants meet monthly for daylong sessions where they learn leadership skills, as well as more about Chattanooga and what’s needed to support the region’s ongoing growth and success.  

“We welcome our incoming Class of 2023 and applaud their dedication and commitment to learning more about our community as they also advance their leadership skills,” said Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. “Leadership Chattanooga is a development program unlike any other, where talented people from all walks of life come together to find real-world solutions to challenges facing our community.”   

This year’s class of 45 leaders from all backgrounds showcases the professional, geographic and demographic diversity found within greater Chattanooga. Candidates admitted to the incoming Class of 2023 include:

Dr. Trae Cotton, Interim Dean of Humanities & Fine Arts and Assistant Professor of Speech Communication at Chattanooga State Community College, will chair Leadership Chattanooga’s Curriculum Committee for 2022-2023. In recent years the program’s curriculum was updated to align with the Chamber’s Chattanooga Climbs strategic plan. A diverse group of LC-alumni volunteers will assist Dr. Cotton and Chamber staff on a yearlong effort to build on this strong foundation and continue improving programmatic curriculum, to reflect both contemporary topics and the Chattanooga community.  

On Thurs. August 4, the Chamber will launch the 2022-2023 program year with an Orientation and Welcome Reception for the incoming Class at its new Chattanooga Chamber Connection Center by EPB. Leadership Chattanooga alumni are invited to stop by and greet the new class between 5-7pm at 811 Broad Street.  

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