On Oct. 21 at Erlanger Park, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2026 Annual Meeting, celebrating the local businesses, organizations, and community leaders who have helped shape Chattanooga’s growth for over a century. The event highlighted major accomplishments from the year, honored outstanding contributors, and brought together leaders and organizations committed to building a stronger, more innovative Chattanooga in 2040.
The evening began with networking and conversation on Erlanger Park’s terrace overlooking the baseball field before transitioning into the main presentation. Over dinner, attendees reflected on the Chamber’s impact through a video highlighting over 100 years of fostering economic growth and opportunity across the region. Jim Coleman, President and CEO of Erlanger, welcomed attendees to officially begin the evening’s programming.
Following the welcome, Bradd Cobb, President of Bowers Automotive Group, was recognized for the company’s support of the Chamber and continued investment in the community. After he shared a few words, Rebecca Ashford, President of Chattanooga State Community College, took the stage to recognize Cobb’s contributions and presented him with a special award.
One of the evening’s highlights was the Chamber’s creative presentation of its 2025-2026 milestones. Produced in partnership with Pathfinder Films, “Chattanooga Reloaded” brought many of Chattanooga’s key leaders together in a “The Matrix”-inspired short film showcasing the Chamber’s progress and initiatives that helped the region thrive over the past year.
The program also honored outstanding community leaders and organizations for their dedication, leadership, and business excellence. Yashic Ransom, owner of Windy City Eatz was named the 2026 Small Business of the year, Madison Kachel received the 2026 Young Professional of the Year award, Cathy Keegan was recognized as the 2026 Ambassador of the Year, the Hixson/North Hamilton Council earned recognition as the 2026 Council of the Year, and David Wade was presented the 2026 Community Impact Award for his outstanding 44 year career with EPB.
A second short film, “Planet Chattanooga”, drew inspiration from “Star Trek” and challenged attendees to embrace a growth mindset while imagining the city’s future. The film explored the obstacles that accompany growth and innovation and featured an anonymous cast member portraying an alien named “Nimby,” whose identity remained a mystery until the conclusion of the video. The anonymous cast member, Ethan Collier, CEO of Collier Development, unveiled the mystery by removing the Nimby mask and shared a few words about the importance of the growth mindset.
At the end of the program, Charles Wood, CEO of the Chamber, sat down with Heidi Smith, Vice President of Economic Development at TVA, for a Fireside Chat focused on the qualities of Chattanooga that make it a destination for innovation and investment. Their conversation explored how the city’s strategic partnerships, novelty, and culture are helping position it for long-term success.
The evening served as a celebration of Chattanooga’s achievements and a reminder of the power of collaboration. As attendees reflected on the past, they also looked ahead with optimism for the opportunities, innovations, and ideas that lead the city to move forward as a place where businesses and people can succeed.
Images courtesy of Flint Chaney Photography
