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YPC Announces 2023-24 Advisory Board & Protégé Cohort

New membership rosters for both Protégé Chattanooga and Young Professionals of Chattanooga (YPC) Advisory Board are now available, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce announces.

This diverse group of early to mid-career professionals represents a variety of backgrounds and industry sectors across the region.

A program of YPC, Protégé is an immersive, team-based mentoring initiative equipping professionals with skills, experience and connections for career advancement. Over the course of nine months, participants connect with peers, area businesses and community leaders to develop professional and civic-engagement potential.

“This year’s Protégé class comes from all backgrounds and walks of life. The people that participate in our program develop into leaders who not only excel in their respective fields but also inspire others to reach their full potential. Bringing together this group of young professionals is invaluable, not only to the mission of our Chattanooga Chamber, but to our community as a whole. I look forward to seeing how this year unfolds and witnessing firsthand as our participants evolve into influential figures who leave a lasting impact on our community and beyond,” Toya Moore, Leadership Development Director, Chattanooga Chamber says.

Welcome Protégé class of 2023-24:

  • Sarah Whitney Anderson – Girls Preparatory School
  • Melissa Callejas – The Enterprise Center
  • Jessica Copling – Thrive Regional Partnership
  • Enrique Davey – Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Nicole Elmore – The Bethlehem Center
  • Chaeli Foriest – Partnership for Families, Children & Adults
  • Taylor Flores – Chattanooga Housing Authority
  • Amber Mueller – Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough
  • Georgia Moore – Austin Hatcher Foundation
  • Calen Jamerson – Signal Centers, Inc.
  • Madison McCann – Tennessee Small Business Development Center
  • Jenelle Pierce – City of Chattanooga
  • Mary Pike – Ronald McDonald House
  • Kelly Payton – Text Request
  • Barbara Ranson – Chattanooga Area Food Bank
  • Sarah Rhodes – Ivy Rehab Network
  • Parker Ryals – Dossche Holdings
  • Isaiah Williams – Chattanooga Home Inspector
  • Sharonda Stiggers – Hamilton County Schools
  • Ian Stanbery – Cempa Community Care
  • Monica Thompson – Hamilton County Health Department
  • Jarrah Vella-Wright – Chattanooga Lookouts
  • Jane Wilson – Insight Global
  • Grace Wooten – RaganSmith

Our Chattanooga Chamber also welcomes a new, volunteer-led YPC Advisory Board that will develop events and programs to foster attraction, retention and development of young talent, ages 21 to 40. A Chattanooga Foundation program, YPC promotes greater Chattanooga’s continued growth to ensure continued prosperity.

New and returning board members serving in 2023-24 include:

  • Marissa Bell – Waterhouse Public Relations
  • Dara Ben-Judah – Pluralsight
  • Micah Chapman – The Enterprise Center
  • Madyson Foster Smith – Chattanooga Football Club
  • Amanda Fabrizio-Grzesik – Tivoli Theatre Foundation
  • Kodak Hensley – Real Estate Partners
  • Elizabeth Guye – Ronald McDonald House
  • Chaz Johnston – Fresenius Kidney Care
  • Austin Jameson – Cadence Bank
  • Katrina Farmer – The Double Cola Company
  • Julia Milrod – Chattanooga Symphony & Opera
  • Leah Mundy – Chattanooga Times Free Press
  • Kate Murphy – Scout Realtor Group
  • Kiersten Murphy – Scout Realtor Group
  • Angela Onan – Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Tiffany Pauldon – Lil Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagy
  • Paulette Salazar – Shaw Industries
  • Lorin Smith – SmartBank
  • Leah Sullivan – CMC Publications
  • Sam Taylor – West Monroe Partners
  • Phillip Wagner – Engineered Underground Solutions
  • Savannah Ward – CARTA
  • Zach Watts – Blue Line Solutions
  • Isaiah Williams – Chattanooga Home Inspector
  • Summer Moore – American City Business Journals

Learn more about YPC, here.

Learn more about Protege, here.

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