Cameron Sexton has appointed State Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hixson, as chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee. The nine-member panel oversees legislation related to energy, forestry, conservation, game and fish, mines and minerals, environmental matters, parks and recreation and watershed districts.
Martin is serving his third term representing House District 26 in Hamilton County. He will also serve on the Agriculture and Natural Resources, State and Local Government and Departments and Agencies committees.
Rogers earns Good Neighbor honor
Greater Chattanooga Realtors recognized Collin Rogers during its recent Honors and Awards Breakfast, naming him the 2025 Good Neighbor.
The Good Neighbor Award, established locally in 2023, honors a Realtor for exceptional community service within the past year or across consecutive years.
Rogers was recognized for his volunteer leadership with Hope for the Inner City. He first became involved during a firm-sponsored day of service and later joined the organization’s board. His contributions have included advising on real estate transactions, supporting fundraising and food donation partnerships and helping organize large community events.
Convention Center director departs
Chattanooga Convention Center Executive Director Sam Voisin is leaving his post to return to the Gulf Coast after being selected to lead the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center.
A Louisiana native, Voisin said the move brings him closer to family.
Voisin oversaw all aspects of operations at the Chattanooga Convention Center, including external relations, strategic planning and a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion project. He departs as the facility begins implementing its strategic plan.
The center recently reported historic success, welcoming 210,000 guests to 345 events. It hosted 55 conventions and tradeshows that generated 71,344 hotel room nights and an economic impact of $78.1 million.
Smith named interim parks administrator
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has selected Brian Smith as interim administrator of the city’s Department of Parks & Outdoors.
Smith currently serves as communications director and interim deputy administrator and has worked for the city for three years. He replaces April Furth, who will depart Feb. 20 after accepting the position of deputy county manager of Clark County, Washington.
Furth helped launch renovations of a new multimodal skate park and dog park, addressed deferred maintenance across districts and advanced the city’s Park and Outdoors Plan.
Boys & Girls Clubs selects Ware for CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga has unanimously named Dr. Le Andrea Ware as its next chief executive officer, effective March 16.
Ware brings more than 31 years of experience in education and community leadership. She currently serves as executive principal of Howard High School in Hamilton County.
She will succeed Jim Morgan, who announced plans to retire in 2026 after seven years as CEO. Morgan will remain with the organization through early summer 2026 to assist with the transition.
BGCC served more than 5,800 youth in 2025 across five locations and plans to open a sixth site in June 2026 in the West Side Shelia Jennings Building within the Chattanooga Housing Authority’s College Hill complex.
Thrive adds four trustees to its 2026 board
Thrive Regional Partnership welcomed four new trustees to its board at the start of 2026: Jake Battles, Tangela Johnson, Ryan Keel and Andy Wood. President and CEO Bridgett Massengill said the additions reflect growing sector representation and corporate leadership across the tri-state, 16-county greater Chattanooga region.
Battles is president of MaDex Associates. Johnson is founder and president of North Georgia Corporate Consulting. Keel serves as president of energy and communications at EPB. Wood became president and CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium in March 2025.
Design Studio taps Palmer to replace outgoing director
Chattanooga Design Studio board members have selected Thomas Palmer to shepherd a review of the nonprofit as Executive Director Eric Myers prepares to step down March 1.
The board will spend the next 60 days reviewing all aspects of the organization to ensure long-term stability and alignment with city priorities. Ongoing projects will continue, but new project intake will pause during the review.
Palmer, a board member and chair of the Projects Committee, is principal at Tinker Ma, a Chattanooga-based architecture, interiors and planning firm.