In recent decades, women have increasing assumed roles of greater responsibility in business, civic affairs, and government. Taking on the challenges of corporate office, raising their profiles in the political arena, and advocating social change; a number of women in the Chattanooga area have gained prominence locally, nationally, and even internationally.
While gender may remain an issue for some, the fact is that the individual, male or female, contributes to society as his or her abilities allow. Serving as judges, bank executives, entrepreneurs, government officials, and in other key positions, Chattanooga’s leading ladies present a hometown perspective on the growing influence of women in every aspect of modern life.
Recently, CityScope Magazine evaluated the contributions of women serving in leadership roles in Chattanooga. While there are certainly many others worthy of mention, these women, with their energy, idealism, and determination, are impacting and shaping the future of our communities, as well as positively impacting many outside of our region..
Vicky Gregg
Vicky Gregg has served as President and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee since 2003. Under her leadership, BlueCross has made great strides to impact not only health care in Tennessee, but also transform health care on the national scene, as is evidenced by Gregg's appointment to the commission on systemic interoperability (electronic medical records) and national subsidiaries; Shared Health and Gordian Health Solutions. Recently, Ms. Gregg was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Healthcare by the Modern Healthcare magazine 2007 biennial listing. She was selected out of 160 women nominated for this honor. Ms. Gregg was also ranked number 9 out of Tennessee’s 100 Most Powerful People in the April 2007 issue of BusinessTN.
Robin Derryberry
A member of the board of the Downtown Rotary Club, the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Partnership for Families, Children & Adults, and the AIM Center, Robin previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). In early 2006, Robin announced the formation of Derryberry Public Relations, which represents numerous local and regional clients.
Julie Baumgardner
Julie Baumgardner is a native of Houston Texas, who came to Chattanooga in 1987. As President and Executive Director of Chattanooga’s First Things First, Julie leads an organization dedicated to providing skills for strong marriages and healthy families. The success of First Things First in Chattanooga has led to efforts to duplicate its programs in other cities, and Julie is often asked to address gatherings around the country. She is active with a number of local boards and writes a weekly column for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Sally Robinson
In her role as City Councilwoman for District 2, Sally Robinson represents citizens in six North Chattanooga and Hixson precincts. Elected to the City Council in 2001, she was a founding organizer of the Riverbend Festival and has been active with the Moccasin Bend Task Force, Walnut Street Bridge Restoration, Cornerstones Historic Preservation, and Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park. She is the former executive director of the Arts & Education Council and the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership.
Nell W. Mohney
Widely known as an author, motivational speaker, and seminar leader, Nell Mohney has addressed many professional, business, and faith-based organizations. The wife of retired United Methodist minister Ralph Mohney, Nell is a weekly columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Among her books are Get A Faith Lift, Build Your Bounce-Back Ability, and Don’t Put A Period Where God Put A Comma.
Rebecca C. Fingerle
A partner with the accounting firm of Hazlett, Lewis & Bieter; Rebecca Fingerle has more than 20 years of experience in government, private industry, and public accounting. She currently serves on the board of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and is a member of various civic organizations. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with extensive experience with real estate developers, not-for-profit agencies, and manufacturing companies. Becky is a graduate of the 2001 Leadership Chattanooga class.
Sue Culpepper
Executive Vice President and Region Manager of the Wealth and Investment business for SunTrust Bank, Sue Culpepper has 25 years of experience in banking locally. She is a member of the local Diversity Council within the SunTrust Chattanooga Region and is a graduate of UTC and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University. Sue is a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga and the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business Administration at UTC. She has previously served on the board for the Susan B. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure and in various fundraising positions with organizations around the city.
Virginia Anne Sharber
A member of the law firm of Miller & Martin, Virginia Anne currently serves as chairman of the firm’s associates committee and co-chair of its academy committee. She is the board chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Other board memberships include the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Memorial Health Care Systems Foundation, the Women’s Leadership Institute, and the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. Her law practice is concentrated in commercial real estate lending, real estate development, and commercial lending.
Judge Rebecca Stern
Appointed to the bench in Criminal Court Division II by then-governor Don Sundquist, Judge Rebecca Stern was subsequently elected to an eight-year term in 1998 and reelected in 2006. A former Hamilton County assistant district attorney, she is a previous president, secretary, and board member of the Chattanooga Bar Association. Judge Stern currently serves as a member of the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council of the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. She is also a member of the Southeast Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women.
Judge Jackie Schulten
A former local television personality, Judge Jackie Schulten presides in Division I of Circuit Court. Judge Schulten is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Chattanooga bar associations, the National Association of Women Judges, and the Association of State Trial Judges. She is active with the Women’s Leadership Institute, the Bushtown Neighborhood Association, Room In The Inn, the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, the Arts and Education Council, and the Chancellor’s Roundtable at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Judge Suzanne Bailey
Judge Bailey has presided in Hamilton County Juvenile Court for the past 17 years. In 1990, she became the first woman elected to a judgeship in Hamilton County. She is a recipient of the McCann-Abernathy Award for Outstanding Juvenile Court Judge in Tennessee and the Girls’ Inc. UnBossed & UnBought Award. Her service has been recognized by the funding of the Judge Suzanne Bailey Scholarship, established at UTC by the Tennessee Juvenile Court Services Association, and by Chattanooga Women of Distinction. She is a former member of the Tennessee Supreme Court Permanency Planning Commission and a former Commissioner of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.
Judge Marie Williams
Judge Williams has presided in Division III of Hamilton County Circuit Court since 1995. She is a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, and the Chattanooga, Tennessee and American bar associations. She is a recipient of the Girls Preparatory School Distinguished Alumna Award, the Athena Award, and has been recognized by Chattanooga Women of Distinction. Judge Williams is a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, the Junior League of Chattanooga, the UTC Chancellor’s Roundtable, the University of Tennessee Law School Alumni Advisory Council, and the Kids on the Block advisory board.
Cindy Todd
As marketing director for the Tennessee Aquarium, IMAX 3D Theater and the Creative Discovery Museum, Cindy oversees public relations, advertising, promotions, group sales, facilities rental, corporate programs and market research. She is a past chairman and currently serves on the board of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau. Cindy is a past president of the Chattanooga Advertising Federation and is active with the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Allied Arts, the Junior League, and the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.
Patti W. Steele
Chief Executive Officer of First Volunteer Bank, Patti Steele has been with the company for 20 years. She is a graduate of the Executive Banking Institute and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University. Patti currently serves as a board member of the Tennessee Independent Community Bankers of America and with the Tennessee Banker Association’s Government Relations Committee. She is active with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Finance Academy for area schools.
Merri Mai Williamson
Merri Mai Williamson founded Application Researchers, an employee background check service, 12 years ago. Recognized in Inc. Magazine, she has grown the company to a staff of more than 300.A 2000 recipient of the Athena Award, she is a member of the advisory board of the College of Business Administration at UTC. She has also served as a board member of the Chattanooga State Foundation and the Women’s Leadership Institute, and has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
Ruth Brinkley
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hospital, Ruth Brinkley received the Unbossed and Unbought Award from Girls, Inc., in 2006. She is a former chairman of the Chancellor’s Roundtable at UTC and is involved with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Leadership Institute, and the Scenic City Women’s Network. She is also a member of the board of directors of Chattem, Inc., and SunTrust Bank. During her tenure, Memorial has been named one of the nation’s Top 100 Heart Hospitals and a Top 100 Hospital for four consecutive years.
Ruth Holmberg
Publisher Emeritus of the Chattanooga Times, Ruth Holmberg is the granddaughter of Adolph Ochs, founder of both the Chattanooga Times and the New York Times. Ruth became the first woman to head a major Chattanooga company when she was named publisher of the Chattanooga Times in 1964. The first woman to serve as president of both the Chattanooga Area Chamber Of Commerce and the Chattanooga Symphony Association, she is a former director of the New York Times Company and the Associated Press. Ruth is a generous local philanthropist and is active in numerous civic organizations.
Stella M. Anderson
As Executive Vice President of the Trust & Investment Services of First Tennessee Bank, Stella Anderson is responsible for the regional administration of trusts, estates, custodial and escrow accounts valued at more than $1 billion. Licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Alabama, she is a member of the Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Alabama bar associations and the Estate Planning Council of Chattanooga. She serves as a director of FACES, the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, the AIM Center, Chattanooga Tumor Clinic, and the Junior League. Stella is a former director of the Arts & Education Council and is active with the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and Allied Arts.
JoAnne Favors
A native of Chattanooga, State Representative JoAnne Favors has served as a member of the 104th and 105th General Assemblies. She currently serves as secretary of the House Health and Human Resources Committee and as a member of committees on Children and Family Affairs, Commerce, and Rules. She is chairman of the House Professional Occupations subcommittee and a member of subcommittees on Domestic Relations, Industrial Impact, and Public Health and Family Assistance. She is a former member of the Hamilton County Commission and is active in Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, the Tennessee and American Nurses Associations, and other civic organizations. JoAnne is a recipient of the Mary Walker Historical Association Award and the District Four Nurse of the Year Award.
Nancy White
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Erlanger Health System, Nancy White is also responsible for Guest Relations, Community Relations, Volunteer Services, Tele-Communications, Central Transport, and Call Centers. With more than 15 years in the healthcare industry, she serves on the advisory board of the College of Business Administration and the Communications Advisory Board at UTC. She is vice chairman of the Chattanooga Area Better Business Bureau. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Nancy is a certified scuba diver and plays the guitar.
Robin T. Smith
Since 2005, Robin Smith has served as vice chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. She is founder and chairman of the Tennessee GOP Development Council and co-founder of the Volunteer State Excellence in Public Service Series. Robin has also served as chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and as Tennessee Human Rights Commissioner since 2002. Robin is a recipient of the Tennessee Republican Party Statesman Award. She has previously worked as a registered nurse and since 1987 has served as a senior therapeutic specialty consultant for Pfizer, Inc.
Charlotte Boatwright
With over 30 years in healthcare, Charlotte is an experienced professional nurse executive, educator and instructor. She is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Chattanooga Area Law Enforcement Commission, the Chattanooga Fair Housing Roundtable, the Southeast Tennessee Council on Children & Youth, and the Tennessee Department of Probation & Parole. Charlotte is a founding member of the Coalition Against Domestic & Community Violence of Greater Chattanooga, Inc., and serves as a director of the Hamilton County Child Abuse Prevention Advisory Council, the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare, and Legal Aid of East Tennessee. She is a recipient of the Chattanooga Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award and the Mayor’s Best Practices Award. Charlotte is also a contributor to CityScope and HealthScope magazines.
Rebecca Clayton
Rebecca (Becky) Clayton is Executive Vice President and Retail Line of Business Manager for SunTrust Bank. She is responsible for the Business Banking line of business and the management of 53 branches in the Chattanooga, Northwest Georgia, and Tennessee Valley markets. During her 30 years with SunTrust, Becky has served in numerous positions, including Area Manager, Retail Sales Manager, In-Store Banking, Telephone Banking, ATM/Debit Card departments, and SunTrust at Work. She has been involved in the Chattanooga Area Chamber Of Commerce, the American Heart Association, and the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
Kim White
President and Chief Executive Officer of Luken Holdings, Inc., Kim White and her management team own and operate more than two million square feet of commercial property in the Chattanooga area. Kim serves as a director of Junior Achievement, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Chattanooga Area Chamber Of Commerce, the YMCA, and the Association of Visual Artists. She is a member of the Downtown Rotary Club, the Women’s Leadership Institute, and the UTC Business Advisory Council, while also serving as president-elect of the UTC Alumni Board and member of the UTC Communications Advisory Board.
Patsy Hazlewood
Assistant Vice President for AT&T-Tennessee, Patsy Hazlewood is a past president of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and currently serves on the executive committee. She is vice president of the Speech and Hearing Center board and chairs the capital expenditure committee for the T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation. She is a board member of the Siskin Children’s Institute, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, and the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. Patsy was named Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year in 1999 and Philanthropist of the Year in 2002.
These leading ladies of Chattanooga contribute greatly to the quality of life in our city. Their work within their professions and tireless contributions to the community, and in many cases our country, serve as shining examples of good leadership, citizenship and role models for all.