(Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sept. 30) — Charlye White, John Maynard, Mariaelena Hays, Marcherie Savage and Abdiel Vallejo-Lopez have joined the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce team, the organization announced today.
“We welcome their unique perspectives and depth of experience,” said Christy Gillenwater, MBA, CCE, President and CEO, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. “I speak on behalf of our entire team when I say that we are delighted these talented individuals chose to join us. We’ll count on them as we lift up the key goals of both the Chattanooga Climbs 5-year plan for economic and talent development and the community-wide visioning plan, Velocity 2040. In every area we will continue to further our vision for diverse voices in leadership and professional development.”
Charlye White’s new title is Talent Coordinator. White works closely with Austin Corcoran, MBA, recently promoted to Director of Talent Engagement, and Cathy Humble, Coordinator II, Talent & Public Strategies.
White advances marketing initiatives for attracting and retaining talent in programs, including Leadership Chattanooga, Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association (LCAA), Young Professionals of Chattanooga (YPC), Protégé Chattanooga and ChattaNewbies. She holds a bachelor’s in communications from University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and is a board member of the Royal Circle of Sisters. Deeply committed to the profession of talent development, White also serves on Battle Academy’s Parent Teacher Association, giving her firsthand knowledge of the strong links between education and career success.
John Maynard was named Workforce Partnerships Manager, Talent Development, Chattanooga Chamber. Maynard manages workforce development initiatives — including youth apprenticeships, work-based learning programs and local educational partnerships. Prior to joining the Chattanooga Chamber team, Maynard spent 34 years serving in various educational roles, including Principal, Soddy Daisy High School, and Career and Technical Director, Hamilton County Schools. As an Appalachia Service Project board member, he has volunteered his talents and time with this organization over the past 44 years.
Mariaelena Hays’s new title is Marketing and Programs Coordinator of the INCubator at Hamilton County Business Development Center, where she works closely with Bill Lupia, who was recently promoted to Director, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, INCubator. Hays manages marketing strategies for INCubator events, social media accounts and online platforms with start-up and entrepreneur content, including StartingBlockChattanooga.com, launched late last year. A Michigan native, she holds a bachelor’s in public relations from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. Prior to joining the Chattanooga Chamber, Hays served as Client Concierge, Progressive Practice Sales, and Human Resource Assistant, VanDyk Mortgage.
Marcherie Savage was named Economic Development Marketing Coordinator. Savage works directly with Lindsay Hiatt, Project Manager, Economic Development, as well as Charles Wood, MS, CEcD, Vice President, Economic Development. Savage advances marketing initiatives to promote Chattanooga’s economic growth. This includes developing content for a variety of Chattanooga Chamber social media platforms, including GreaterChatt.com, where site selectors and expansion decision-makers learn more about Hamilton County and our 15 surrounding counties. A Chattanooga native, Savage holds a bachelor’s in communications from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to joining the Chattanooga Chamber, Savage worked as Marketing Support Coordinator, SERVPRO.
As the new Marketing Communications Manager, Abdiel Vallejo-Lopez (Vallejo), MFA, works directly with Jeremy Henderson, Creative Director; Sybil Topel, MFA, IOM, Vice President, Marketing Communications; and Eric Lisica, Interactive Content Designer, Marketing Communications.
Vallejo serves as managing editor of Business Trend magazine/ChattanoogaTrend.com and lead writer for Chattanooga Chamber communications. An Atlanta native, Vallejo holds a bachelor’s in liberal arts from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and a master’s in writing from Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining the Chattanooga Chamber, Vallejo worked as Copywriter for MOCK, the agency, in Atlanta. Vallejo’s articles are featured in Paste Magazine and several literary journals, including Sequoya Review and Ivy Hall Review.
Read about Lupia and Corcoran’s promotion, here.
Learn more about the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, here.
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading business association and economic development organization for the Chattanooga region. Founded in 1887, the Chattanooga Chamber’s membership consists of nearly 1,800 companies of all sizes which employ more than 80,000 people.
The Chamber Foundation is a separate but related entity established in 1969 for the purpose of economic development, which it carries out through a public-private partnership called Chattanooga CLIMBS. The Chattanooga Chamber has won many national awards for recruitment, marketing and existing industry support and is accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with five stars.
Charlye White
John Maynard
Mariaelena Hays
Marcherie Savage
Abdiel Vallejo-Lopez
