Age: 64
Occupation: Retired BellSouth/AT&T executive; former regional director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; organizer and current director of CapitalMark Bank and Trust
Residence: Signal Mountain
Years lived in Hamilton County: 34
Family: Married, one child, one stepchild, two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren
Education: Bachelor of science degree from Middle Tennessee State University; post-grad strategic professional development course, developed by BellSouth and administered by Georgia Tech and the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Previous Public Office Experience: N/A
Church or Civic Involvement: Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church current elder and trustee; pas chair of the United Way campaign; past chairperson for the boards of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League, Better Business Bureau, Junior Achievement, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, and the first ever female president for the downtown Rotary Club. Past board member of Tennessee Aquarium, RiverCity Partners, T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation, Enterprise Center, and Siskin Children’s Institute. Current board member of Friends of the Festival, Speech and Hearing Center, and Stadium Corp.
Achievements: Tennessee Woman of Distinction, Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year, Chattanooga Junior League Community Service Award, and Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year
What is the biggest challenge facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
One of the biggest challenges facing our state and District 27 is that of preparing our students, the workforce of tomorrow, for the jobs that will enable them to support their families and hopefully improve on the lifestyle of their parents — the American Dream. We also face the challenge of re-educating or upgrading the skill set of our current workforce so that they remain employable throughout their working lives.
We must make sure that instruction for students currently in our education system from K through 12 is preparing them without remediation for higher education and/or technical training that will enable them to secure family wage jobs. We must work hard to provide the resources required, we must accurately measure our progress, and we must continually fine-tune our efforts to meet the technological changes that will continue to impact us.
Why should voters choose you?
My business background and long time community involvement have given me unique experiences and have developed a skill set that will allow me to serve effectively in Nashville. My three years in the Department of Economic and Community Development have given me a clear picture of both the challenges and the opportunities facing District 27, Hamilton County, and our region.
I am passionate about ensuring our students, as well as those already in the workforce, are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow — given every opportunity to grow, learn and build the future for themselves and their families. A vote for me as District 27’s next state representative is a vote to focus on the issues that will impact the future of our children and our grandchildren.