Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has appointed Jermaine Freeman as his interim chief of staff. Freeman will take over the portfolio Joda Thongnopnua is vacating as the administration crosses the two-year mark.
Freeman previously served in senior leadership roles for both Mayor Kelly and the prior mayoral administration. Under Kelly, he’s served as the senior adviser for economic opportunity. His responsibilities have included affordable housing, workforce development and the management of several economic development projects.
Since Kelly was elected, Freeman has been spearheading several of the mayor’s major initiatives, including the revitalization of Chattanooga’s South Broad district, the renaissance of the former DuPont site in Hixson, the creation of new affordable homes and crafting incentives to help employers expand in or relocate to Chattanooga.
Richard Beeland, the current administrator of economic development, will take on a portion of Freeman’s economic responsibilities.
Scenic City Clay Arts taps executive director
Scenic City Clay Arts has tapped Madeline Rose to serve as its new executive director.
Rose’s background in finance and operations, combined with her passion for access to the arts and creativity, will advance the mission and vision of the growing organization, the nonprofit says in a news release.
Rose’s role as executive director includes managing the vision and direction of SCCA, financial management and the implementation of a 5-year strategic plan completed earlier this year.
Rose will also lead fundraising efforts as well as community engagement initiatives.
Rose has previously served as financial controller at a regional artisanal bakery chain (Choc O Pain) in New Jersey and as a senior investment operations associate at T. Rowe Price in Baltimore.
Rose is a native Chattanoogan and Baylor School alumna. She graduated from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business administration.