At the Chattanooga Chamber’s Annual Meeting last week, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger presented the first Mayors’ Arts Award to Unum.
Unum received recognition for encouraging employees to pursue arts-related volunteer opportunities, supporting ArtsBuild and the Hunter Museum of American Art, and for ongoing work with the Association for Visual Arts.
The mayors created the Mayors’ Art Award to recognize a business that goes above and beyond to support local art throughout Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
“Our lives are richer because of art, and today, we’re happy to honor the businesses that contribute to our Hamilton County culture through their support of the arts,” Mayor Coppinger said. “We thank them for their initiative, their support, and their celebration of the elements that constitute art.”
“The arts not only create a sense of place and enhance quality of life, they boost our local economy by attracting new residents, businesses, and visitors to Chattanooga,” said Mayor Andy Berke. “With the Mayors’ Arts Award, we are honoring those businesses that understand the importance of art in a community and demonstrate that commitment by serving as advocates for the arts and our local artists.”
Gov. Bill Haslam keynoted the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, speaking about Tennessee’s progress in economic development, job creation, and higher education.
“We’re working hard in state government to make Tennessee the best state in the country, and good things are happening,” Haslam said. “We are number one in the nation for manufacturing job growth, advanced industry job growth, and job creation resulting from foreign direct investment. Our record of conservative fiscal management has led to the highest bond ratings issued by all three major credit rating agencies – triple-AAA status. Our Drive to 55 is working, with more students going to college. Tennessee is the fastest improving state in the country in K-12 academic achievement. And this year we made the largest investment in K-12 education without a tax increase in Tennessee’s history – $258 million, including more than $100 million for teacher salaries.”
Bill Kilbride, Chamber president and CEO, gave Chamber updates ranging from the Chamber’s workforce development efforts to Chamber-supported economic development projects over the last year, representing direct investment of $242 million.
Kilbride awarded the Chamber’s MidTown Council the Council of the Year award. Kilbride also recognized Cindy Steele of Tandem Financial Partners as the Chamber Ambassador of the Year. Diamond ambassadors included Dana Bolin of COMTRUST Federal Credit Union; Constance Coffman of Chattanooga Courtyard Hamilton Place; David Hamilton of Santek Waste Services; Pat Mahery of SendOut Cards; and Eddie Wilkes of Add Ink.
Chamber Ambassadors serve as the Chamber’s member relations team. Ambassadors visit new Chamber members and call on existing members throughout the year. They also represent Chamber members at grand openings and ribbon cuttings.
Source: Chattanooga Chamber