The Tennessee Human Rights board of commissioners has reelected Robin Derryberry of Derryberry Public Relations in Chattanooga as chair. The board announced the reelection at its July 2021 meeting, which was the first in-person meeting since January 2020.
Former Speaker of the House Beth Harwell appointed Derryberry to the board of the commission in 2015. Derryberry has served as chair of the board since 2019.
Under Derryberry’s leadership, the commission received a five-year sunset period – the first given in the organization’s history. The commission also adopted a strategic plan and updated its bylaws.
The commission works to safeguard individuals from discrimination through education and enforcement.
Ikard, Jones fill City Hall vacancies
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly this week appointed Mary Beth Ikard as the city’s director of communications. Kelly also appointed Karitsa Mosley Jones to head up the city’s Community Forward Schools Partnership.
Ikard is the outgoing director of sustainability for Nashville Mayor John Cooper. She was originally appointed in 2015 by then-Mayor Megan Barry to advance policy on transit and transportation.
Before working in the mayor’s office, Ikard led communications for the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for more than five years.
She also directed communications and marketing for Gov. Phil Bredesen’s Books from Birth Foundation, generating support for county affiliates of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
While at Katcher Vaughn and Bailey Public Relations, Ikard also worked on BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s health-prevention programs for children and youth.
Ikard began her career in the press office for the late Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon and then moved into public affairs for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
She holds a degree in journalism from Indiana University and Accreditation in Public Relations through the Public Relations Society of America. She also is a master of fine arts candidate with the Sewanee School of Letters.
Jones is serving her second term on the Hamilton County School Board as the District 5 representative. She is a Pritzker Fellow in Chattanooga’s Office of Early Learning and an adjunct professor in the Department of Social Work at UTC.
She is also a licensed social worker and was a member of the 2015 inaugural class of the Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders program.
Jones earned her master’s degree in social work and her bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice from Alabama A&M University.
As director of the Community Forward Schools, Jones will oversee a staff of seven that will work to connect students and parents to city resources and leverage the city’s community centers.
Waterhouse adds Bell as vice president
Waterhouse Public Relations has expanded its executive team with the addition of Marissa Bell, who will serve as vice president. With more than a decade of experience as a communications professional, Bell’s background includes digital media, broadcasting, public relations, government affairs and marketing.
Bell comes to WPR from the Chattanooga Tourism Company, where she promoted the city to visitors through collaboration with partners and local, regional and national travel journalists.
Having previously worked for WPR, Bell returns with additional experience and new credentials including Accreditation in Public Relations through the Public Relations Society of America. She graduated last month from Northeastern University with a master’s degree in corporate and organizational communication.
Bell is a 2021 graduate of Leadership Chattanooga and the 2018 class of Protégé, the Young Professionals of Chattanooga mentoring program. Her previous work experience also includes the Chattanooga Mayor’s Office, NewsChannel 9 and FoodNetwork.com.
Bell holds a degree in communications from the University of Tennessee.