EPB has promoted Rich Carpenter to vice president of communications and IT operations. Carpenter will oversee the technology EPB uses to provide communications services to its customers, as well as the business systems within the organization.
Since joining EPB in 2005, Carpenter has leveraged his 10 years of prior experience in the telecommunications industry, including his time with the United States Air Force. After starting as a switch technician for EPB Telecom, he transitioned into a leadership role in 2011 as supervisor of network operations. Over the years, Carpenter’s responsibilities have expanded to include overseeing more engineering, operations, customer support and IT functions.
Carpenter holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). He also has a Bachelor of Science in business from the University of Phoenix and an Associate of Applied Science in electronic systems technology from the Community College of the Air Force.
Including his 18 years with EPB, Carpenter has over 28 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.
Girls Inc. welcomes Cole as finance manager
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga has appointed Michael Cole to serve as its finance manager. Cole’s responsibilities will include managing financial procedures, processes, reporting systems and budgets.
Cole’s career spans over 20 years, during which he’s held diverse leadership roles, including vice president of business operations, vice president of finance and operations, and corporate accounting manager.
As president and CEO at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Cole increased membership and maximized ROI for special events. As vice president of business operations at Tennessee College of Applied Technology, he streamlined operations, boosted productivity and aligned financial resources with academic objectives.
Cole earned a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Lee University.
DAR honors Glaser as ‘Good Citizen’
The Judge David Campbell Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently honored Morgan Glaser, a senior at Whitwell High School, with the DAR Good Citizens Award. This accolade rewards high school seniors who embody good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities.
“Glaser has exhibited exceptional qualities through her participation in various clubs, substantial community service contributions, academic excellence and ambitious educational goals,” noted the DAR.
Ranked second in her class, Glaser is a member of several clubs, including the Interact Club, Beta Club, Leadership Club and Tiger Pride. With over 80 hours of volunteer work in the community and a leadership role in the Interact Club, she’s made significant contributions through initiatives like the Tennessee River Rescue and the local Rotary Bed Project.
With a 4.0 GPA and recognition for outstanding achievements across multiple subjects, Glaser aims to pursue studies in pre-physical therapy at Tennessee Tech.
Founded in 1890, the DAR is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. The organization has more than 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad.
Croy hires Hawkins as vice president
Multi-discipline consulting firm Croy recently added Harry Hawkins as its vice president of client services. Hawkins will be based out of Croy’s Chattanooga office and will work to support the firm’s growth and client relationships across Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
During his more than 35-year career, Hawkins has served as a project manager, office manager, regional manager, client service leader and president for various firms in the engineering and construction spaces.
Through his industry and client management experience, Hawkins has served as a design engineer, project manager and a general contractor for numerous multi-million-dollar projects, including airports, roads, highways, wastewater systems, retaining walls, right-of-way acquisitions and historical projects, as well as residential, commercial and industrial developments.
Hawkins currently serves as the chairperson for the Tennessee Building Construction Institute Executive Committee and on the Enterprise Gateway Council board of directors. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Croy’s Chattanooga office is located at 1270 Market Street.
UTC selects O’Brien as campus police chief
UTC has selected Sean O’Brien, a decorated police officer with 24 years of law enforcement experience, to serve as its associate vice chancellor for public safety and campus police chief. O’Brien, who’s worked for the Chattanooga Police Department since 2007, will join UTC May 1.
O’Brien earned a certificate in executive protection from Henley-Putnam University in San Jose, California, and a master’s degree in human resources from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. His career in law enforcement includes a seven-year stint as a state trooper with the New Jersey State Police.
Currently a lieutenant in the CPD’s Neighborhood Policing Bureau, O’Brien is the commander for the downtown Chattanooga area. During his time with the CPD, O’Brien has also functioned as Homeland security coordinator and partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to teach active shooter response strategies. O’Brien has also served as president of the Fraternal Order of Police in Hamilton County.
O’Brien was the recipient of the Top Cop Award for acts of bravery during the July 16, 2015, terrorist attack in Chattanooga. His list of awards includes Chattanooga Police Department Officer of the Year (2019), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tennessee Big in Blue Brother of the Year (2017) and National Association of Police Organizations Citizens’ Choice Award (2016).
Roy chosen by UTC for Boren scholarship
UTC has selected junior Emma Roy, a secondary education and political science major, as well as a Brock Scholar in the UTC Honors College, for the prestigious David L. Boren Scholarship, an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office.
Beginning in September, Roy will spend 25 weeks at National Taiwan University as part of the International Chinese Language Program.
The Boren scholarship funds students who go abroad to learn what the federal government calls a “critical language.” These are languages that are of interest and need to the federal government.
The scholarship covers tuition, travel, living expenses and other educational expenditures related to studying abroad.
Last summer, Roy was one of 23 U.S. students selected for the Critical Language Scholarship Chinese Program – an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. She spent two months in an immersive Chinese language program at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan.
Upon completion of the program and college graduation, recipients of the Boren Scholarship must fulfill a service requirement by working for a federal agency or department with national security responsibilities.
Roy, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, said her post-Boren plan is to return to UTC for the fall 2025 semester and graduate in May 2026. From there, she’ll spend at least one year working as a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State.
“There are many jobs and opportunities, and I’ll be in a position to meet a broad network of people in foreign service,” says Roy. “After the CLS, I want a foreign service affairs career.”
Shattuck is Chamber’s new director of public policy
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has appointed Laken Shattuck as its new director of public policy. In this role, Shattuck will lead the Chamber’s governmental affairs and relations strategies at the local, state and federal levels.
Shattuck most recently served as the field representative for U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. In this role, Shattuck built relationships with regional stakeholders, businesses and community leaders in 13 counties in southeast Tennessee.
Shattuck holds a master’s degree in public administration and public policy from Tennessee State University and brings over half a decade of experience at both the state and federal levels of government to the Chattanooga Chamber.
“I’m committed to promoting regional economic growth and working with the Chamber’s public policy committee to help further their work in executing the Chamber’s legislative priorities,” says Shattuck.
First Horizon names Smith N. Chattanooga manager
First Horizon Bank has tapped Jeff Smith to serve as its North Chattanooga banking center manager. Smith comes to First Horizon after serving as the market leader for Builtwell Bank for four years. In his new position, he’ll be responsible for the oversight of all banking center functions, which include developing new business, expanding existing client relationships and providing exceptional customer service.
Smith earned an associates’ degree in business at Georgia North Technical College and has served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in Chattanooga for six years. He’s also active with Backpack Blessings, Miracle League of Chattanooga and Junior Achievement.
UTC’s Sprayberry receives Fulbright Scholarship
One of the most decorated students in recent UTC history has received another award before her time as an undergraduate comes to a close.
The U.S. government has awarded senior Emma Sprayberry, an Innovations in Honors student in the UTC Honors College and a humanities and Spanish double major, a Fulbright Scholarship to Taiwan for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Later this summer, Sprayberry – who graduates from UTC May 4 – will travel to Taiwan to teach English while representing the U.S. as a cultural ambassador.
The Fulbright Program is an international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It provides awards to approximately 8,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals each year.
Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program has partnerships with more than 135 countries worldwide to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects.
While at UTC, Sprayberry has landed numerous national competitive awards while participating in study-abroad opportunities.