Young professionals are thriving in the Scenic City. They live, work and play in Chattanooga and energize the city with their remarkable skills, desires to serve others and passions for the local community. Although there are many more than can be featured in this story, the following thirty individuals – all under the age of 30 – are part of the quickly growing number of young professionals in our region. They share their stories, hopes and dreams for the future, and their commitments to making Chattanooga a destination city for professionals of all ages.

Kenneth Allen Jr.

“My current position allows me to work as a mediator between tax payers and the IRS. I provide a 100% free service so the clients really benefit from my efforts.” That’s how 25-year-old Kenneth Allen Jr. describes his work at the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga as a Hamilton County IRS volunteer income tax assistance coordinator. Allen’s interest in non-profits blossomed in college and continues to motivate him. Through his work with the Tennessee Saves coalition, Allen helped start the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” initiative that is taught to every 11th grader in Hamilton County. He is also involved in YPAC and Urban League Young Professionals.

Barry Carpenter

Taking risks early in his career has paid off for 26-year-old Barry Carpenter. His current position as a video editor for Sky Angel Video on Demand provides him with the opportunity to perform a variety of functions. He explains, “I get to be creative, work with a lot of great people and be a part of an industry that has the power to impact the masses. What’s not to love about that?” Carpenter manages to fulfill his passion for student ministries in his part-time staff position at Concord Baptist Church. His latest project is co-founding a production and post-production company called Starving Lion Media scheduled for launch in July.

Ben Brown

Of his professional journey thus far, 28-year-old investment banking associate at FourBridges Capital Advisors, Ben Brown says, “I’ve had the opportunity to meet some exceptional leaders and businessmen throughout my life. I try to approach these people with humility and absorb the wisdom they have to offer so that I can apply it to my own life.” His love for Chattanooga can be seen in Brown’s work as community service chairman for YPAC. Brown says, “I’m a Chattanooga fanatic. I’m so grateful for the vision and hard work of recent generations that have made our city the standard by which some cities now measure their progress.”

Will Clegg

“Our firm encourages young professionals to be involved in the community and serve on boards and non-profit agencies,” says Will Clegg, staff accountant with Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough, PLLC (HMM). “They provide us every opportunity to succeed within the Chattanooga community.” A Chattanooga native who has seen the city evolve in the past twenty years, 25-year-old Clegg enjoys his work with HHM and is determined to help Chattanooga grow. He says, “I feel that Chattanooga is a wonderful community, and I strongly encourage UTC students and high school students to consider their hometown as a permanent address because the city offers great opportunities to work and start a family.”

Drew Daugherty

“I love being able to build relationships with my students. The end goal of social studies education is to build effective citizens. That description sounds boring to a high schooler but positive relationships make it easier to mold competent citizens.” That’s how 24-year-old Drew Daugherty, social studies teacher, approaches his work at Ivy Academy, Chattanooga’s first outdoor public charter school. When describing what keeps him motivated, Daugherty says, “Every day is a new challenge/adventure with high school students, especially when your job is to teach them while being outdoors for the majority of your instruction time.”

John Crawford

With dual Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and marketing, John Crawford is well prepared for his job as a mechanical design engineer at TVA. He says, “I enjoy any project that involves lots of numbers and calculations.” He serves as a tutor for the GED program at Olivet Baptist Church, a track coach for a summer league and a mentor for a start up non-profit called Boys to Men. John also serves on the Urban League Young Professionals Social and Cultural committees and is an active member of the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Jade Dodds

“When I was 17 years old and going to college, I had no intention of ever returning home to Chattanooga,” says 25-year-old Jade Dodds. Things changed for Dodds, and she joined Miller & Martin, PLLC as an attorney last year. She now describes her hometown as, “a wonderful place to live, work and play.” When asked where she sees herself in ten years, Dodds says, “still practicing law but having more of a presence in the community with teenagers, helping them make the transition from high school to college.”

Derek Daniel

28-year-old Derek Daniel serves as an assurance manager in the assurance department for Decosimo. He says, “Nothing excites me more than being able to help a client save money and succeed through guidance in accounting issues. I love being able to serve and develop relationships in conjunction with my accounting responsibilities.” In addition to his work at Decosimo, Daniels serves as a board member for the Chattanooga Room in the Inn as well as a volunteer teacher with the Junior Achievement program.

Andrew Kean

In the early years of his career, Andrew Kean worked as a financial planner and coached lacrosse on the side. Of his current position as president and COO of See Rock City, Inc., Kean says, “As I began to pursue leadership and management positions, my father-in-law, Bill Chapin, offered me an opportunity to come and learn about his business and work with him. It’s been an amazing opportunity.” In addition to his work with See Rock City, Inc., Kean serves on the board of Hope for the Inner City, the board of directors for CreateHere, and the executive committee for the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Chad Frank

Chad Frank began his career at Cornerstone Community Bank as a teller and customer service representative. Later, the 25-year-old helped successfully implement and manage a new imaging department. Soon after, Frank took his current job as Automated Clearing House department supervisor where he is responsible for processing billions of dollars in debits and credits each year. Frank says, “On any given day there is a new challenge. I enjoy working through these challenges.” A new husband and father, Frank takes advantage of the many things Chattanooga has to offer. He is also active in politics, volunteering with Zach Wamp’s campaign for governor.

Jonathan Frost

27-year-old Jonathan Frost is a senior accountant with Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough, PLLC. Working for a firm that promotes community involvement, Frost now lends his capable hands to the Ronald McDonald House and Junior Achievement. He describes his work by saying, “I’m really interested in helping children have an environment here in Chattanooga in which they can learn real-life business issues. I want to help prepare them to be productive citizens of the Chattanooga community.” A father himself, Frost says, “I want to continue Chattanooga’s current momentum and growth so that my children will want to live and work here.”

Aaron Long

For Aaron Long, culinary creativity is a labor of love. The 29-year-old co-owner and chef of Market Street Tavern and Tremont Tavern graduated from UTC with an entrepreneurship degree and opened Market Street Tavern shortly after joining Tremont Tavern as co-owner. The success of both restaurants has left the future wide open for Long. Reflecting on his journey, he notes, “I see potential for future locations and for the further development of current locations. It can be stressful, but the rewards are far greater than the stress.”

Nick Macco

24-year-old Nick Macco has been an entrepreneur since birth. He explains, “My entire family is self-employed so entrepreneurship was instilled in me. I started my first venture in elementary school selling my own soft drink. I sold out every bottle! I had my own corporation from age 18.” It’s no surprise that Macco, along with friend Adam Boesalager, co-founded Southtree, a home video and photo preservation service, between classes at Lee University. Macco and his wife enjoy their life on the Southside of Chattanooga and are actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce and CreateHere.

Marcus Lyons

“There’s always money to be made in real estate ... the issue is finding the untapped market.” That’s the advice offered by Marcus D. Lyons, the 25-year-old who launched ScenicCityRentals.com. After studying accounting at UTC, Lyons started his leasing business which now handles over 200 properties and leases up to 15 properties per month. With his rental business serving as a natural resource for buyers, Lyons, an affiliate broker with Real Estate Partners Chattanooga LLC, has expanded into listing and sales and has listed 26 properties in the past 60 days. Lyons adds, “I thrive on the competitiveness of this business.”

Anj McClain

28-year-old Anj McClain began to second-guess her choice to major in interior design at UTC after becoming concerned about the wastefulness in the building and design industries. She chose, instead, to take action and is now co-director of green|spaces. She explains, “Through my work at green|spaces I have helped create interest in better building practices and have seen results.” In addition to her career, McClain served on the board of East Tennessee U.S. Green Building Council for four years, started Green Drinks Chattanooga, and currently serves on UTC’s Interior Design Advisory Board, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Committee, and the mayor’s Green Committee.

New father Stephen Ratterman has no problem finding the motivation he needs to succeed in his life. The 25-year-old explains, “I am determined to set a good example for my family and provide for them so that they can have the same opportunities that I have been fortunate to have in my life. I want them to know the value of hard work.” Ratterman practices what he preaches in his work as a private client relationship manager for First Tennessee bank. The Cleveland native also serves on the board of YPAC and is active in the Junior Achievement program through First Tennessee bank where he acts as a guest teacher.

Tara Morris-Viland

“Being born in Chattanooga, I have come to appreciate the town and our music. I’ve been amazed with how much talent there is and how many people are just unaware of it.” 24-year-old Tara Morris-Viland supports Chattanooga’s local musicians by serving as the host of regional and local programming for Chattanooga State’s The WAWL and writing for The Pulse. A current student at Chattanooga State, Tara’s passion is event organization, but she is determined to learn everything there is to know about the media. She says, “If you know how to do everything, you can do anything.”

Hassan Najjar

As the manager of school and outreach programs at the Hunter Museum of American Art, Hassan Najjar is determined to make art available to the Chattanooga community. He says, “You don’t have to be a specialist or an expert to enjoy art. Breaking down those stereotypes and helping people realize the value of visual arts in their everyday life is a great feeling.” Community service is in his job description. Najjar explains, “I do the majority of the outreach programs for the Hunter so working with the community is not outside of my career but rather a very large part of it.”

You won’t find casseroles or baked chicken on the menu at an event catered by On The List Catering and Events. Owner and founder, 24-year-old Michael Robinson, makes sure of that. He had an epiphany about catered food a few years ago and decided to change things. He says, “I decided to start a company that did onsite cooking with the freshest local ingredients.” A Chattanooga native and lacrosse enthusiast, Robinson finds time in his busy schedule to volunteer as Notre Dame High School’s (his alma mater) head lacrosse coach.

Nita Sexton

As the strategic learning project manager for the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, 29-year-old Nita Sexton has found her calling within the organization she grew up in. She explains, “I was impacted because I had the opportunity to develop my leadership skills at GPS and in Girl Scouts. I am very passionate about helping today’s girls develop those skills and proud to do it in my hometown of Chattanooga.” In addition to impacting the leaders of tomorrow, Sexton serves on the Allocations Committee for the Southeast Tennessee Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention.

Tiffanie Robinson

Tiffanie Robinson’s dual degree in advertising and theater makes her uniquely qualified for the kind of experiential marketing and event planning that she has developed a passion for. When Quiddity Entertainment moved from Memphis to Chattanooga, 25-year-old Robinson landed the job of associate producer. Along with the career that she loves, Robinson serves as the president of Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga. A true advocate for her community, Robinson describes her YPAC duties, “We help recruit and retain young professionals to the Chattanooga area.”

Katie Smith

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Katie Smith always dreamed of living in a big city. Her college career brought her to Nashville and Boston, but she returned to Chattanooga near the end of law school. 29-year-old Smith says, “I am so glad that life brought me home. It’s really exciting to be a young professional in Chattanooga.” Smith is challenged daily in her job as manager of legal services for the Electric Power Board. She is actively involved with the Southeast Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, the Chattanooga Bar Association, and the MCR Foundation for the Prevention of Eating Disorders.

Tyler Spry

“In my mind, success is simply a by-product of having goals, believing in what I do and doing the right thing. It is very easy to get off track so having a strong support team of family and friends is crucial to keeping me striving towards my goals.” That’s what keeps 23-year-old Tyler Spry motivated to succeed. As a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual, Spry says, “I enjoy meeting new people and building long term relationships, knowing that as we work together over the years I have the ability to make an incredible impact in their lives and in the city of Chattanooga.”

Bryce Thomas

26-year-old Bryce Thomas’ successful college baseball career has given him a competitive edge. About a year ago, Thomas’ work as a financial representative–field director for Northwestern Mutual changed his perspective. “I worked my first death claim, and it really hit home how important the work that I do for families in Chattanooga is.” A man of strong faith and determination to succeed, Thomas does his best to stay grounded. He says, “We tend to lose sight of all that God has blessed us with. It is important to remind ourselves everyday that we have a purpose.”

Jessica Latour Stack

“The culture of our firm is to make any project as sustainable as possible. I really, really love my job.” That’s how 26-year old Jessica Latour Stack describes her work as a project manager with River Street Architecture. She continues, “I work with a lot of really good people, and there is a wonderful collaboration of professionals instead of the traditional hierarchal structure that exists in many firms.” Stack also serves on the membership committee of the East Tennessee U.S. Green Building Council, an organization that she has been involved with since college.

Blair Waddell

23-year-old Blair Waddell discovered her passion working with Chattanooga’s STAND campaign, the world’s largest survey-based community visioning project. She says, “I learned from working on the STAND project that bringing people together for the common good is my passion. My transition to RiverCity Company was, needless to say, a perfect fit.” As the promotions and events coordinator at RiverCity Company, Waddell is able to watch her beloved community grow. Waddell says, “I love building the ‘Chattanooga puzzle’ by exploring how each of us can contribute to this community and come together to make our city even more dynamic.”

Weston Wamp

The son of gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp, 23-year-old Weston Wamp majored in communication studies at UT and now works for AkinsCrisp Public Strategies in Nashville and serves as the e-communications director for his father’s campaign. Weston says, “I’ve always been taught to be motivated by impact, not by power or money. So as long as I feel like I’m having a positive impact on the world around me, I’ll be motivated to succeed.” Speaking of his plans for the future, Wamp says, “When the campaign is over, there’s a good chance I’ll land in Chattanooga and consider running for office myself at some point.”

Ani Yacoubian

27-year-old Ani Yacoubian developed a passion for fashion at an early age when her parents, owners of Yacoubian Tailors, would sneak her into the apparel market in Atlanta, an adults-only event. Her love of clothes made Yacoubian the perfect fit for the family business where she is the clothing buyer, a job she adores. She says, “I love working with my family and being around people every day, helping them find what clothes suit them and make them feel good.” A Chattanooga native, Yacoubian is an active member of Executive Women International.