Annual Southern Gentleman® Issue
Read on to learn about what inspired their careers, what drives their success, and lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Photography by Hacker Medias
I am a board-certified vascular surgeon. I’ve worked in the Chattanooga region for the last 22 years, specializing in vascular and minimally invasive endovascular techniques in the inpatient, hospital, and outpatient office setting. My training has developed a depth of knowledge of advanced techniques for the treatment of carotid, aortic, mesenteric, renal, venous, dialysis access, and peripheral vascular disease. I have a special interest for the care of patients with critical limb ischemia who are at risk for limb loss. I’m the founder and CEO of the Vascular Institute of Chattanooga, a critical limb center with the mission to change how we deliver vascular care for our region.
I’m most passionate about restoring extremity blood flow to save limbs and, just as importantly, restoring a person’s hope. Vascular disease can steal independence in many ways. Being able to look a patient in the eye and say, “We can help,” is a privilege. I also love teaching and helping physicians and students sharpen their skills so patients can have the care they deserve.
Building the Vascular Institute of Chattanooga into a mission-driven team that delivers consistent excellent vascular care for our region. By God’s grace, we’ve grown to six locations and 140 team members, and we’ll celebrate 10 years in November. The real win is in patients’ faces and the stories they tell; people walking their daughters down the aisle, going back to work, keeping the leg they were told they would lose. That’s a team victory every time.
Know your “why,” then choose your “who.” Purpose will point you in the right direction; the right people will get you there. Invest in character, not just credentials. Show up early, do the hard things, and don’t be afraid to take a principled risk when your convictions are clear. Guard your health and your family time. And remember: success that costs you your integrity isn’t success.
I was one of five boys in a single parent household and faced immense challenges. My odds changed because I had incredible teachers and administrators who believed in me. They helped me leverage my academic and athletic ability to gain access to college. I attended Colgate University and later earned my MEd in independent school leadership at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College at age 50. I didn’t plan on being an educator, but I decided to interview at one school and the rest was history. During my 35-year career, I’ve served as a math teacher, computer coordinator, football and lacrosse coach, dorm parent, administrator, and non-profit leader. I currently serve as the CEO of Prep Public Schools. Every aspect of my life’s journey has led me to this point.
Education and mentorship are community work at their core. Our work at Chattanooga Prep addresses a root cause of one of the fundamental challenges in my community, the boy crisis. We have an opportunity to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to reaching and teaching boys. Change moves at the speed of trust and we can only change the narrative for families if they trust us with their sons. We have to show up and follow up in our communities to build and maintain a consistent enrollment at Chattanooga Prep.
I love having the opportunity to transform lives every day. My teachers inspired and cared for me, and now it’s my time to pay it forward. Boys can achieve greatness if they have passion, preparation, and purpose. As CEO, I have the privilege and responsibility of setting the vision for Chattanooga Prep. I also have plenty of chances to roll up my sleeves and spend time mentoring and assisting our young men. I love being a hope dealer! Research indicates that hope has a significant and positive impact on student outcomes, fostering higher academic achievement, increased engagement, better mental health, and improved problem-solving skills.
I grew up in New Orleans, where family meals sparked my love for food. After a career in teaching and coaching, I pursued culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America and worked in top kitchens. That journey led me to create Neutral Ground in Chattanooga, blending my heritage with my craft.
This work has grounded me more deeply in my community than I ever expected. Food is the doorway, but what it really opens is connection. Partnering with local farms, mentoring high school culinary students, and creating spaces like Neutral Ground, where people of all backgrounds can gather, has allowed me to build real relationships. Every dish I cook carries the memory of my heritage and the hope of sharing that story with others. Seeing my community respond – not just by eating, but by engaging, supporting, and showing up – reminds me that this is bigger than a restaurant. It’s about building trust, culture, and opportunity together.
I would tell men setting out to establish or reinvent their careers to trust their instincts, even when the path isn’t clear. I walked away from a stable teaching career on the verge of tenure to pursue my passion for food, and that leap of faith changed everything. Don’t be afraid to start over, invest in your growth, and bet on yourself. Stability is valuable, but fulfillment comes from aligning your work with your purpose.
My proudest accomplishment is becoming a father. Nothing compares to the joy, responsibility, and purpose that this role has given me. It shapes the way I approach my work, my relationships, and the legacy I want to leave behind.
I began my career in law enforcement in 1995 at the age of 20, serving the City of Chattanooga as a park police officer. A few years later, I continued my journey with the Red Bank Police Department before returning to CPD in 1999 as a police officer. Since that time, I have had the privilege of serving in every community and across every command within this department, holding a variety of ranks and responsibilities. My focus has always been to lead with integrity, to support those who serve alongside me, and to make a meaningful difference for both our officers and the people of Chattanooga. As the years passed, that calling grew stronger, and I found myself deeply committed to serving in the most impactful way possible.
Being entrusted with the opportunity to serve both this community and the department I have dedicated my life to as chief is, without question, a defining moment. Yet, I do not view it as an “I made it” milestone. The truth is, I haven’t “made” anything; I have simply been granted the privilege to serve in a different capacity. My hope is that, when I look back years from now, I will be able to see the lasting difference we made together – how we positively impacted our community and strengthened our department. That will be the true measure of success. For now, the work continues, and I remain humbled by the responsibility entrusted to me.
As a father of two incredible children who have grown into remarkable adults, I have spent many years reflecting on this very question so that I could share meaningful guidance with them. To me, the most important life lesson is simple yet powerful: always work hard and never give up on your goals or dreams. A strong work ethic and a determination to persevere have served me well throughout my life and career, and I have seen these same values set my children apart in their own professional journeys.
I am one of seven children to deaf parents. We received kindness and help along the way including Christmas baskets from the local church. All of this motivated me to be where I am today. I practiced interventional and general cardiology until I left gainful employment in cardiology practice. I led Governor Bill Haslam’s substance abuse program from 2012-2020, and started work at Volunteers in Medicine in 2018.
Helping those who are less fortunate and unable to afford healthcare, and providing a medical home for them. It is a network of tertiary care provided by the medical society and doctors who volunteer.
The Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti. Saving small malnourished lives so that they might grow to adulthood and be educated to help Haiti come out of its abyss of poverty and violence is one of my proudest accomplishments. Also, serving at Volunteers in Medicine and being the chair of the Tennessee Medical Education Foundation to assist medical students in financial need.
Giving is the best way to receive.
Serving my high school football coach through tough love stimulated me to move from a crowd of crime to academic success and eventually meet my wife, Carol Lavender, and love her through 55 years of marriage. She was my enabler and partner in success.
Have patience and pursue the ‘fire in your belly,’ what gives you the most satisfaction.
