Annual CityScope® Business Issue
Selected for both their exceptional industry skills and dedication to their workplace and community, the following business leaders make up CityScope® magazine’s prestigious Gold Club this year. Congratulations to these impactful men and women on this well-deserved honor!
Joel Henderson has spent most of his 30-year career in leadership service for nonprofits and healthcare management. As president and CEO of Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga, he leads a staff that works alongside 100 volunteers to provide $1M pro bono in primary healthcare and $1M in patient prescription assistance annually. The clinic delivers compassionate care for 2,000 patient visits each year at no cost to uninsured, financially eligible individuals residing in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. Over the years, Henderson has advocated for the uninsured and served on regional and state community health consortiums. Additional boards include Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, PRSA Lookout Chapter, American Cancer Society, and an active member of the Chattanooga Rotary Club. Henderson is a local graduate from Southern Adventist University (’94) and a Leadership Chattanooga alum (’13).
DeJuan S. Jordan is a Chattanooga native with two decades of executive leadership experience in nonprofit, business, and entrepreneurship. In 2019, she joined LAUNCH, Inc., a nonprofit that also owns and operates the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga (KIC), becoming co-CEO in 2023. Through her community work and role at LAUNCH, Jordan has become a recognized champion for entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, earning her the 2024 Best Business Executive award from Chattanooga Business Elite. Jordan serves on the United Way of Greater Chattanooga board, is part of Leadership Chattanooga’s Class of ‘25, is a TEDx speaker, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She holds a B.A. in criminal justice from Indiana University, a master’s degree in business, a cosmetology license, and life and business coaching certifications.
Brian Mack serves as the vice president of sales and marketing at Black Creek, a premier master-planned community in Chattanooga celebrating its 25th year. In this role, he leads a dedicated team in driving sales growth and enhancing brand visibility through strategic initiatives. Mack is helping lead the community’s largest growth initiative to date, overseeing marketing efforts and leveraging customer insights as Black Creek expands into a new mountaintop development with over 1,000 new homes and additional amenities planned. With extensive experience in marketing and consumer strategy, Mack is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and fostering community engagement. His passion and vision continue to propel Black Creek’s success in the Chattanooga market.
Jim Vaughn leads Synovus Bank’s Chattanooga teams in delivering financial solutions for clients while driving business development and growth and supporting community outreach initiatives. Before joining Synovus in early 2025, Vaughn was a partner at Mauldin & Jenkins, where he worked for 25 years. He held various leadership roles at the accounting firm, including leading its financial services practice and serving on its executive, advisory, leadership, and career advisory committees. Vaughn provided advisory and CPA services to financial institutions, nonprofits, hedge funds, transportation companies, and other Tennessee small- and medium-sized businesses. Vaughn is involved in the Chattanooga community, serving as chairman of the Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors and sits on the Rollins College of Business Advisory Board. He earned a bachelor’s in business administration in accounting and finance from Georgia Southern University.
Jessie Blankenship is the director of operations at Market Street Partners (MSP). After graduating from Covenant College in 2014, Blankenship went on to earn her CPA license and began her career in Big Four public accounting. She later transitioned into private accounting to focus on leading financial objectives for high-growth, entrepreneurial-minded technology companies. Blankenship played a vital role in MSP’s 2023 merger with Smith + Howard, and her daily responsibilities include driving strategic initiatives such as financial planning, automation and technology, scalable growth, and employee engagement. Blankenship was also recently selected to serve with the 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard and will be attending Officer Training School this year.
Brittany McKee East, a Chattanooga native, is the director of research, development, and quality at her family business, McKee Foods Corporation. Headquartered in Chattanooga, McKee Foods makes iconic snack brands such as Little Debbie Snack Cakes and Drakes Cakes, to name a few. Brittany has been involved with the business for over 20 years, and she’s passionate about developing the next generation of leaders. She also enjoys giving back to the community through serving on advisory boards and speaking on family business topics at conferences and universities across the country. She has a B.S. in health science from Southern Adventist University and an MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Her number one priority is family. Her husband, Jarred East, is a realtor at Uptown Firm, and they enjoy traveling and hiking on the weekends with their two young boys.
“Start out like you are going to hold out!” This was Ghena Wilson’s father’s motto, and it has been her motto since the day she became an RN in 1993. Her nursing career began at Parkridge Medical Center. She worked on the medical-surgical floor before transferring to the ICU, where she pushed herself to learn all she could about cardiac care. She moved to Atlanta in 1996 after being offered a position at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in the Coronary Care Unit. In 2002, married with two small children, Wilson completely switched gears and began working in skilled nursing. Geriatrics quickly become her new passion. She received her certification as a Gerontological Nurse in 2014 and took a skilled nursing consultant position a few years later. After 32 years in nursing, Wilson began working for Morning Pointe in January 2024, where her goal is to instill the passion for nursing and geriatrics into those she comes into contact with daily.
Alan King has 20 years of experience, with a focus on closely held businesses and their owners and families. His primary practice area is tax, but King frequently advises clients on succession and exit planning, as well as major areas of business operations. King has owned and exited other businesses over the course of his career. This experience allows King to bring actionable insight when it comes to tax planning and advisory with his clients. Outside of work, King enjoys spending time with his wife and two school-aged children. They enjoy traveling and any active pursuit, whether it is hiking or bike riding.
Paul Leath has served as the regional director of operations for Chattanooga Gas and Atlanta Gas Light Company’s Northwest Georgia Region since 2018. During his 23-year career at the gas company, he has held positions in operations and external affairs. Prior to joining Atlanta Gas Light, he worked for General Electric and served as an officer in the United States Army. Leath is active in his community. His past service organizations include the Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Chattanooga Area Chamber, and Chairman of the Greater Macon Chamber. Leath is currently a member of the Chattanooga Downtown Rotary Club. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, Leadership Macon, and Leadership Chattanooga, and has been named to Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40” and Macon Magazine’s “Five Leaders Under 40.”
Sherry Fusco has full responsibility for all nursing services including med/surg, ICUs, ED, clinical education, and surgical services at all three hospital campuses. She began her career as a RN in the surgery department and quickly moved into the role of GEN/GYN/endoscopic coordinator. Her leadership skills and abilities were evident as she was promoted to director of operations for general surgery in 2001. In 2008, she became the market vice president of orthopedics and outpatient service lines and has continued to advance in her career. She was named to her current role of market senior vice president, chief nursing officer, and Hospital Hixson administrator in 2022. Fusco has a master’s degree in health services administration.
Lauren Barlew is a women’s health nurse practitioner trained at Vanderbilt University and has 13 years of clinical experience in the Chattanooga area. In 2022, she recognized an unacceptable void in women’s midlife healthcare in our region. Lotus Center for Women was opened in April 2023 to specialize in women’s health beyond child-bearing years. At Lotus Center for Women, care is focused on the perimenopause transition and menopause support as well as sexual health and wellness. Beyond providing patient care in the office, Lauren is an advocate for midlife women in the community. She hosts educational courses and frequently speaks to employers and city leaders to ensure that midlife women are supported at all levels.
Veatrice Conley Lee is the owner and founder of Unveiled Bridal Studio LLC, a boutique dedicated to creating personalized, unforgettable bridal experiences through its focus on elegance, inclusivity, and exceptional customer service. She is an active mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga and the Tennessee Achieves Mentor Program, as well as a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the City of Chattanooga and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Veatrice is deeply committed to empowering others, underscoring the values of community, compassion, and excellence in all her endeavors. A passionate advocate for literacy, she frequently volunteers her time to initiatives that inspire reading and education for all ages. Through her professional and philanthropic efforts, she continues to make a meaningful impact in her community.
Darik Dawes is the owner and CEO of Dawes Hospitality Group, including five different hotel brands and a restaurant with three locations. Dawes Hospitality began in 2004 as a small dream nurtured by strong faith and founded in Christian values and has grown into a thriving legacy that has influenced the lives of many. Each day, the team at Dawes Hospitality Group strive to build a haven embodying their core principles of kindness, compassion, and service. Dawes currently serves as vice chairman of Chattanooga Tourism Company, vice chairman of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Education Foundation, board member of the Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association, and board member of Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association. Dawes has also served as chairman of the State Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association, president of the Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association, and national delegate for Choice Hotels Owners Council, representing Tennessee and Kentucky.
Michael G. Mathis is executive vice president and Chattanooga president for Pinnacle Financial Partners, a position he has held since 2022. Mathis graduated with a B.A. in accounting from Furman University in 1991 and received his MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1993. Mathis is active in the Chattanooga community, having previously served as the 2018 United Way campaign chairman, chairman of the board of directors for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Foundation. In addition, Mathis currently or has previously served on the Board of Siskin Hospital and the McCallie School Board of Trustees, Alumni and Athletic Councils. Mathis won the McCallie School Alumni Achievement Award in 2012 and was named Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year in 2020. Mathis is a native Chattanoogan and has been married to his wife Paige for 31 years. Mathis and Paige have two children, McCay and Jackson, and they are members of Brainerd Baptist Church.
Tasia Malakasis is the CEO of The Company Lab (CO.LAB), a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating startups in Chattanooga, TN. Malakasis was the former CEO of Belle Chevre, an internationally award-winning creamery, and author of two cookbooks: Tasia’s Table and Southern Made Fresh, published by Southern Living. Her passion for entrepreneurship prevails throughout her illustrious career. She has helped to nurture several embryonic businesses to a lucrative exit for their founders. At the heart of it, her journey has been characterized by the exhilaration she’s felt at the beginning of a venture and the satisfaction of spurring its initial growth.
Nicole Jeppesen, CPA, is the Chattanooga market leader and a shareholder in Tax Services at LBMC. She has 20 years of public accounting experience with a focus on tax compliance and planning for high-net-worth individuals, including their related investment entities and trusts. Jeppesen enjoys her role as trusted advisor to her clients and likes nothing more than helping them with the challenges they face in their current financial affairs and planning for their futures. As the Chattanooga market leader, she is focused on developing relationships in the Chattanooga community and spreading the word about the various solutions and services that LBMC offers. Jeppesen enjoys connecting people, whether with colleagues at LBMC or other advisors and leaders in the community.
Shauna Wooten, CCA, CMAA, CCMA, has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, working in the reimbursement, billing, and coding sectors, in addition to being an instructor at a local college. Wooten has an associate’s degree in healthcare administration and is a Certified Coding Associate, a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. At Cempa, Wooten’s responsibilities include hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising employees in the medical billing department and front desk. She works to ensure all employees follow HIPAA policies and uphold a superior patient experience. She also handles components of patient registration, billing, and coding, claims management, physician credentialing operations, electronic health systems, Medicare cost reports, and resolving insurance issues.
Dr. Liz Culler has a degree in chemistry from the University of South Carolina and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed a residency in Clinical Pathology and a fellowship in Transfusion Medicine at Emory University. Prior to becoming CEO, Dr. Culler worked at Blood Assurance for the past 18 years as medical director and then chief medical officer. She is honored to serve the community and support physicians as they offer new blood-related treatments locally.
John Mark Griggs is a partner with Riggs & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He is proud to be affiliated with a firm known for its excellent service and genuine concern for the well-being of clients and employees. The Riggs & Associates team was just named to the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” list for 2025. Griggs and his wife Hannah are deeply involved in serving the community of Chattanooga. For years they have served in leadership with local nonprofits such as Chattanooga Sports Ministries and the Chattanooga Football Club Foundation. Currently, Griggs serves as a deacon at Grace + Peace Presbyterian Church in Ooltewah, TN, and as a board member for the National Center for Youth Issues. His favorite thing in the world is to spend time with his family, which often looks like coaching the various sports teams of their six boys: Justin, CJ, Mac, Will, Judah, and Gabriel.
As founder and principal of A Medida Communications, Paulo Hutson Solórzano has provided strategic communication services for national and international organizations, including the CDC, SAMHSA, Energy Star, and the Army National Guard. Originally from Nicaragua, Hutson Solórzano earned his degree in marketing and communications from Lee University and recently completed an organizational leadership specialization at Harvard Business School. His commitment to community is evident through board service and leadership with organizations such as the United Way of Greater Chatta-nooga, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and the National Latino Health Leadership Network. A recipient of numerous accolades – including La Paz Latino Leader of the Year and Edge magazine’s Community Health Champion – Hutson Solórzano champions the ethos of inclusion through his #ThinkInclusively movement, driving meaningful change in communities nationwide.
Granger Hughes is an investment advisor and chief investment officer at Hughes Retirement Group. He began his career in 2009 after becoming a licensed insurance agent and quickly developed a passion for helping clients navigate their financial future. Hughes graduated with honors from Lee University and holds his Series 65. His holistic, tax-sensitive methodology allows him to craft customized solutions that help clients protect, preserve, accumulate, and distribute their wealth with efficiency. His clients benefit from his commitment to their financial well-being and his ability to craft thoughtful, tax-efficient plans for a secure future.
Shadrina Booker, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga, is an Afro-Latina of Dominican descent, originally from Miami, Florida. A graduate of the University of Central Florida and holding a Master of Education, Booker and her husband began their careers in Chattanooga, where she has been dedicated to helping nonprofits and schools thrive. A graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, Leadership Tennessee Next, and the Urban League’s Inclusion by Design program, she has deep ties to the community. Prior to becoming CEO, she served as chief development and marketing officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and director of community engagement for the City of Chattanooga. Booker is also the co-founder of Vityl Media and serves on the boards of La Paz Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Theatre Center. She and her husband, Justin, are proud parents of their 10-year-old son, Jonah.
Brenda Bridges, founder of Bridging Divorce Solutions, knows firsthand the emotional and financial toll divorce can take. Driven by her own experience, she has spent over a decade helping families navigate divorce with clarity, compassion, and confidence. With roots as a financial advisor, she brings calm to the often-confusing world of divorce finances, ensuring clients avoid costly mistakes. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), Certified Divorce Coach®, mediator, and Collaborative Divorce professional, she is dedicated to keeping families out of court whenever possible. Her mission is clear: to help people avoid the damage divorce can bring by providing solid information so they can make informed decisions and find a path to peaceful resolutions. She loves the beauty and people of Chattanooga, where she proudly serves the community with care and commitment.
Mark Smith is a business and regulatory lawyer who focuses his practice on economic development, government relations, and broadband and utility matters. Smith has been involved in numerous state and local tax incentive projects, and he has also represented a wide range of clients before the Tennessee General Assembly, various State agencies, and local governmental entities. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for his economic development and government relations work, he is a frequent speaker on economic development, legislative, and utility law issues. He is a member of the Tennessee Economic Development Council as well as the board of directors of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Public Policy Committee. Smith splits his time between the firm’s Chattanooga and Nashville offices, spending considerable time in Nashville during the State legislative session.
Mark Hackett is managing partner and co-founder of Evans Harrison Hackett PLLC, where he practices primarily in the corporate, health law, and life sciences areas, representing numerous businesses and physician groups in corporate and transactional matters. Hackett received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane in 1988 and his J.D. from Vanderbilt in 1991. In addition to his law practice, Hackett is co-founder of Solas BioVentures, a venture capital firm that invests in breakthrough biotech and medical device companies throughout the U.S. Hackett has served on the boards of several local nonprofits, and he and his wife are active members of St. Timothy’s Episcopal on Signal Mountain, where they raised their three children.
Sam Montgomery, CFP®, CKA®, APMA™ is a financial advisor at Riggs & Associates. Montgomery was raised in southwest Virginia and moved to Chattanooga in 2016 with his wife, Cassidy, after graduating from Liberty University. Montgomery and his family love Chattanooga and were drawn to it for all the outdoor recreational opportunities the city has to offer. Passionate about generosity, Montgomery serves on the leadership team of the Young Givers Circle, a philanthropic group operated through The Generosity Trust that supports local nonprofit organizations and the amazing work they do to meet needs in Chattanooga. Montgomery is also heavily involved in Kingdom Advisors, an international organization that helps financial advisors integrate their faith into their practice. Montgomery and Cassidy now have two beautiful children, Sutton and Sawyer, and attend RockPoint Church Chattanooga.
Marcherie Savage is a champion for Chattanooga’s entrepreneurs. As the director of entrepreneurial development at the INCubator, she helps small businesses navigate the challenges of growth by providing educational programming, resource partner mentorship, and space for small businesses to scale. Through her business, Marcherie Jamene Marketing, she extends this mission by helping local companies refine their branding and marketing assets. She is particularly passionate about supporting nonprofits, offering discounted services to help them increase awareness, raise funds, and further impact the community. Outside of her professional roles, Savage volunteers at Pneuma Church, where she serves in the media department and mentors the youth in media production, teaching them valuable skills in photography and videography. She is committed to empowering the next generation of creatives while strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chattanooga.
Charlie Wade started a career of service in the early 1990s, ultimately spanning both government and private sector roles. At the pinnacle of this career, Wade served in the United States Secret Service under several presidents as a Special Agent. In 2020, Wade founded Lookout Limousine to bring concierge-level secure transportation services to the Chattanooga region. In 2025, Lookout Limousine is a recognized leader of secure black car services, from sedans and SUVs to buses for corporate and personal transportation. The company participates in many local charity organizations as gratitude to Chattanooga. Wade’s motto is, “We don’t just drive people … We take care of people!”
Duane Horton founded Scenic Land Company along with three others, while also serving as Owner of GenTech Construction, leading a vertically integrated real estate development, design, construction, marketing, sales, and operations company consisting of in-house team members and strategic partners. Horton has a passion to serve by creating value through critical thinking skills, planning, execution, and leadership through care and authenticity. His most recent accomplishments include the acquisition, branding, design, and financing of McLemore Resort on Lookout Mountain. Horton was born and raised in the Chattanooga area and is a graduate of Georgia Tech. He and his wife Mindy reside in Ooltewah with their 10 children and are members of Covenant Presbyterian.
Brandon Combs is a dedicated State Farm insurance agent in Dalton, Georgia, who opened his agency in 2011 as a third-generation State Farm agent. With deep roots in the insurance industry, he combines family values of hard work and integrity to serve his community effectively. Combs offers personalized insurance solutions, covering auto, home, life, health insurance and business insurance, helping clients make informed decisions. He is committed to giving back to the community by actively participating in local events and charities while serving on the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation and Humane Society of Northwest Georgia. Under his leadership, his agency has grown steadily, earning recognition for excellent customer service and community involvement. Combs’s goal is to ensure that every family in North Georgia, Southeast Tennessee and North East Alabama feels secure and protected through quality insurance coverage.
