A seasoned planner and politician with more than 40 years experience. Retired from elected office in April of 2013 after two terms as Mayor of Chattanooga following additional years of service on the Chattanooga City Council - including two terms as Chairman. Initial entry into politics was in 1987 when elected Commissioner of Public Works for Chattanooga - defeating a 12-year incumbent.
A 1968 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in business. Was a member of the old American Society of Planning Officials and became a charter member of the American Planning Association when the two national planning organizations merged. In the early 1970's, completed additional studies and obtained professional credentials as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners when the test was still a "standing examination" administered by a select panel of fellow practicing planners.
Early career characterized by service with the Tennessee State Planning Commission working with cities, towns and counties throughout Southeast Tennessee. Over the subsequent four decades, held various positions in both public and private agencies and organizations. In the mid-1980's served as the first Director of Economic Development for the then newly combined Chattanooga / Hamilton County / Chamber of Commerce unified effort aimed at reversing the loss of manufacturing jobs in city and surrounding region. Following that, headed Chattanooga Venture and oversaw the undertaking of Vision 2000 - one of the first large scale visioning projects in the US - credited with changing public outlooks and attitudes paving the way for transition to a new local economy based on environmental sustainability and quality of life.
As Mayor, continued to push the transformation of Chattanooga as a clean community with stronger linkages to the new Information age - thus attracting Volkswagen, Amazon, and more - "installing a new economic heart in a previously tired old industrial city".
