By all accounts, Chattanooga is a great place to start a new business. With a community driven to foster the success of new businesses, an unbeatable location in the southeast, and a growing creative and technology-savvy community, our city offers young entrepreneurs the ideal environment in which to cultivate their innovative ideas.
In an effort to showcase the diversity and success of local entrepreneurs, CityScope magazine surveyed its board of advisors as well as other community and business leaders to identify young professionals that have not only successfully established businesses, but through their efforts have positively impacted the welfare of the community. While clearly not an all encompassing list, what follows is an excellent representation of the entrepreneurial diversity and community spirit that exists in our wonderful city.
Scott Adams –
Owner, Foodworks and Four Bridges Catering
Success in the restaurant business is notoriously difficult to achieve. The statistics are disheartening, and there is substantial risk involved in investing in the industry. Scott Adams fell in love with the hospitality industry in college and has opened 13 restaurants since that time. Adams attributes his success to dedication and impeccable service. He explains, “You have to be committed to not taking shortcuts. If one of our guests has a want or need, we deliver without compromise.” Adams has a new restaurant on the way to the waters of the Tennessee River. The restaurant, aboard a 167 foot boat, will be called Float and will feature sushi, local produce, and an open kitchen in the center of the sprawling dining room. It is slated to open in June of this year.
Adams, a native Chattanoogan, values the fact that the business community in the city is able to really get acquainted with the customers it serves. He states, “I get to see great people everyday. Unlike Atlanta, in Chattanooga you are able to have a relationship with the people who keep you in business.”
Rey Alfonso – Artist, Owner of Metallico Arts
Rey Alfonso’s decision to relocate to Chattanooga was not one he made lightly. He and his wife did three years worth of research and made a lengthy list of all possible locations for their business and home. Not surprisingly, Chattanooga was at the top of the list. Alfonso regrets nothing about his decision to move here. His business, Metallico Arts, as well as his other work, is thriving in the Scenic City, and he could not be happier. On his list of attributes that make Chattanooga great are: “its beauty, infrastructure, size, roads, river, transportation, cost of living, and the many new artists that the city continues to attract.”
Alfonso is a successful artist, a title that can be very difficult to achieve. He attributes his success to perseverance and offers his insight to others who are just starting out. He advises, “Keep at it, even if it doesn’t work out. As you get better and better, people will take notice.” Alfonso’s work and success speak for themselves and are wonderful additions to the city’s growing creative community.
Jonathan Bragdon President and
Co-founder of Tricycle, Inc.
In typical entrepreneurial fashion, Jonathan Bragdon used his experience and innovation to solve a problem in the carpet industry. Bragdon explains, “There was a realization that a purely online approach was not going to solve the product development and presentation issues that plague the entire interiors industry. There had to be a better way to reduce the waste and cost involved in the physical processes while providing a better experience.” In 2002, Bragdon co-founded Tricycle, Inc., a sustainable design company. The company’s core product is Tryk™ which Bragdon describes as “a clean technology platform that dynamically mimics the manufacturing process to create an alternative digital or paper sample of an interiors surface, enabling product designers and facilities managers to arrive at final product selection faster and more economically with a smaller environmental footprint.” The result of this innovative product was a reduction of waste, as well as cost, during the design and merchandizing processes used by manufacturers.
Bragdon is indebted to the Chattanooga community for his success. He says, “Local support has been overwhelming. A small business, especially a start-up, has a multitude of challenges. We found allies everywhere, from highly networked individuals who made countless connections for us to local legal and financial resources.”
Terry Cannon – Artist
Terry Cannon has been an artist for nearly ten years. He and his family make their home in Chattanooga and recently developed a space that continues to bring new artists to the city’s growing creative community. The Off Main Arts Collective began in what Cannon described as a “creepy-looking building on Rossville Avenue.” Cannon took a tour of the building and discovered that, despite its rugged exterior, the building was the perfect space for artists. The building, located at 1800 Rossville Avenue, was originally intended to be divided into rentals specifically designed for artists. What Cannon discovered, however, was that artists wanted to own their own space, so he sells property in the warehouse to artists who wish to bring their work to Chattanooga.
One of the primary spaces of the Off Main Arts Collective was reserved by Cannon as a display area for his own work. The 5000-square-foot gallery, featuring Cannon’s art, has evolved into a booming event space, rented for everything from weddings and birthday parties to political rallies. Cannon’s ability to combine commercial success with creative freedom has had a significant impact on the Chattanooga creative arts community.
Al Chapman – Owner, Plato’s Closet
Al Chapman was born and raised in Chattanooga. He witnessed the revitalization of the community first hand and recalls visiting the downtown library at five-years-old and how deserted that area was. Other things may have changed in the city, but Chapman’s dedication to the Chattanooga community remains strong. Chapman’s current business, Plato’s Closet, is a clothing retailer in the Hamilton Place area that sells gently-used clothing. Chapman’s involvement in this particular business reflects his passion for the environment. He believes that Chattanooga has a great potential for business growth within the green market. Chapman explains, “I think there is a great future for companies that are serious about integrating the idea of being green into their everyday strategies.”
Keeping with his passion for the environment, Chapman is excited about his new product line, One Societee, which features a line of tee-shirts made of recycled material and 100% organic cotton. The line is coming soon to Plato’s Closet, as well as several other retailers across the country. Chapman’s other current business ventures include Transmarkets, a liquidation firm dedicated to helping companies get rid of their inventory, thus preventing waste, as well as a Facebook application, which allows members to group give, a relatively new concept in online networking.
Stephen Culp –
CEO and Chairman of Smart Furniture, Inc.
Stephen Culp was intrigued by the emerging technology of smart phones, smart cars, and smart appliances and decided to bring the concept of Design on Demand® to the Chattanooga community and the world through his innovative business, Smart Furniture, Inc. The concept, which Culp describes as “empowering individuals to transform ordinary rooms into extraordinary spaces—from living rooms to lofts to home offices—quickly and easily,” has successfully brought personalized design to the masses. Culp attributes his success to staying focused. He explains, “One of the most important elements of our progress has been our focus on a mission: Design on Demand — i.e., making personalization relevant to all aspects of what we do.”
Smart Furniture, Inc.’s flagship products are manufactured, warehoused, and shipped from the Chattanooga area. Culp does not regret his move from the West Coast. “Coming back from Silicon Valley to Chattanooga has been a good move, he says. “ I remember thinking ‘renaissance’ when I visited in 2000. It was written in invisible ink all over the place, and it’s really started to show now. Chattanooga is a city in transformation and is, in fact, a city that is all about transformation. It is an exciting place to be, personally and professionally.”
Ben Fischer – President of Signal Wind Energy, LLC
Ben Fischer is a visionary when it comes to energy. He describes his company, Signal Wind, as “a full service general contractor, providing design/build and balance of plant construction services to the wind industry throughout North America.” Fischer’s passion for the environment, coupled with his need to serve the community, is what led him to the renewable energy field. He explains, “I wanted to use my skills to help others. I also wanted to be a good steward with what I have been given [taking care of the earth]. It turns out that using one’s skills to make a difference in people’s lives and in the environment is a desire many people have. I also saw tremendous growth potential in the renewable energy sector, specifically in wind energy.”
Fischer takes advantage of the wide variety of activities Chattanooga has to offer and touts the city’s many virtues. “Chattanooga is a great family community. We enjoy living in a location with four distinct seasons and living minutes away from a wide variety of outdoor activities.
I continue to be impressed with the affordability of Chattanooga’s housing, as well as the relatively low cost of living compared to many other areas of the country,”
he says.
Terri Holley –
Owner of Embellish and Master Consultant with Carlisle
As a successful consultant with Carlisle, which Terri Holley describes as “a unique line of women’s apparel which features clothing and accessories of couture quality at ready to wear prices,” Holley found herself and her clients seriously lacking in the shoe department. “I had an increasingly difficult time finding the right shoes to coordinate with the Carlisle clothing for myself and my clients,” she explains. Not one to rest on her laurels, Holley decided to solve the problem on her own by opening a shoe store. Located on Frazier Avenue, Embellish is a women’s shoe boutique that carries handbags and accessories. Holley attributes the success of her store to the wonderful staff of women with whom she works, as well as her customer base here in the scenic city, a base which has grown significantly since Embellish opened its doors in November of 2005.
Holley is grateful to make her home in Chattanooga. “The people of Chattanooga are definitely the thing I love most about it. They are so warm and welcoming to newcomers like myself, and they truly believe in giving back to their community,” she says enthusiastically.
Michael Kull –
President of Culture Systems Media, LLC
Michael Kull, along with his business associate Zach Cooper, founded Culture Systems, LLC. Recognizing the city’s potential for growth and an untapped media market, Kull put his extensive knowledge of arts and culture to work for him by creating a magazine to highlight the city’s creative community. Thus The Pulse, Chattanooga’s premiere alternative magazine, was born. Kull attributes his success in the publishing industry to several factors, including tenacity, a positive attitude, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed.
Kull’s appreciation of the Chattanooga community runs deep, and he recognizes that the city is a great place for entrepreneurs. Kull explains, “Being a midsize city, Chattanooga has enough layers to make it an interesting place to live, and it is small enough that one can become involved in many initiatives and opportunities. It is not so huge that one can find himself on the outside, not able to get in.”
Pam Ladd –
Owner/President of Custom Custodials
Pam Ladd is an American success story. She started out as a janitor, using the money she made to put herself through college, and worked her way up in the custodial trade. Her company, Custom Custodials, which specializes in commercial cleaning of large buildings, such as schools, churches, medical offices, and banks, just celebrated its 13th year in business. Ladd attributes her success to teamwork, integrity, and networking. She explains, “We partner with our clients and become a part of their team, assisting with business by providing our cleaning service.” Ladd values her membership in the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and the networking opportunities it has afforded her business.
Ladd enjoys living in Chattanooga and thinks that the future of the city is bright. “We have many opportunities for new growth and a Chamber that focuses on sustaining current business while also promoting new growth,” she states.
David Magee –
Co-Owner of Rock Point Books and President of Jefferson Press
A writer by trade, David Magee felt compelled to get involved in every aspect of the book business. His passion led him to preside over a successful publishing company, Jefferson Press, as well as open Rock Point Books, an independent bookstore on Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga. Magee describes the philosophy behind the bookstore this way: “Rock Point Books is a shared vision with my business partner Albert Waterhouse. We have seen how a strong independent bookstore can be an integral part of a changing and vibrant community.” Opened in November 2006, Rock Point Books offers an impressive selection of books, as well as a fantastic calendar of impressive guest speakers and activities for adults and children alike.
Magee attributes his success to the willingness of the Chattanooga business community to foster and support new businesses. He has great expectations for the city’s future and states, “Chattanooga is so full of both physical and intangible resources that all we have to do is continue to blossom, supporting home-grown businesses, the arts, and education, and then everyone will want to pick us. Recruiting will not be required. It’s a natural grow-from-within strategy that is quite becoming for a place filled with so many talented people.”
Brian May –
Owner of Maycreate
Brian May is one of a rare breed of people who never waffled when it came to his career choice. An early interest in art, as well as a keen business sense, led him down a direct path to advertising. Now the owner of Maycreate, a branding and advertising group, Brian is doing what he loves. He attributes his success to his ability to balance the creative side of the advertising industry with the business side, acknowledging that he and his colleagues at Maycreate are “not liberal artists but commercial artists.”
May’s wife grew up in Chattanooga and soon after starting the business in Florida, they made the decision to move back to the Tennessee Valley. May enjoys life in the Tennessee Valley and the benefits of living in a midsize city like Chattanooga. He notes, “Business leaders in this community can really make an impact. You can get involved in non-profits and the city itself and really see your hard work pay off.”
Mitch Patel – President and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, Inc.
Mitch Patel grew up in the hotel business. His parents purchased their first hotel when he was eight, and Patel got a first-hand look at the business. He took a brief hiatus from the hospitality business after college when he worked as an engineer in Atlanta, but returned to Chattanooga only three years later to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Patel opened his first hotel, Homewood Suites by Hilton, near Hamilton Place mall, in 1999 and currently has nine hotels with 12 in the pipeline. He attributes his success and the success of his company, Vision Hospitality Group, Inc., to the loyal and talented people who run his hotels.
Mitch Patel is as passionate about the Chattanooga community as he is about his hotels. He explains, “Chattanooga is a beautiful city, but its greatest asset is its people. We’ve been fortunate to have visionary leaders who have transformed our city into one many would envy.”
James Perry – Active Broker of
Real Estate, President/CEO of
The James Company Real Estate Brokers and Development
James Perry is in a career that suits him perfectly. He is passionate about real estate and has banked his success on it being an historically safe, tangible investment. Describing his company, The James Company, Perry says, “We are well-rounded brokers of real estate diversified with experience in commercial and income-producing properties, as well as residential properties.” Perry attributes his success to his honesty and good old-fashioned salesmanship, as well as his willingness to stay on his game 24/7. Never one to shy away from hard work, Perry knows what it takes to be a success in his business. “You must be making contacts daily to generate leads for appointments and contracts. Anything less is a passive act and an ingredient for failure,” he explains.
Perry thinks that Chattanooga is a great place to live due to the size of the city, as well as the people and the landscape. Not surprisingly, he also appreciates the city’s real estate market which he describes as “steady with no major highs or lows.”
Chuck Pruett – Owner and CEO, Greenlife Grocery
A native Chattanoogan and third-generation grocery store owner, Chuck Pruett has strong feelings about food. One of his goals is to raise awareness in the Chattanooga area and beyond about the importance of conscious food purchases. He explains, “I think that people need to realize where their food comes from and how it is produced, as well as how it gets to our store shelves. The quality of food is something that is very important, and we all have an obligation to be good stewards of the land and the way our food is produced and brought to us.” Pruett’s passion for quality, organic, and locally sustainable food is what led him to open Greenlife Grocery in July of 1999. Since that time, Pruett has opened another store in Asheville and expanded the size of Greenlife Grocery significantly in November of 2007 when the store opened its doors in its new location at Two North Shore.
Chattanooga has proved to be a welcoming place for Pruett’s grocery business. He loves the city for many reasons and says, “It is a beautiful place, very family-oriented, has four distinct seasons, and offers a great location in the
Southeast.”
Jay and Christopher Robinson –
Owners of Robinson Real Estate Inc.
Jay Robinson has been involved in real estate for his entire adult life. His passion for the business spilled over into his personal life when his wife, Christopher, decided to join the ranks of the real estate world. Together, they make a phenomenal team. The Robinsons attribute their success to their unique perspective on the real estate business. Jay explains, “I don’t look at it as selling property. What we are doing is solving problems and brokering change in people’s lives. By doing that I think it gives us better insight and better ability to meet our client’s needs.”
Jay and Christopher were both born and raised in the Chattanooga area and love the city for many reasons. Jay says, “Chattanooga offers a high quality of life, low cost of living, and, most importantly, it is a great place to raise kids.” Business is booming for Robinson Real Estate, Inc., and, according to Jay, the future of Chattanooga’s residential real estate market is very bright.
Kris Simmons – Executive Producer and CEO of Fire Eye Productions
Kris Simmons discovered television production in high school and knew immediately what he wanted to do with his life. He focused his college education on the subject and found himself working in the industry upon graduating. Simmons describes his move from employee to business owner: “I realized after six months of being employed by one of my competitors that I could work on more exciting projects with a better paycheck if I started my own business. I opened Fire Eye Productions in November of 2000 and have never looked back.” Simmons attributes his success to his wife Christy, his mentors, and his clients.
Simmons takes pride in his community and thinks that Chattanooga has a great deal to offer individuals, families and businesses. He sees a bright future for entrepreneurs in the city and notes, “If Chattanooga continues to improve its status as a technology hub in the southeast, a lot of very talented entrepreneurs will want to move here and that’s when even greater things will start to happen for this city.”
Greg Vital –
Co-founder and President/CEO of Independent Healthcare Properties
Greg Vital spent ten years working for a large corporation in the nursing home and elder care market. Fueled by the desire to be his own boss, Vital and a colleague opened their business, Independent Healthcare Properties, in 1996. In the twelve years since its inception, Independent Healthcare Properties has evolved into a large organization with fourteen facilities in five states. Vital describes his company: “We are a senior services healthcare provider and developer. We build, develop, and manage assisted living facilities and Alzheimer’s facilities with a retirement component of housing related around them.”
Greg Vital enjoys his life in the Chattanooga community and sees a great deal of potential for the future of the city’s growing business community. Vital values the quality of people in Chattanooga and touts the city’s “spirit of entrepreneurship.” He believes that the size of the city is ideal for entrepreneurs because the successful people behind the thriving businesses in the city are more than willing to help the ones who are just getting started.
Donna Williams
Live Urban Marketing and Broker for Keller Williams
Donna Williams is a Chattanooga native, and her family, minus one sibling, still calls the Tennessee Valley home. Mrs. Williams left Chattanooga for 11 years to lend her talents to companies such as Apple and Simon and Schuster, but decided to come back to her hometown in 2001 with the intentions of slowing down for a year or so and then returning to the hustle and bustle of a larger city. Things didn’t go as planned, and she has been here ever since.
The past seven years have been productive for Donna Williams. She started Live Urban Marketing, a firm that designs sales marketing strategies, the majority of which are specific to real estate and community revitalization. Business is booming and Donna has no plans to leave Chattanooga. She notes, “I can see my family any day of the week, and Chattanooga is the perfect size community. It’s small enough to make a difference, naturally beautiful, and is in close proximity to larger cities.”
Merri Mai Williamson –
Chairperson of Applications Researchers®
Merri Mai Williamson is a true American success story. While working for someone else, she created a much-needed service by meeting her employer’s needs with an innovative program. Her service, pre-employment background checks, quickly gained notoriety in the community, and she found herself outsourcing her services to employers other than her own. Fast forward 14 years, and Williamson is the founder and chairperson of Applications Researchers®, a licensed private investigative agency, specializing in pre-employment background checks. Williamson attributes her success to three factors: a primed market, referral business from current clients, and people-- the ones she serves as well as the ones who work for the company.
Williamson is a native Chattanoogan and has witnessed some incredible changes over the course of her life. She describes her love of the scenic city: “What a tremendous pleasure to live and work in a city where the citizens work together with the public sector to bring about great changes and enhance the way of life for all who live and visit here.”
These 20 business professionals are a testament to the innovation, spirit and success of many young entrepreneurs that call Chattanooga home. From real estate to technology, grocery stores to alternative energy sources, our city boasts a wide range of successful entrepreneurs that have followed their dreams and care deeply about the community. With a business community that welcomes and supports innovation and a location that is hard to match for quality of life, Chattanooga is an ideal city for aspiring entrepreneurs. With and innovative idea and a solid business plan, entrepreneurs live their dreams and in the process, make the community stronger.