The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s Enterprise/Gateway Council will host the fifth annual BOOST Summit on Jan. 30. The Summit will take place from 8-10 a.m. at Volkswagen Chattanooga’s Academy Conference Center, 7469 Volkswagen Dr.
The event, which started in 2009 as a one-day town hall-style forum, promotes business and industry success by bringing companies together with local experts to discuss topics related to growth, business and workforce development.
The topic of this year’s BOOST Summit is “BOOST Into the Future: Changing the Vision of Success.” The forum will feature a panel discussion exploring skills and qualities business leaders expect and the direction education must take to prepare students to become qualified members of the workforce. Hamilton County Superintendent Rick Smith will provide opening remarks, and Garry Mac of Hospice of Chattanooga will serve as the moderator.
The event will feature panelists from the education and business sectors.
Education panelists will include:
Jamie Woodson, CEO of SCORE (State Collaborative on Reforming Education)
Bob Obrohta, Executive Director of the TN College Access and Success Network
Tracey Carisch, Managing Director at STEM Innovation Hub
Business panelists will include:
Sheila Boyington, Owner and President of Thinking Media
Roger Layne, CEO of East Tech Company
Marlena Russell, Senior Recruiter for Plant Manufacturing ,Salaried Staffing and Workforce Planning at Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations
"We anticipate a lively, informative exchange of ideas for various career paths as well as what businesses expect from the workforce” said Bobby Brooksbank, president of the Enterprise/Gateway Council. “We look forward to seeing the public take advantage of this opportunity to interface with local leaders, network with one another and learn about how we can work together to build an enterprising workforce in our community.”
Enterprise/Gateway Council meetings take place the fourth Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. at Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Dr. Admission is $10, and a light breakfast is provided.
For more information about the Enterprise Gateway Council, contact Tom Barringer, Enterprise Gateway Council President, at 622-2200 or tbarringer@hamiltonplasticsinc.com.