The Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise Board of Directors has welcomed five new members. The additions include Eugene “Buck” H. Schimpf, III of The Schimpf Company, Ricardo C. Morris of CoPAC (Contemporary Performing Arts of Chattanooga), Rebekah Marr of CO.STARTERS, Tiffanie Robinson of Lamp Post Properties, and George E. Ricks, Sr. of Southside Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers.
Mr. Shimpf is the president of The Schmipf Company, responsible for the development, construction, leasing, financing and land acquisition for retail commercial real estate and office building with total square footage exceeding two million. He is also currently involved in multiple commercial projects including Cameron Harbor, a large mixed use project along the banks of the Tennessee River in Downtown Chattanooga. Mr. Schimpf has a B.S. from University of Tennessee where he was a Varsity Cheerleader and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Schmipf is a former member of The McCallie School Board of Advisors and former officer of The McCallie School Alumni Council. He is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Mr. Morris is the executive director of of CoPAC (Contemporary Performing Arts of Chattanooga)/ Barking Legs Theater. Most recently, he worked as a Marketing Consultant for YP formerly AT&T Advertising Solutions. In addition, he has worked as Executive Director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama; Green Street Arts Center in Middletown, Connecticut; and the Harris Arts Center in Calhoun, Georgia. A Chattanooga native, Mr. Morris is a graduate of Howard High School and holds a B.S. from Tennessee State University and an MFA from Yale University.
Building on over a decade of experience in community leadership and philanthropic support, Ms. Marr is passionate about helping organizations increase their impact. In Ms. Marr’s role at CO.STARTERS, she works to build the most effective and intuitive platform to support startup communities of all kinds. In 2010, she left a career in the foundation world to found her own philanthropic advising business and complete her M.A. in Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University. In addition to advising nonprofit organizations and supporting program development at CO.STARTERS, Ms. Marr also serves on several community boards in the St. Elmo and Alton Park neighborhoods.
Ms. Robinson currently serves as the President of Lamp Post Properties, the real estate arm of Lamp Post Group. She served as head of operations for Lamp Post Group from 2013 through 2015. During her time, she founded WayPaver, the talent innovation lab focusing on recruiting and retaining Millennial talent to Chattanooga. She is a founder and active general partner at The JumpFund, an angel fund made up of all female investors focusing on investments in female led companies. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Lee University. An entrepreneur at heart and in practice, Ms. Robinson has spent the last 10 years launching and building companies, resulting in the sale of two companies.
Mr. Ricks is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Southside Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers and the Chairman of the Hamilton County Department of Education school board. In addition to CNE, he currently serves on the Night to Remember board. Mr. Ricks has served on many boards including Public Education Foundation, National Urban League, Inc., National Urban League Education/Parent Council, Chattanooga African American Museum Board, Power of Unity – Race Relations Committee and Alton Park Development Corporation.
“CNE is excited to add these smart and talented community members to the board,” said Martina Guilfoil, president and CEO of CNE. “As we continue to move forward as an organization, having the experience and leadership of these hardworking individuals will be a key asset to building a better Chattanooga.”
For more information on Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, visit www.cneinc.org or call 423 756-6201.