Chattanoga Food Bank names new managers
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank recently promoted Melanie Hammontree to director of development and hired Chris Payne as director of operations. Hammontree previously served as development officer for Northwest Georgia at the Food Bank, and Payne was plant manager for HP Pelzer in Athens, Tenn.
“We’re fortunate to have access to a deep bench of talent in our own backyard, here at the Food Bank with Melanie and from the manufacturing community with Chris,” said Food Bank President & CEO Gina Crumbliss. “Both bring years of experience from their fields to strengthen further our resources and our ability to serve our 20-county region in southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia.”
Hammontree has 15 years of fundraising experience, seven of which have been spent in nonprofit organizations. Hammontree originally joined the Food Bank in September 2017 as development officer for northwest Georgia, during which she held responsibility for the nine Georgia counties served by the Food Bank. She was promoted in May 2019 to oversee development efforts for the Food Bank’s entire service area. Prior experience includes the Dalton Arts Project and Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo).
Payne joined the Food Bank in August 2019. His 30 years of materials and operational management expertise support the distribution of more than 15 million pounds of food annually across the Food Bank’s service area. Having previously worked in organizations with complex supply chain operations, Payne’s background offers best practices for even more quickly and efficiently connecting those facing hunger with the resources they need. Before joining the Food Bank, Payne was plant manager for HP Pelzer’s Athens, Tenn., Plant #8. He previously served in several roles at Woodbridge Foam increasing in responsibility over 15 years, including plant manager.