Thrive Regional Partnership announces 5 new trustees
Thrive Regional Partnership is adding five new trustees to its board this year to reflect growing county representation and corporate leadership across the tristate, 16-county greater Chattanooga region. The newly elected board trustees are Barry Allen, Mike Costa, Nathan Lee, Jennifer McCurdy and Harriette Stokes.
“After a year like 2020, we understand now more than ever how important it is to strengthen connections among communities across our region,” said Bridgett Massengill, president and CEO of Thrive Regional Partnership. “We are pleased to welcome these new trustees, representing businesses and towns across northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee, to ensure that we continue to practice.”
Allen lives in Jasper, Tennessee, and has spent 26 years in the banking industry. He currently serves as president of Tower Community Bank in Jasper. Allen has most recently finished an eight-year stint on the board of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, finishing his tenure as president in
2019 and 2020. Allen also serves on the board of The Battle of Franklin Trust.
Costa is the owner of Costa Media Advisors, an advisory firm focused on media, marketing and management. A career in local television brought Costa to Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley in 2000. He was general manager of WDSI Fox61 from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Costa became general manager of WTVC NewsChannel9, a position he held until 2018. In his role as a station leader, he fell in love with this area, its people and its community organizations. He and his team at WTVC were responsible for the book, “Chattanooga Heroic Drive: History of a Renaissance,” documenting Chattanooga’s journey from “America’s dirtiest city” to the place ranked #1 by Outdoor magazine.
Lee is the project manager for the Jackson County Economic Development Authority. In this role, he supports existing industries and recruits new industries into North Alabama. Lee is a graduate of Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute and Auburn EDAA essentials of economic development. Nathan is from Jackson County Alabama and graduated from Pisgah High School. He has a master’s degree from Liberty University and a bachelor’s in organizational management from Covenant College. Lee has served in the United States Air Force, worked as a mechanic, served as a police officer, worked as a houseparent and was a career coach in the Jackson County and Scottsboro City school system.
McCurdy is from DeKalb County, Alabama, and is a graduate of Auburn University, holding a degree in health services administration. She has served in healthcare marketing for more than 20 years and has served as executive director of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce for three years. McCurdy is a graduate of the Government and Economic Development Institute at Auburn University’s EDAA Leadership Institute program. A graduate of Leadership Dekalb, she currently serves on the group’s board of directors. In partnership with DeKalb County Economic Development and Tennessee Valley Authority, McCurdy helped spearhead Rising Leaders of DeKalb, a young talent group formed two years ago.
Stokes is the director of executive account management and economic development for North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation serving Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Whitfield and Walker counties. Stokes has been with North Georgia EMC for nine years. She received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Florida and a J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville, Florida.
Stokes serves on the board of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority and represents her company with the Southeast Industrial Development Association and the Greater Chattanooga Economic Partnership. Stokes has served on many boards including Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce, Ronald McDonald House, Creative Discovery Museum, St Nicholas School, Chambliss Children’s Home and is a past board chair of Junior Achievement of Northwest Georgia.
“Each of the Thrive board members bring local perspective and distinct skill sets to the table,” said Connie Vaughan, chair of Thrive Regional Partnership. “As Thrive enters its sixth year, we are pleased to welcome these new members who will help steer the organization’s collaborative efforts around infrastructure, community prosperity and the stewardship of our natural landscape.”