The Buzz: Asheville NC
March 23-25, 2016

Chattanooga is in a fascinating phase of rapid growth, unlike that of any other city in the Southeast! Our recent momentum has been fueled by technology and entrepreneurship, while other cities are experiencing revitalization around cultural growth, the arts, design, culture, and food.

Asheville, North Carolina is similar to Chattanooga in many ways. It’s a progressive city in lovely surroundings, with a strong sense of place due to its focus on arts, food and drink, culture, and the environment.

So we wondered what would happen if we loaded up a bus with 25 great Chattanoogans for a 2-night trip and a full agenda of site visits and design thinking exercises —with all expenses covered by the Footprint Foundation.

These Chattanoogans accepted our invitation to get on the buzz for this “residency on wheels” that included site visits, meetings with culturemakers—and since we took a bus, we engaged in collaborative exercises on the trip up and the trip back.

  • Mary Howard Ade, Music Marketing Director, Chattanooga Visitors Bureau

  • Blythe Bailey, Director of Transportation, City of Chattanooga

  • Jeff Cannon, The Buzz project coordinator

  • Chelsea Conrad, Director of Creative Engagement, Causeway

  • Rondell Crier, Artist, Studio Everything

  • Noel Durant, Program Director, TPL

  • Lisa P. Flint, Executive Director, Footprint Foundation

  • Josiah Golson, Artist/Lawyer, 800 Collective

  • Martina Guilfoil, Executive Director, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise

  • Kelsey Keener, Farmer, Sequatchie Cove Farm

  • Monica Kinsey, General Manager/Owner, Track 29

  • Ann Law, Performing artist/owner, Barking Legs

  • Caleb Ludwick, The Buzz design thinker

  • Sara McIntire, Executive Director, Crabtree Farms

  • Mark McKnight, Founder/Chief Marketing Officer, Roots Rated

  • Eric Myers, Architect/Owner, Elemi

  • Cortney Mild, Planner, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency

  • Tom Montague, Trustee, Footprint Foundation

  • Amanda Niel, Restaurateur, Easy Bistro

  • Thomas Persinger, Assistant Manager, Harvested Here Food Hub

  • Brent Sanders, Artist, Brent Sanders

  • Jaime Smialek, Photographer, Our Ampersand Photography

  • Monica Smith, Restaurateur, Mean Mug

  • John Sweet, Restaurateur, Niedlovs Breadworks

  • Chris Thomas, Executive Director, Chattanooga Market Companies

  • Aggie Toppins, Graphic Designer, University of TN at Chattanooga

  • Michael Walton, Executive Director, greenspaces

  • Donna Williams, Director of Economic Development, City of Chattanooga

  • Roy Wroth, Design Director, Chattanooga Design Studio

  • Ann Yoachim, Director of Community Partnerships, University of TN at Chattanooga