Unum, The Midtown Council and Cindy Steele win Chamber Awards

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The annual Chattanooga Chamber meeting on Wednesday brought Governor Bill Haslam and Senator Bob Corker to town.

But the event also crowned several business award winners.

Unum won the first annual Mayors’ Arts Award for supporting the arts.

Mayors Andy Berke and Jim Coppinger singled out the local insurance company for encouraging employees to volunteer in the arts and for supporting ArtsBild and the Hunter Museum of American Art.

“Business and the arts are so important in our city,” said Rick McKenney, Unum President & CEO. “The arts are an economic engine, and it’s important we appreciate the arts for our people.”

The Chamber also honors one of their 12 area councils as the Council of the Year.

This year’s winner is the MidTown Council.

The Chamber Ambassador of the Year is Cindy Steele of Tandem Financial Partners.

Chamber ambassadors build relationships among the local business community.

Chamber President Bill Kilbride also recognized Diamond Ambassadors:

• Chamber Ambassador of the Year Cindy Steele, Tandem Financial Partners, as well as
Diamond Ambassadors:
• Dana Bolin, COMTRUST Federal Credit Union
• Constance Coffman, Chattanooga Courtyard Hamilton Place
• David Hamilton, Santek Waste Services
• Pat Mahery, SendOut Cards
• Eddie Wilkes, Add Ink