October 7-9

In Downtown Chattanooga

2026 Tri-State Summit

Four people seated in chairs on stage in discussion with microphones and flags in background.
October 1-2

The Role of Community Leaders Has Never Been More Important

The Tri-State Summit is Thrive’s flagship conference that inspires and connects community leaders in northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee. Join Thrive for two fun days of ideas, insights, and collaboration around responsible growth in the tri-state.

Presented By:

Schedule at a Glance

Wednesday, October 7

  • Summit check-in
  • Excursions
  • Tri-State Leadership Circle: A Convening of Chief Elected Officials from Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama (invitation only)
  • Kick-off Reception

Thursday, October 8

  • Presentations and panel discussions
  • Workshops
  • Keynote address by Joe Minicozzi

Friday, October 9

  • Workshops
  • Excursions

Meals

  • Wednesday Kick-off Reception: Light food and drinks
  • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, light snacks and drinks
Create your community toolkit for responsible growth
The Role of a Community Leader Has Never Been More Important, or Full of Opportunity.

‍

You might be wondering, how can my community access high-speed internet? Can planning trails spark my town’s economy? Where can I find reliable data to address my city’s transportation problems? How can my planning efforts embrace nature to create a resilient future for my community?

‍

Inspire your community’s future with a full program of professional development, education, and experiences with keynote speakers, panels, and subject matter experts. Plus, you’ll build lasting relationships with colleagues from across the region.

Sponsor the Summit

Sponsors of the Tri-state Summit benefit from highly visible recognition across Thrive’s regional platforms, before, during, and after the event in November.

Accommodations

Download the Tri-State Summit App

Get our official event app,

Get the most out of the app and have a more productive experience!

1

NAVIGATE the event agenda and logistics, even without Wi-Fi or data. Access useful information like ridesharing and local attractions through the Community Board

2

NETWORK effectively. Plan whom to meet by exploring attendee profiles and sending out messages

3

PARTICIPATE in event activities through session likes, comments, ratings, live polling, tweeting, and more

For Blackberry or Windows Phone, Click here
For feature details, visit Whova
Modern glass building reflecting city lights at dusk with blue-lit fountain in front.
The Westin Chattanooga

801 Pine St, Chattanooga, TN 37402

‍

Make the most of your Summit experience by staying at the Westin, right in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. The convenient location keeps you close to Summit sessions, favorite restaurants, and other local activities.

Wednesday, October 7

  • Summit check-in
  • Excursions
  • Tri-State Leadership Circle: A Convening of Chief Elected Officials from Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama (invitation only)
  • Kick-off Reception

‍

Thursday, October 8

  • Presentations and panel discussions
  • Workshops
  • Keynote address by Joe Minicozzi

‍

Friday, October 9

  • Workshops
  • Excursions

‍

Meals

  • Kick-off Reception: Light food and drinks
  • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, light snacks and drinks
Please Note: This is the 2025 Tri-State Summit agenda. Speakers and agenda for 2026 is forthcoming.

Why the Tri-State Summit?

Rated a 5-star event by attendees, the Tri-State Summit connects community and business leaders with high-quality, relevant content that directly supports responsible development initiatives.

“The Tri-State Summit in Chattanooga was a truly elevated, top-tier experience—far exceeding typical conferences. With leaders and innovators from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and the national level, it fostered meaningful collaboration and connection across the region and beyond. It was an event that blended inspiration with action, leaving me renewed with fresh ideas and purpose to carry into my work and community.”
‍
Carey Fauscett-Anderson,
Dade County, Georgia

Justify Your Attendance

We’ve created a customizable letter that you can share with your manager or organization to explain the value of your attendance at the Tri-State Summit. Download the letter and add or adjust details to show how you’ll use the knowledge and connections made at the Summit to advance your work.

Thanks to Our 2026 Summit Supporters!

Presenting Sponsor
Lyndhurst Foundation logo with stylized building and flowering branch graphic.
Presenting
Chattanooga Gas logo with a red, blue, and green triangular design above text.Logo of the word Sandler with stylized blue dashes in the letter R.
Regional
Chattanooga Gas logo with a red, blue, and green triangular design above text.Logo of the word Sandler with stylized blue dashes in the letter R.
Lyndhurst Foundation logo with stylized building and flowering branch graphic.
Community
Times Free Press logo with a stylized white T on red background and black Gothic text.North Georgia EMC logo with a utility pole silhouette inside a yellow circle and red text around it.Logo with lowercase letters 'setd' and tagline below in smaller text.Tennessee Aquarium logo with blue circle containing fish and aquatic animals beside blue text.Trust For Civic Life text logo with design elements in teal and light blue on white background.
Public Leadership
Seal of Bradley County, Tennessee showing agriculture and industry symbols with a tractor and factory images.Seal of Walker County Georgia with a yellow map shape, eagle, two stars, and text EST. 1833.Seal of Whitfield County Georgia featuring sunrise, map, cannon, and local symbols in yellow and blue.
Ambassador
Chambliss logo with a white letter C in a blue square followed by the word Chambliss in black text.Logo with CHA in a blue shape and the text Chattanooga Airport in gray.Logo of The Chamber Cleveland Bradley with green, purple, and blue semi-circle design and est. 1925.Cleveland State Community College text logo with 'Cleveland State' in navy and 'Community College' in green.Lodge Cast Iron logo with a cast iron skillet replacing the letter O and a fried egg inside it.
Stay Tuned for Sponsorship Opportunities in 2026!
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Corporate sponsorship opportunities of the Summit offer special benefits including media visibility and event scholarships. Additionally, sponsors will have various opportunities to connect with Thrive’s network of regional thought leaders. Thank you for considering the opportunity to impact the region by supporting this event as a sponsor.

Corporate Sponsor Opportunities
Public Leadership Package

The Public Leadership Package is designed for teams of public sector employees, officials, and planners to benefit from learning opportunities and regional networking at the Summit.

Public Leadership Package
Regional Sponsors
EPB logo with lowercase letters in black and blue geometric shapes.Chattanooga Gas logo with colorful geometric shapes above the text.Logo with large TVA letters and the words Tennessee Valley Authority to the right.McKee logo with a stylized blue swoosh encircling the text.Sandler company logo with stylized blue bars forming part of the letter R.Riverview Foundation logo with stylized blue R in a circle above the foundation name text.
Community Sponsors
North Georgia EMC logo with a utility pole silhouette inside a yellow circle and red text around it.Times Free Press newspaper logo with a white Gothic C on a red square.Engineered Floors brand logo with a tri-lobed gold shape and text.
Ambassadors
Cleveland State Community College text logo in navy and light blue font.RockPointBank text logo with a yellow geometric wing-like design on the left.Logo of Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce featuring stylized mountains and flowing lines.McGriff company logo with a blue shield-shaped emblem and stylized text.Georgia Power logo with a red, blue, and yellow triangular symbol above the text.Community Foundation Northwest Georgia logo with three interlocking hands in orange and yellow shades.Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority logo with blue geometric arrow and text.Lodge Cast Iron logo with a cast iron skillet replacing the letter O and a fried egg inside it.Stylized black text reading 'flint' with lime green text below saying 'Photographs by Flint Chaney'.Black HB monogram inside circle with the word SOLUTIONS to the right on white background.
Public Sector Leadership
Cleveland State Community College text logo in navy and light blue font.RockPointBank text logo with a yellow geometric wing-like design on the left.Logo of Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce featuring stylized mountains and flowing lines.McGriff company logo with a blue shield-shaped emblem and stylized text.Georgia Power logo with a red, blue, and yellow triangular symbol above the text.Community Foundation Northwest Georgia logo with three interlocking hands in orange and yellow shades.Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority logo with blue geometric arrow and text.Lodge Cast Iron logo with a cast iron skillet replacing the letter O and a fried egg inside it.Stylized black text reading 'flint' with lime green text below saying 'Photographs by Flint Chaney'.Black HB monogram inside circle with the word SOLUTIONS to the right on white background.

Sponsor the Summit

Sponsors of the Tri-state Summit benefit from highly visible recognition across Thrive’s regional platforms, before, during, and after the event in November.

Tri-State Summit Event Details

Download the Tri-State Summit App

Get our official event app,

Get the most out of the app and have a more productive experience!

1

NAVIGATE the event agenda and logistics, even without Wi-Fi or data. Access useful information like ridesharing and local attractions through the Community Board

2

NETWORK effectively. Plan whom to meet by exploring attendee profiles and sending out messages

3

PARTICIPATE in event activities through session likes, comments, ratings, live polling, tweeting, and more

For Blackberry or Windows Phone, Click here
For feature details, visit Whova
Venues
Modern glass building reflecting city lights at dusk with blue-lit fountain in front.
The Westin Chattanooga

801 Pine St, Chattanooga, TN 37402

‍

The majority of the Tri-State Summit program will take place in the ballroom at the Westin Chattanooga. Valet parking is available, and you can often find street parking nearby.

‍

Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided at the Tri-State Summit. Alimentari Bar and Cucina, the rooftop Paloma Bar de Tapas, and Marketplace by Westin are available for dining after conference hours.

‍

‍Guests are responsible for making their own reservations with the correct arrival and departure dates.

‍

Book by Saturday, September 6, 2025 to receive the group rate!
Band playing on stage with yellow and purple stage lights and a disco ball overhead in a concert venue.
Barrelhouse Ballroom

1501 Long St, Chattanooga, TN 37408

‍

Start the Summit off strong by checking in and socializing with fellow attendees at the Beyond Today Soirée at Barrelhouse Ballroom located in Chattanooga’s hip Southside district. This festive event will feature live music, appetizers, and locally sourced beverages.

Why the Tri-State Summit?

Rated a 5-star event by attendees, the Tri-State Summit connects community and business leaders with high-quality, relevant content that directly supports responsible development initiatives.

“The Tri-State Summit in Chattanooga was a truly elevated, top-tier experience—far exceeding typical conferences. With leaders and innovators from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and the national level, it fostered meaningful collaboration and connection across the region and beyond. It was an event that blended inspiration with action, leaving me renewed with fresh ideas and purpose to carry into my work and community.”
‍
Carey Fauscett-Anderson,
Dade County, Georgia

Justify Your Attendance

We’ve created a customizable letter that you can share with your manager or organization to explain the value of your attendance at the Tri-State Summit. Download the letter and add or adjust details to show how you’ll use the knowledge and connections made at the Summit to advance your work.

Accomodations

The Westin Chattanooga

801 Pine St, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Make the most of your Summit experience by staying at the Westin, right in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. The convenient location keeps you close to Summit sessions, favorite restaurants, and other local activities.

Modern glass building reflecting city lights at dusk with blue-lit fountain in front.

2025 Tri-State Summit Recap

2025 Tri-State Summit

2024 Tri-State Summit

November 13-14 in Downtown Chattanooga

Create your community toolkit for responsible growth
The Role of a Community Leader Has Never Been More Important, or Full of Opportunity.

‍

You might be wondering, how can my community access high-speed internet? Can planning trails spark my town’s  economy? Where can I find reliable data to address my city’s transportation problems? How can my planning efforts embrace nature to create a resilient future for my community?

‍

Inspire your community’s future with a full program of professional development, education, and experiences with keynote speakers, panels, and subject matter experts. Plus, you’ll build lasting relationships with colleagues from across the region.

‍

Who’s Coming?

‍

The Tri-State Summit welcomes community decision-makers of all kinds. This includes, but is not limited to,

  • Elected officials
  • Municipal leaders
  • City/regional planners
  • Nonprofit leaders
  • Private sector leaders
  • Philanthropic organizations
Scholarships

‍

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, scholarships may be available for those for whom the registration cost is a barrier to attending the conference. Please inquire by emailing info@thriveregion.org.

Sponsor the Summit

Sponsors of the Tri-state Summit benefit from highly visible recognition across Thrive’s regional platforms, before, during, and after the event in November.

Thank you to our 2024 Tri-State Summit sponsors

Regional Sponsors
EPB logo with lowercase letters in black and blue geometric shapes.Chattanooga Gas logo with colorful geometric shapes above the text.Logo with large TVA letters and the words Tennessee Valley Authority to the right.McKee logo with a stylized blue swoosh encircling the text.Sandler company logo with stylized blue bars forming part of the letter R.Riverview Foundation logo with stylized blue R in a circle above the foundation name text.
Community Sponsors
North Georgia EMC logo with a utility pole silhouette inside a yellow circle and red text around it.Times Free Press newspaper logo with a white Gothic C on a red square.Engineered Floors brand logo with a tri-lobed gold shape and text.
Ambassadors
Cleveland State Community College text logo in navy and light blue font.RockPointBank text logo with a yellow geometric wing-like design on the left.Logo of Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce featuring stylized mountains and flowing lines.McGriff company logo with a blue shield-shaped emblem and stylized text.Georgia Power logo with a red, blue, and yellow triangular symbol above the text.Community Foundation Northwest Georgia logo with three interlocking hands in orange and yellow shades.Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority logo with blue geometric arrow and text.Lodge Cast Iron logo with a cast iron skillet replacing the letter O and a fried egg inside it.Stylized black text reading 'flint' with lime green text below saying 'Photographs by Flint Chaney'.Black HB monogram inside circle with the word SOLUTIONS to the right on white background.

Sponsor the Summit

Sponsors of the Tri-state Summit benefit from highly visible recognition across Thrive’s regional platforms, before, during, and after the event in November.

Tri-State Summit Event Details

Download the Tri-State Summit App

Get our official event app,

Get the most out of the app and have a more productive experience!

1

NAVIGATE the event agenda and logistics, even without Wi-Fi or data. Access useful information like ridesharing and local attractions through the Community Board

2

NETWORK effectively. Plan whom to meet by exploring attendee profiles and sending out messages

3

PARTICIPATE in event activities through session likes, comments, ratings, live polling, tweeting, and more

For Blackberry or Windows Phone, Click here
For feature details, visit Whova
Venues & Parking
Credit: Visit Chattanooga
The Chattanoogan Hotel

1201 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402

‍

The majority of the Tri-State Summit program will take place in the ballroom and Walker conference room of  The Chattanoogan Hotel.

‍

Valet parking is available, and you can often find street parking nearby.

Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided at the Tri-State Summit. Starbucks and the Forge Restaurant are available for dining after conference hours.

‍

Guests are responsible for making their own reservations with the correct arrival and departure dates.

‍

‍

Reservation Methods

‍

Call the hotel directly at (423) 756-3400. Provide the front desk the arrival date and group name: 11.13.24, Thrive Regional Partnership, or book online.

‍

Guests are responsible for making their own reservations with the correct arrival and departure dates.

‍

The cutoff date is October 14, 2024. Reservations must be made prior to the cutoff date and/or before the block is full, whichever comes first, in order to guarantee availability of the rooms and discounted group rate that was contracted. Reservations made after the cutoff date will be accommodated based on availability, at the best available rate and at the discretion of the hotel.

‍

‍

Alternative Hotels

Other walkable accommodations include:

Credit: Visit Chattanooga
Chattanooga Whiskey Hall

890 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402

‍

Start the Summit off strong by checking in and socializing with fellow attendees at the Beyond Today Soirée at the Chattanooga Whiskey Hall. This festive event will feature an awards ceremony recognizing Thrive’s Emeritus Trustees, music, appetizers, and locally sourced beverages.

‍

‍

Parking Information

Parking at Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall

‍

There are up to approximately 100 parking spaces available in the lot(s) immediately surrounding the entire building. Enter the parking lots from either Martin Luther King Blvd (drive through breezeway) or Riverfront Parkway.

‍

Entrance to the 2nd tier lot is located at the back of the building. This parking lot features stairs on the Martin Luther King Blvd side, leading directly down to the lower lot in front of the main entrance of the rotunda. On-street parking is available on Riverfront Parkway.

Regional Excursions

Stay tuned for immersive field trip experiences to explore the region’s communities.

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