I learned Chattanooga's story two weeks ago at the Baylor School, which hosted the annual meeting of the Association of Business Officers of Independent Schools. ABOIS is an invitation-only cohort group comprised of independent school business officers from 30 schools across the country. By virtue of the unique history between ABOIS and NBOA—ABOIS members founded NBOA in 1998—I have the pleasure of attending this meeting annually. Hearing from some of the best and the brightest always helps me keep my fingers on the pulse of our profession, but this year's meeting provided some unique leadership lessons that could benefit all of us.
First and foremost, Chattanooga strives to set itself apart from the far higher-profile nearby metropolis of Atlanta. With unique geographical characteristics, it is nestled alongside the Tennessee River and between three mountains—Lookout, Elder and Signal—as well as the Missionary and Stringers Ridges. Established in 1815, Chattanooga quickly transformed from a trading post to a crossroad to a railway hub that was pivotal to the Civil War. By 1899 it was known as the "Dynamo of Dixie" that unfortunately soon developed almost untenable pollution as well as racial unrest and a civic depression.
But that's not the end of the story. At the turn of the 20th century, Chattanooga became home to the first Coca-Cola bottling facility, a development that infused the region with good jobs and great wealth. An heir to this wealth was John T. "Jack" Lupton II, a philanthropist whose visionary leadership and generosity ultimately led to the Tennessee Riverwalk, a landscaped 13-mile path, along with other cultural and scenic attractions. This momentum and civic pride are encapsulated in Chattanooga's great hospitality and diversified economy, as well as a forward-thinking initiative called "Thrive 2055: Reaching beyond Today."
What lessons can schools take from Chattanooga's 195-year history? At ABOIS, they were crystalized by Jim Kennedy, Baylor School's director of admission and enrollment. Here are my key takeaways:
- Sometimes you have to start at the bottom.
- Have a vision to tell people where you are going and a plan that will get you there.
- Put someone in charge, and give them the authority and resources to do the job.
- Work together and seize momentum when you can.
- Each success is a springboard to the next one.
- The work never ends. Even when you reach your destination, know where you'll go next.
Thanks, Jim, and thanks, Chattanooga!
