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ABOUT US

What We Do

The Ochs Center is the only organization in the Chattanooga region that provides a full array of research and data analysis services for local non-profit organizations and local government:

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  • Collection and analysis of administrative data from government agencies or non-profit programs

  • Public policy and best practices research

  • Survey design and analysis

  • Roundtables and focus groups

  • Program evaluation

  • Economic impact analysis and modeling

  • Budgetary and operational reviews

  • Assessment of community conditions

Learn more...

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Client Reports

What We Do

History

The Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies began serving the Chattanooga community as the Metropolitan Council for Community Services in 1962. The Metropolitan Council was the community’s first non-governmental health and human services planning agency. Acting as the planning arm for the local United Way, the Metropolitan Council was instrumental in the development of numerous community based efforts to provide services to children and the poor.

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In 2000, the Metropolitan Council became the Community Research Council (CRC). CRC provided data collection and analysis services to non-profit organizations and local government. In addition, CRC housed the Southeast Tennessee Neighborhood Information Service, which in 2004 produced a major study on literacy in Hamilton County.

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CRC became the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies in August 2008, to better reflect an increasing focus on policy issues that affect both the Chattanooga region metropolitan areas nationally.

History

Vision, Mission, and Values

 

Vision: 

“Empower organizations to better serve community needs.”

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Mission:

“Providing independent evaluations and research to inform decision making that impacts the way communities think, live, work, and interact.”

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Values:

  • Accuracy
  • Collaboration
  • Objectivity
  • Ethical Practices
  • Equity
Vision Mission Values
Board of Directors

Meet The Board

Jennine Grogg, Chair

Jeannine Grogg, 
Chair

Retired, Hamilton County Government, Executive Assistant
 

Edna Varner, Governance

Edna Varner, EdD Governance

Senior Advisor, Public Education Foundation-Chattanooga

Jim Catanzaro

Jim Catanzaro, PhD

Past President, Chattanooga
State Community College

Ben Wygal

Ben Wygal, PhD

Assistant to the President,
Southern Adventist University

Benjamin Pitts, Vice Chair

Benjamin Pitts, JD
Vice Chair

Vice President,
Herman Walldorf Commercial
Real Estate

Donna McConnico, Secretary

Donna McConnico, Secretary

CEO,
Signal Centers, Inc.

Erskine Oglesby

Erskine Oglesby, Jr.

​Community Volunteer

Dave Buck

Dave Buck, PhD

Executive Director,
Chattanooga Autism Center

Suzy Anthony, Treasurer

Suzy Anthony, Treasurer

Vice President, 
United Way of Greater Chattanooga

Hal Baker

Hal Baker

Community Resource Specialist , ArcTN

Mary Tanner

Mary Tanner, PhD

Dean Emeritus, Independent Consultant, UT Chattanooga

Meet the Team

Partnerships

Social Work Office of Research & Public
Partnerships
Maryanne Cunningham, CEO
Maryanne Cunningham
CEO
Catherine Wershing
Catherine Wershing
Intern
Elizabeth DeGeorge
Elizabeth DeGeorge
Communications Director
Ed Sullivan.jpg
Ed Sullivan
Research Associate
Joyce Bridges
Joyce Bridges
Consultant
Jorg_Holberg_edited.jpg
Jorg Holberg
Statistical Consultant
Professional Team

Clients

Signal Center Logo
Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Logo
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Clients

Sponsorships

Southern Adventist University Logo
Signal Center Logo
Sponsorships

The Ochs Center

1400 McCallie Avenue, STE 300

Chattanooga TN 37404

 

Or

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PO Box 4160

Chattanooga, TN 37405

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maryanne.cunningham1@gmail.com

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865-924-5913

Changing the way

Chattanooga thinks.

Ochs Center Logo

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