
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
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Public policy and best practices research
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Survey design and analysis
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Roundtables and focus groups
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Program evaluation
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Economic impact analysis and modeling
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Budgetary and operational reviews
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Assessment of community conditions
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.
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:
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Accuracy
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Collaboration
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Objectivity
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Ethical Practices
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Equity
Meet The Board

Jeannine Grogg,Â
Chair
Retired, Hamilton County Government, Executive Assistant

Edna Varner, EdD Governance
Senior Advisor, Public Education Foundation-Chattanooga

Jim Catanzaro, PhD
Past President, Chattanooga
State Community College

Ben Wygal, PhD
Assistant to the President,
Southern Adventist University
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Benjamin Pitts, JD
Vice Chair
Vice President,
Herman Walldorf Commercial
Real Estate

Donna McConnico, Secretary
CEO,
Signal Centers, Inc.

Erskine Oglesby, Jr.
​Community Volunteer

Dave Buck, PhD
Executive Director,
Chattanooga Autism Center

Suzy Anthony, Treasurer
Vice President,
United Way of Greater Chattanooga

Hal Baker
Community Resource Specialist , ArcTN

Mary Tanner, PhD
Dean Emeritus, Independent Consultant, UT Chattanooga
Meet the Team
Clients



Sponsorships


The Ochs Center
1400 McCallie Avenue, STE 300
Chattanooga TN 37404
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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.
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