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After traveling with his church on a mission trip to Haiti in his late 20s, Corker began to take a closer look at needs in his own community. He led the creation of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, a non-profit organization that today has helped over 10,000 families secure decent, fit, and affordable housing through low-interest loans and personal training in home maintenance. In 1994, he was appointed Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration, where he served for two years in the highest appointed office in state government. As commissioner, he tightened the state's budget and helped move almost 40,000 Tennesseans off welfare and into jobs. In 2001, Corker was elected mayor of Chattanooga. He transformed Chattanooga’s waterfront, attracting $2.1 billion of investment to revitalize the city, implementing merit bonus pay for teachers which dramatically raised student achievement in some of the city’s most challenged schools, and working with local law enforcement officials to cut violent crime in half. On November 7, 2006, Corker was elected to serve the people of Tennessee in the United States Senate. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, and the Special Committee on Aging. Corker and wife Elizabeth have been married for 22 years and have two daughters, Julia and Emily. The Corker family lives in Chattanooga. The Chamber of Commerce encourages attendance. Corker has a clear passion for East Tennessee. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet the Senator and learn more about what's being done during these challenging economic times. Questions? Contact the Monroe County Chamber at 423-442-4588. You can follow the Monroe County Chamber on Facebook and Twitter for instant updates on Chamber events, programs, and activities. |
