Skip Schwartz, a Chattanooga native, brings 28 years and over $5 billion of global real estate investment experience to Invest Chattanooga. He is currently a Senior Advisor to Heitman’s Private Real Estate Equity – Asia-Pacific group and a member of its Asia-Pacific Private Equity Investment Committee. Previously, he served as Managing Director for Heitman's Asia-Pacific business and was an equity owner of the firm. After five years of investing across the US with Heitman, Skip spent the next two decades expanding the firm’s European and Asian investment platforms, living with his family in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Hong Kong before returning to Chattanooga in 2021. Locally, he serves as Treasurer of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, and is on the board of the Humane Educational Society, the Baylor School Alumni Council and the investment committee of the Public Education Foundation. 

Adam Kinsey is a real estate developer and entrepreneur, focusing on urban, mixed-used and entertainment projects. Since 2001, he has been involved in over $700 million of development projects, including the transformation of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Kinsey is now concentrating on urban infill projects, aiming to introduce a variety of housing options for all income levels. He serves on the boards of the Chattanooga Housing Authority and the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance.

Dr. Edna Varner is a retired Hamilton County educator and UTC graduate, currently serving as Senior Advisor for Leading and Learning at the Public Education Foundation. She is currently education chair of the local NAACP, board treasurer for ArtsBuild, vice-chairperson of the Chattanooga Housing Authority board, and one of the Mayor’s appointees to the Sports Authority Board. She is the 2021 recipient of the Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award and President Elect for Chattanooga Downtown Rotary.

Matt Phillips is the Managing Partner and President of Rise Partners, which he co-founded in 2017. Rise has developed, redeveloped or acquired over $400 million of real estate across 11 states. With over 20 years of experience, Matt has gained an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the real estate development process including acquisition and site selection, deal-making, financing, entitlements, public incentives, managing the design and construction process, property management, and asset management. Over his career, Matt has sourced or supervised approximately $1.4 billion of real estate or approximately 7 million square feet of real estate developments and investments.

Nicole Heyman is the Chief Housing Officer for the City of Chattanooga, leading a team of housing specialists dedicated to the preservation and development of workforce and affordable housing. Nicole is an innovative creator and champion of interlocking policy and legislative strategies and programs to promote and leverage investments in housing solutions and encourage the development of amenity rich communities. Nicole also serves on the board of the Chattanooga Housing Authority.