Chattanooga, TN --- Tennessee Small Business Development Center representatives will present information about their current and upcoming activities while Federal Reserve Bank information will be shared in regard to small business lending during the annual Banker’s Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, February 20 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Hamilton County Business Development Center, located at 100 Cherokee Boulevard. Special guest speaker will be Lee Jones, regional executive and senior officer of the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Lee Jones began his career with the Fed in 1980 at the Bank’s headquarters in Atlanta. Since then he has held a variety of positions at the Bank’s branch offices in Jacksonville, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Birmingham, Alabama. In April 2008, Mr. Jones returned to Nashville to assume his current responsibilities. His primary role is being the “Face of the Federal Reserve” in the branch’s region encompassing Middle and East Tennessee. He develops relationships, organizes and participates in activities throughout the region designed to gather both quantitative data and anecdotal “grassroots” information on economic conditions.

The Banker’s Appreciation Luncheon event is held for bank managers, business bankers, and commercial lenders from banks in the TSBDC service region that includes Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, Rhea, Sequatchie, Van Buren, and Warren counties.

This event is a cooperative effort between The Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Incubator and the Small Business Administration. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Tennessee Board of Regents and the State of Tennessee. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested two weeks in advance. Seating to this event is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. RSVP by calling TSBDC 423.756.8668 or email kpippin@tsbdc.org.