THE BOARD

Charlie Newton -  Board President. Mr. Newton is Executive Director. A professional artist for many years, his qualifications include graduating with a MFA degree from both Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University,  teaching as an adjunct professor at University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Bellhaven University and Chattanooga State Community College. He has completed several public commissions in the Southeast and has exhibited in Europe and America. He also serves as SPLASH Head Art Instructor. 

Iantha Newton - Board Secretary and Executive Assistant Mrs. Newton is also a professional artist, her qualifications include: BA(hons) degree from University of North London, England.  Her experience ranges from  adminstrative officer  to her current career that of professional artist. She has garnished  representation from four galleries in the Southeast.   

S. Reginald Ruff, III - Mr. Ruff received a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. A registered Architect with an NCARB Registration PC, Mr Ruff is President of SRR & Associates, PC.  He is registered in the State of Tennessee, Maryland, Georgia, and Pennsylvania and is responsible for overall marketing and management of  SRR & Associates. His responsibilities include defining and developing new business opportunities  and serving as Project Manager on the firm's ongoing projects.  

Meg Beene -  Ms. Beene, Executive Director of The Hospice of Chattanooga Foundation (HCF) is a member of the Senior Leadership Team for HCF serving 17 surrounding counties in North Georgia and Tennessee and has since 2002 worked to support its mission.  In 2006, she helped create the HCF to help address the growing demand to provide hospice care for those with no healthcare insurance or money to pay for care and with over 20 years of experience in fundraising, Meg is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals,  the Greater Chattanooga Area Planned Giving Council and the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association. 

Mike McConnell - Mr. McConnell recently served for twelve years as the president of two non-profits organizations focused on assisting military families.  In 2014 he returned to Chattanooga where he now volunteers with local organizations and consults with non-profits on their business strategy and financials. Prior to entering the non-profit sector he served as an executive in start-up technology firms and in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot.

Robert J. Clark, DDS - Dr. Clark attended undergraduate school at Middle Tennessee University. He received his Dentistry degree from the University of Tennessee at Memphis and is a long time member of the Chattanooga Area Dental Society. With an emphasis on family dentistry and prevention care Dr. Clark has served the community as the owner of a dental practice since 1975. His long time association with the Arts has taken the form of patron, arts advocate and collector.

Wolfgang van Goethe once said, “A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, see a fine picture every day of his life in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful, which God has implanted in the Human soul.”

Jeanne Brice - a former elementary school teacher, and program director for the National MS Society, mother of two, grandmother of 6.  A watercolorist. Mixed Media and assemblage artist, Founding Member of Mixed Media Inspired Artists and longtime friend of SPLASH.

Victoria Johnson - Victoria Overholser Johnson is a senior executive in marketing, business development, and community relations. A Chattanooga resident since 2008, she currently serves as the Marketing Manager for a subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Victoria has served as Chief Development Officer for the Cherokee Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, as Executive Director of Grassroots Midtown and as the Community Relations Director for the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. A graduate of UT Knoxville and the Holmberg Leadership Institute,Victoria has served on the adjunct faculty at Chattanooga State since 2011. 






OUR MISSION

  • Mentor, develop and encourage youth in pursuit of their goals be it educational or career oriented through our apprentice programs, art activities, and workshops. 
  • Encourage leadership skills, self-presentation and entrepreneurship through the provision of real world entrepreneurial opportunities for youth to design, create, and sell artwork in the artisan market place.
  • Promote personal development and mental resilience through constructive mentoring including the promotion of critical thinking, introspection, self discipline, focus, self achievement, leadership skills, peer interaction and positive behavior. 
  • Provide exhibition and performance space for community art events and promote the arts in Chattanooga to under-served audiences. 
  • Outreach to schools, churches, recreation centers and other community gathering places with fine arts enrichment programming for low-income youth and their communities. 
  • Develop and expand the Arts & Literacy component of SPLASH to supplement school instruction and present literacy in a more accessible format.