Dancing With The Stars – Chattanooga

Alison Lebovitz is President of One Clip at a Time, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to perpetuating the Paper Clips project, started in Whitwell, Tennessee, through a free teaching unit designed to inspire and empower 5th grade students to make positive changes in their own classrooms and communities. She is also a columnist for Chattanooga Parent Magazine and hosts a weekly television show on WTCI called “The A List”.

Alison says of her participation,

“I am truly honored to participate in this event – Partnership is an incredible organization and I am proud to play even a small role in helping to raise much-needed funds and awareness of the broad array of programs and services it provides to this community. I am also excited about the possibility of wearing an outfit with lots of sequins on it.”

Jason Taylor is the President of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He moved to Chattanooga over one year ago from Honolulu, Hawaii where he served as the Senior Vice President of the state’s newspaper in Hawaii. Jason enjoys travel, running and spending time with his family. He is very active in the community in numerous organizations. Jason and his wife Honey have three children: Hope, Haley and Jackson.

Jason says of his participation,

“The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults is a great organization. Bringing awareness and funding to their cause really enabled those in need to improve their lives.”

Carolyn Thompson is a native of New England but is a transplanted southerner. She has been in university education for more years than she would like to count, as a professor of political science, program director and dean. She moved to Chattanooga in 2005 when her husband Roger Brown became the chancellor at UT Chattanooga. She is involved in numerous community boards and maintains a consulting practice for nonprofit management.

Roger and Carolyn have two grown children and share custody of a rescued dog named Madeleine Albright.

George Quick came to Chattanooga from San Francisco in 2008 to be the new Producing Director for the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. Quick served as General Manager and Interim Executive Director at the Z Space Studio, a theatre company in San Francisco. Quick has worked as executive, administrator, director, actor, musician, vocal coach and acting teacher. After studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, he returned to California and appeared in numerous plays and musicals in San Francisco while working as a cabaret singer through the mid 1980s. Then Quick appeared in and directed many theatre productions while in the Arts Administration program at the University of California at Irvine.

In 1993, Quick became the Founding Executive Director of The Musical Theatre Company in Orange County, California where he produced, directed and performed in many musical productions, one of which he garnered a best performance Drama-Logue award for.

Reneé LaSalle joined the WDEF News 12 team as both an anchor and reporter. She comes to the Tennessee Valley from WTOK in Meridian, Mississippi where she anchored the news, as well as produced and reported. Reneé got her start in television covering football and basketball for WMFD in Mansfield, Ohio. The Ohio State graduate spent the better portion of her childhood on the road with her family.

In her free time Reneé enjoys reading, working out, spending time by the pool, and playing with her Yorkie, Bella. Broadcasting is a dream come true for Reneé. If you have a story idea send her an email or call the station. When you see her out and about - be sure to say “Hello!” and welcome her to Chattanooga. You can watch Reneé weeknights on WDEF News 12.

Linda is a native of Cleveland TN but has lived in the Chattanooga area for about 16 years. She is married to Buddy and together they have one son James- a physician in St Louis, MO. Linda has an Elementary Education Degree from UTC, but has worked in banking for about 30 years. At First Tennessee, she is a Private Client Relationship Manager and has earned the Certified Financial Planner designation. In addition to serving on the Hamilton County School Board, Linda is a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattanooga, Blood Assurance and WTCI- TV. She enjoys gardening, cycling and just about anything outdoors.

Linda says of her participation,

“The Partnership’s presence in the community is greatly needed. They have served many women and children I know personally or are family members of friends. I am pleased to help in any way and I am honored to be asked to do so. I love to dance and what a great way to raise funds for such a great cause!”