PRESIDENT

Born in Greensboro, NC and a Chattanooga native by way of New Orleans, Kelsi and her husband Mitchell have lived together on Lookout Mountain for 6 years. Following their engagement in Ireland at the 2015 O'Leary clan reunion, Kelsi and Mitchell departed for Madison, WI in search of cheese curds, ice fishing and Spotted Cow. Three very cold winters later, they moved back home to be closer to family and to raise their two boys - Thomas (6) and Lockley (3).

Kelsi is a Group Account Director at Johnson Group Advertising Agency, a TN Master Gardener and vocal hoarder of houseplants.

VICE PRESIDENT

Hendley grew up in Columbus, GA, and studied at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. After throwing her cap, she hit the road for New York City, where she met her husband Hugh. The pair moved to his hometown of Lookout Mountain in 2022.

Hendley is the Associate Creative Director of Copy at Dave, a Los Angeles-based fintech company. In her free time, she writes for other brands and for herself, giggles with her baby boy Hugh, shakes the rust off her tennis game, and tries to keep up with her pup Grover.

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

Leah is an Atlanta native who relocated to Lookout Mountain in 2023 with her husband John, son James and pups Birdie and Bogey. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Leah worked as a retail buyer and merchandiser before deciding to follow her dream and pursue a career in Interior Design. After several years of working for incredible designers, Leah opened her own firm in 2023.

When she is not busy trying to get her toddler to eat his dinner or find her husband's keys, Leah likes to catch up on podcasts, read and watch house tours online.

PROJECTS CHAIR

Gray moved to the area a decade ago to chase a career post-graduation from the University of Alabama, and is very thankful to call Chattanooga home. Previously working full time in sales, she has now taken time to stay at home with her two daughters, Manning (5) and Kate (3), as well as her husband Merrill (old).

Serving as Projects Chair, Gray is excited to have a hand in the community green spaces. When she has time, her hobbies include cooking, maintaining the yard and reading.

CO-PROJECTS CHAIR

Martha grew up in the woods of Lookout Mountain, GA. Her ancestors are all farmers from the Chattanooga area, and she followed the family path. After obtaining a degree in Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Management from the College of Agriculture at the University of Georgia, she moved back to Lookout Mountain. Martha worked for an investment advisory, then a wealth management firm, and is now taking time to stay home with her young children. She joined the Laurelwood Garden Club in 2023, and is so excited to help with projects this year!

Martha currently lives in the cabin she grew up in with her husband, a fellow Lookout Mountain native, Newton Law, and their two sons, Emmett and Wilson. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and swimming. You may see her driving around the mountain with her yappy, mixed- breed dog, Andy.

CHAPLAIN

A native Texan, Lauren met and fell in love with her husband, Will, while living in Houston. Shortly after getting married they made the move back to Will's hometown of Lookout Mountain, TN. Lauren joined the Laurelwood Garden Club in 2016 as a way to meet people and has enjoyed it ever since.

In addition to Garden Club, Lauren spends her time working for the Weeks' family business, Weeks Paving, and raising their two children, Harrison and Libby.

SOCIAL CHAIR

Hailing from the Tri-Cities in Northeast Tennessee, Alicyn is now a proud native of Lookout Mountain and happy to live in such a wonderful community. After graduating from East Tennessee State University, she worked in Washington, DC, in the U.S. Senate where she met her husband, Garnett Decosimo, a Lookout Mountain native. They lived in East Nashville after DC where they loved trying new restaurants as big foodies and attending “Honky Tonk Tuesdays” at the American Legion in their free time.

When she’s not planning events or assembling gifts, Alicyn enjoys playing tennis, reading the newest “Reese’s Book Club” book, and walking with her pup, Enzo. As an avid traveler, she visited all 50 states by the age of 27 and is attempting to visit all seven continents by the age of 40.

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR

Kelley is a Lookout Mountain native, wife to Ben and mother to three daughters. She attended undergrad at Covenant College, received a masters in Occupational Therapy through UTHSC/UTC, and practiced as a pediatric OT for 10 years. Kelley currently serves the Chattanooga area as a fine art newborn and family photographer through her business Kelley Hoagland Photography. She has been a member of LGC for 2 years.

TREASURER

Madison was born and raised in Chattanooga. She attended UT Knoxville where she received a BS in Nutrition, then moved to New Orleans to complete a dietetic internship. She moved back home afterwards, and married her husband John. After working in clinical and wellness settings for 7 years, she opened her own private nutrition practice focused on women’s health in 2020. She and John moved to Lookout 3 years ago, where they live with their children Harvey, Whit, and Anna June.

In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, and pilates, and has been an avid sourdough baker since the covid-era craze. She is looking forward to serving the community through the Garden Club as treasurer this year.

PAST PRESIDENT

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Rhett Bentley discovered the Chattanooga area as a student of Sewanee, the University of the South. After graduating she fortunately fell in love with a young man from Lookout Mountain while visiting Chattanooga one weekend.

Rhett is CMO for Thrive Regional Partnership. She serves as chair on the Lookout Mountain, GA trails committee as well as on the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga.

Her hobbies include gardening, hiking, exercise, and fly fishing. Rhett lives in Lookout Mountain, Georgia with her husband (Rob), sons (Harris and Simon), and two dogs.