Northside Neighborhood House Names Brandon Hubbard-Heitz as Chief Executive Officer
Chattanooga 2.0 leader will guide NNH into its next chapter of place-based work north of the river.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (October 12, 2026) – The Board of Directors of Northside Neighborhood House (NNH) have named Brandon Hubbard-Heitz as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. He will begin on November 9, 2026, and succeeds Jessica Whatley, who has led NNH since September 2024.
Hubbard-Heitz brings over 15 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, including more than a decade serving students, families, and community organizations in Hamilton County. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Chattanooga 2.0, where he oversees early literacy and education-to-workforce programs. Last winter, he also served as the organization’s interim executive director.
At Chattanooga 2.0, Hubbard-Heitz grew Literacy First from a one-school pilot into a 13-school partnership with Hamilton County Schools and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He also rebuilt the county’s Out-of-School Time Alliance into an active network of nearly 50 youth-serving organizations. That work helped position Hamilton County for a multi-year, multimillion-dollar investment from the Wallace Foundation.
Before joining Chattanooga 2.0, Hubbard-Heitz worked as an assistant principal at East Brainerd Elementary School. He began his career with Teach For America at Saint Francis Indian School on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He holds a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University, a Bachelor of Arts from Lee University, and a certificate in educational administration from the University of Tennessee.
“We wholeheartedly welcome Brandon as the new CEO of Northside Neighborhood House,” said Katie Warren, Chair of the NNH Board of Directors. “Brandon rose to the top of our search because of the skills and experience he has developed throughout his career, his deep familiarity with NNH, and his personal dedication to and alignment with our mission.”
“His leadership is people-centered, mission-focused, and results-driven,” Warren said. “Brandon believes deeply in the power of community to create meaningful change. That belief resonates strongly with NNH’s place-based work to positively impact the lives of our neighbors across North Chattanooga and beyond.”
“For more than a century, Northside Neighborhood House has offered a hand up to residents from Northshore to Sale Creek, and I am honored to lead its next chapter,” said Hubbard-Heitz. “I look forward to working alongside our talented staff, board, volunteers, and community partners to build on this remarkable legacy and make measurable progress toward a thriving community north of the river.”
Warren also thanked Whatley for her leadership. “We are deeply grateful to Jessica Whatley for the important foundation she has built for NNH’s continued success,” she said. “Under her leadership, NNH strengthened its staff, expanded its support from donors and foundations, and deepened its relationships with Hamilton County Schools. These accomplishments have positioned NNH well for its next chapter.”
“We are excited about the leadership, energy, and vision Brandon will bring as NNH builds on this strong foundation and continues its commitment to our neighbors and our community,” Warren added.
Whatley will work alongside Hubbard-Heitz through early December to support a smooth transition and NNH’s annual Santa’s Workshop.
