Elizabeth Wells
Elizabeth Wells is a community revitalization and economic development strategist who specializes in turning bold ideas into grounded, lasting impact. With nearly a decade of experience across both rural and urban Appalachia, she has led revitalization initiatives, built multi-sector partnerships, and secured millions of dollars in transformational public and private investment to support place-based, people-centered growth.
Elizabeth brings a systems entrepreneurship approach to everything from economic strategy and grant development to public-private collaboration, private investment research, business development, social impact innovation, and organizational capacity building. Her diverse educational background spans design, business, and psychology—giving her a unique ability to connect vision to execution at every scale.
She’s known for making strategic planning approachable and community engagement meaningful. Whether she’s helping a community plan its future, collaborating with regional and educational institutions, or supporting a local farmer’s new business idea, she’s driven by a deep commitment to community character, shared prosperity, and the power of connection.
Elizabeth has served on the Board of Trustees for Thrive Regional Partnership, The Chattery, and the UnFoundation. She is a Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute alumna and was part of the inaugural class of fellows for the Appalachian Leadership Institute—a 13-state leadership and economic development Fellowship of the federal Appalachian Regional Commission.
A few fun facts: Elizabeth has traveled to all 50 U.S. states, 7 of Canada’s 10 provinces, and many international countries. She loves meandering through new unfamiliar places—whether solo or with friends and family. When she’s not in the air or on the road, you’ll find her doing hot yoga, exploring local cities on urban hikes, or catching an independent film or theatre production. While a strong supporter of the arts and culture scene, she’s also an amateur fly-fishing enthusiast who enjoys romping around rivers and streams. Though still a novice hiker, she’s becoming increasingly comfortable getting (intentionally) lost in the woods around Chattanooga and beyond.