WHO WE ARE

The Sports & Events Corporation (TSEC) harnesses the power of sport into an extraordinary force for connection, growth, and regional pride. Through leadership, creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence, we deliver world-class events that unite our community, foster trust, and generate enduring positive impact.

Our Story

The Sports & Events Corporation (TSEC) is our community sports commission dedicated to maximizing the power of sports to drive tourism, economic impact, and community pride. While TSEC is newly founded as a standalone sports commission, our work has been deeply rooted in the last 14 years of strategic sports tourism development for our community. During that time, we have consistently diversified the use of our regional infrastructure and natural venues, positioning Hamilton County as a competitive and credible host for youth, amateur, and collegiate events across a wide range of sports.

As trailblazers for sports events in Hamilton County, our team lead the charge to secure and deliver landmark events and first-of-their-kind achievements, including building out 11 basketball courts, 20 volleyball courts, and 36 pickleball courts inside of the Chattanooga Convention Center for multiple youth and adult events. We have also hosted numerous NCAA championships, including the 2017 NCAA Division III Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships and 2023 NCAA Division II Softball National Championship. In 2014, we secured IRONMAN for our community and a new journey began. By implementing our strategic vision to continuously grow our business relationship, our region made global history as the first city in the world to host a separate Men’s & Women’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in 2017.

In addition to attracting premier events, we have created and produced strategic community events that generated private revenues, allowing the event budgets to give back more than $700,000 over the last decade to youth sports programs and local non-profit organizations. Throughout the years, we built a portfolio of supporting, hosting, and producing on average more than 90 events annually, generating over $55 million in direct economic impact, welcoming 120,000 travel attendees, and working across 35 different sports.

While our team has spearheaded these efforts, central to our mission is collaboration. TSEC will continue building strong local partnerships, working alongside community organizations, and leveraging more than 30 years of combined experience to harness the power of sports delivering meaningful impact to Hamilton County, both on and off the field.

Meet Our Team

President

tim@sportsandeventscorp.com

Tim Morgan brings more than two decades of experience in sports marketing and sports tourism, with a career rooted in building strong partnerships and delivering measurable impact for host communities. A University of Alabama graduate, Tim began his career with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers before spending nearly a decade in the Charlotte market advancing sports sales and event management efforts. In 2012, he brought that experience to Chattanooga, where he served as Chief Sports Officer for Chattanooga Sports, a division of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, leading the brand and helping build a nationally recognized sports tourism portfolio. Known for his team‑oriented approach, Tim emphasizes collaboration as the driving force behind success, leveraging deep relationships with community partners to position Hamilton County as a premier sports destination.

Vice President of Development

brant@sportsandeventscorp.com

Brant Donlon has more than a decade of experience in the sports tourism industry, specializing in event recruitment, destination development, and maximizing economic impact for host communities. He has worked with more than 34 sports, ranging from youth and amateur events to NCAA championships. A Cleveland, Tennessee native and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduate, Brant’s career includes roles with the Chattanooga Lookouts, Chattanooga Sports, a division of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and The Sports & Events Corporation. He serves on the boards of the Chattanooga Community Tennis Association, USTA Tennessee, and Play Tennessee, supporting the continued growth of sports and recreation across the state. He remains active in sports as a basketball referee while raising three children with his wife.

Operations Manager

shelby@sportsandeventscorp.com

Shelby Rector brings a strong foundation in sports tourism, event coordination, and hospitality to The Sports & Events Corporation. Born and raised in Chattanooga, Shelby interned with Chattanooga Sports, a division of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, from 2022–2023, working closely with the team to support event planning, management, and execution while gaining hands‑on experience in sports tourism operations. A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a concentration in Sport, Outdoor Recreation, and Tourism Management, she is passionate about building and enhancing the community’s sports presence. Outside of work, Shelby enjoys spending time with her seven‑year‑old German Shepherd‑Lab mix, Bentlee, and staying connected to all things Chattanooga.

Board of Directors

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Our Story