AAF Presents:
The Makers of Advertising
A December 2025 report found that nearly half of the U.S. workforce now operates as full-time freelancers, with millennials as the largest group and Gen Z driving the fastest growth. Freelancers are shaping some of the most interesting creative work in the Scenic City, from brand strategy and copywriting to design and content production. [stat source: https://carry.com/learn/freelancing-statistics]
If you’ve ever wondered what the freelance path actually looks like, this is your chance to hear it straight from people living it.
Join us for The Makers of Advertising, a Chattanooga Freelancer Panel:
April 14, 2026 at 6:00pm
UTC College of Business – Fletcher Hall We’re bringing together four Chattanooga creatives — spanning different disciplines and backgrounds — who have built real, sustainable freelance careers in advertising and marketing. They’ll talk honestly about:
- Freelance vs. full-time: the tradeoffs no one tells you about
- The highs and lows of a creative career on your own terms
- What it’s like to make work and a living in Chattanooga
Students, working freelancers, and agency professionals are all welcome. Come meet the makers and join the conversation!
Event Details:
Date: April 14th, 2026
Time: 6-8:00pm
Location: 601 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Fletcher Hall Room 105
AAF Members: $5
Non-Members: $10
Students: Free
AAF Chattanooga exists to enrich and foster the well-being of our advertising community. We aim to nurture our network of advertising professionals, organizations, and students by sharing our ideas, expanding our knowledge, and celebrating our collective work together.
Past Events
3/11 Empowher Live Womens Panel
Join us for a night of conversation around the future of women in business, here in Chattanooga and beyond.
2/20 American Advertising Awards @ Mac Ave
The biggest event of the year – celebrating and recognizing the best local creative work in Chattanooga. A night to remember.
1/28 AAFter Work Happy Hour @ Cherry Street Tavern
Come mingle with peers and beers, network and get to know your local advertising and marketing community from 5 to 7pm!
11/13 Brand & Business Chat @ The SmART Oasis
Hear from a local business owner and community cultivator on how she uses different innovative tools to build her brand and drive business.
10/9 AAFter Work Happy Hour @ Cherry Street Tavern
Come mingle with peers and beers, network and get to know your local advertising and marketing community from 5 to 7pm!
8/14 Maximizing Your Reach: Marketing for Non-Profits @ Lanewood Studio
Mark B. Moore came up from Huntsville to present some fantastic insights about marketing & outreach for non-profits based on his experience as a freelance designer and advertiser in the non-profit spaces for over 30 years!
7/10 AAFter Hours @ WanderLinger Brewing
Come mingle, network and get to know your local advertising and marketing community from 6 to 8pm!
5/16 A Hitchhiker's Guide to Digital Advertising in 2024 @ Oddstory Greenhouse
If you’re looking to understand what you should be expecting from video advertising and how to leverage analytics and reporting, then join us at Oddstory as we team up with Brkthru to talk all things video advertising in a cookieless world!
3/26 Empowering Change: Women Driving the Future of Advertising @ The Moxy Chattanooga
We’re celebrating Women’s History Month with an inspiring panel featuring 5 local leaders in our advertising and marketing community. Join us for a night of celebrating the impact women have in our industry, and how we can create meaningful change as we look towards the future.
Chattanooga was named the fastest growing city in Tennessee AND a top 10 metro for freelancers in 2022.
Lifestyle and Industry
When you combine amazing quality of life with top creative talent against the backdrop of Chattanooga's natural landscape, you get a high-performing community passionate about pushing the advertising industry forward in a beautiful place to call home.
Education Matters
A multitude of area colleges and universities provide industry-focused educations that nurture creativity and prepare students for success in marketing, advertising, and creative professions in Chattanooga and beyond.
Speed and Growth
Chattanooga's professional growth is due in part to some of the world’s fastest internet speeds, creating convenience for companies and individuals who rely on the fastest means of worldwide collaboration available, and who celebrate remote working lifestyles.
