Michelle Rigling has been named the Events Coordinator for the Great Race, the position she filled in for at the last minute on the 2016 event.
Life is an adventure and that philosophy is the foundation for Michelles love of planning and creating unique events and experiences for people. She had been with the Great Races parent company Coker Tire about a year when she joined the race staff in June. She returned to Chattanooga after that adventure with one goal in mind to do it all again in 2017! Now as the permanent Events Coordinator, she cannot wait to be part of the event every year.
Michelles adventurous streak started early; she was driving a 4-wheeler not long after she started walking, she got her first motorcycle right after college and she hits the road whenever she gets the chance. Road trips are her favorite way to travel! Some of her fondest childhood memories include Chevy Chase-style family adventures. As an adult, she has crossed off many must-see destinations in true road trip fashion from Canada to the Grand Canyon to Key West. Still on her bucket list? Route 66 on her Indian Scout and the California Ocean Road.
Michelle grew up in Loretto, Tennessee and moved to Chattanooga after college. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Business in 2012 and spent a couple years in New Orleans before returning to Tennessee in 2015. Her career has been a blend of marketing, development and human resources. Shes a hobbyist photographer and the founder of a local womens group focused solely on inspiring other women to embrace life as one big adventure. Her favorite thing about working in the auto industry is getting to see people spending time doing what they love, from restoring classic cars to rallying on the mountain roads of East Tennessee.
We are extremely excited to have someone of Michelles caliber join us, Jeff Stumb said. Not many people can jump into an event of the Great Races magnitude at the last minute and grasp it the way she did.
She also will serve as the Events Coordinator for Coker Tire.
I was very impressed with Michelle during the 2016 Great Race. She was very professional, did an excellent jobs with many tasks and certainly was an asset to the staff.
Wonderful news. Michelle did an excellent job on the 2016 race. I look forward to working with her as we welcome a new class of rookies into the Great Race family.
Welcome aboard!!!