Today, we are thrilled to announce that Cempa Community Care was recognized as one of Chattanooga’s Best Places to Work by Edge Magazine! And while this distinction is a new one for our organization, the culture that earned us that honor isn’t, according to long-standing employee Mitzi Ward.

Ward has worked at Cempa as the Development and Events Coordinator for the past eight years, but her relationship with the organization goes back much further.

“I have been affiliated with Cempa since back when it was Chattanooga CARES,” Ward says. “I’d followed the organization for some time and had actually applied for different roles previously. In the 1990s, I lost several friends and family members to AIDS, so I had a huge passion for their mission, and I was always on high alert in case a job came open with them for which I might be a fit.”

That position opened up in 2014, and since then, Ward has gotten an up-close view as Cempa grew and evolved.

Expanding the Mission

In the time Ward has worked with Cempa, the organization has grown substantially, both in numbers and in mission.

“I’ve seen a major shift,” Ward says. “You’re talking about going from an organization entirely run by volunteers to an organization that has close to 80 employees. It’s been amazing to see the growth. And not only the growth since it started, but even the growth since I’ve worked here.”

A commitment to a common vision has helped the organization expand its services to reach more people within the greater Chattanooga community. Cempa’s team grew as its services grew.

“It has everything to do with our team having a vision,” Ward says. “When I was hired eight years ago, we had approximately 15 employees. But we had a vision of making the organization so much more and reaching so many more people. Now, not only are we reaching out to people in our community affected by HIV, but we’re also reaching out to others in the community who may not have access to the health services they need.”

Maintaining a Healthy Workplace Culture

While the number of employees grew, the feeling of “family” stuck around. That has a lot to do with having a common mission, according to Ward.

“Since day one, it’s always been about working together,” Ward says. “As the mission grew, the team grew in number, but that teamwork has always been there. Having so many people on the same path is what makes us different. We know that we’re trying to achieve a specific mission and help people in our community who are marginalized and underserved. We collaborate together for a bigger picture.”

Being a part of that team is what Ward values most from her time with Cempa thus far.

“I’ve made some of my best friends at this place,” Ward says. “Some aren’t here anymore, but we’re still super close. The friendships are what has meant the most.”

For Ward, Cempa’s mission is a personal and a work-related goal. And in the end, the mission makes a difference — and makes Cempa an ideal place to work. 

“Sitting on my desk is a picture of my brother,” Ward says. “I come in every day doing what I’m doing for him. It means the world to me that I’m in a position to make the world a better place for people like my brother. We are working to rid this community of the stigma of HIV. We’re trying to reach underserved communities. We want everyone out there to receive the health care they need and deserve.”

About Our Achievement

Cempa was recognized as one of Chattanooga’s Best Places to Work by Edge Magazine for 2022. Edge recognizes ten organizations each year, and scoring is largely based on the results of employee surveys.

Cempa’s rich and deep history plays a big role in our present and future. Learn more about our history and our mission.