A Kenyan national, Hodgen Mainda, has been appointed to serve in Tennessee state government as the commissioner of commerce and insurance.
“Hodgen joins my cabinet after an outstanding career as a community leader in Chattanooga," Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said in an announcement on Thursday, last week.
"He is respected for his ability to build partnerships across multiple sectors and we welcome his leadership to such a multifaceted department like Commerce and Insurance."
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The 42-year-old moved to the United States in 1997 as a rugby player.
Mainda is the first Kenyan to hold such a position in the State of Tennessee.
He has previously worked in government relations and business development roles in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
In addition to his work with the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga (EPB), Mainda serves on the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Chattanooga Rotary Club, the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor's Roundtable and the College of Business Advisory Board.
He is also a member of the Leadership Tennessee Class of 2019 and a 2018 graduate of the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program.
"I am thrilled for the state of Tennessee to have such a wonderful young leader in such a very important role," said State Rep. Robin Smith, the chairman of the House Insurance Committee.
"Hodgen will do a fantastic job based on his history of working on many number of projects in the Hamilton County area."
Hodgen, whose father, Dr Steve Mainda serves as Housing Finance Group board chairman, is expected to take up his new role in October.
