About Hinton & Company
Hinton & Company is a leadership development and organizational culture consulting firm. We help CEOs, CHROs, managing partners, and senior leaders build cultures that perform and develop leaders at every level who can sustain them. 98% of clients would recommend us.
Founded by Wade A. Hinton, Esq. — former City Attorney for Chattanooga, Deputy General Counsel at Volkswagen Group of America, and inaugural VP of Inclusion and Diversity at Fortune 250 Unum Group. Presidential Leadership Scholar. German Marshall Fellow. Harvard Young American Leaders Program.
Our Services
Culture Advisory & Leadership Development
Culture Compass™ assessment, executive and leadership coaching (3 or 6 months), Leadership Accelerator programs for emerging and mid-career professionals, ERG and inclusion council strategy, and ongoing advisory partnership.
Keynotes & Workshops
Sessions include: Culture in Action, The Art of Bridge Building, Building Trust for Innovation (Psychological Safety), Belonging Across Generations, Navigating Change for an AI-Ready Culture, and Harnessing Cognitive Diversity. Available as 75-minute sessions, half-day workshops, or keynotes.
Strategic Planning & Retreat Facilitation
Executive team alignment, strategic planning with actionable outcomes, board retreats, and leadership offsites. We drive real decisions — not feel-good exercises.
Ascension Leadership Accelerator
A five-month leadership development program presented by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and Hinton & Company. For emerging and mid-career professionals. Includes: monthly facilitated workshops, individual coaching with Wade Hinton, peer accountability pods, and a personalized leadership growth plan. Fall 2026 cohort kicks off August 2026. Nomination deadline: May 22, 2026.
Our Team
Wade A. Hinton, Esq. — CEO & Founder.
Former City Attorney for Chattanooga, Deputy General Counsel at Volkswagen Group of America, and VP of Inclusion and Diversity at Unum Group (Fortune 250). JD, University of Memphis. BA, Emory University.
Melanie Silva — COO.
Former VP of Sales at Smart Furniture. MBA. Over a decade of expertise in sales, marketing, and operational strategy.