WRCB-TV names Starnes as manager

Callie Starnes, news director for WRCB-TV, has also been named station manager for Chattanooga’s NBC affiliate.

Starnes, who joined Channel 3 in 2008 after graduating from Berry College, will serve as station manager until the end of the year when she will become WRCBTV’s general manager at the same time Pam Teague, the current general manager for Channel 3, is promoted to the chief operating officer of Sarkes-Tarzian, the parent company of WRCB-TV. After serving as an anchor and investigative reporter for several years, Starnes was named assistant news director. Starnes served as relationship manager at a Chattanooga public relations from before being named news director in 2016.

“Callie truly deserves the opportunity to lead Channel 3 as its general manager,” said Tom Tolar, the retiring Sarkes Tarzian chief operating officer who previously served as WRCB-TV’s general manager. “She is passionate about providing outstanding service to our viewers, community, and advertisers. Her leadership and focus have produced impressive results for the Eyewitness News Team.”

Starnes has been honored with multiple Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and recognized by the Tennessee Associated Press for investigative reporting. She is a fellow with the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism. Starnes is a 2021 member of Leadership Tennessee Next and a 2012 graduate of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute’s Women Mentoring Women program.