About Us

Clay Dennis has been helping companies create better processes and accountability measures for more than a decade and specializes in helping companies implement change in a way that encourages and engages people.

Clay has facilitated highly successful financial and cultural turnarounds across a variety of industries and is a proven leader in implementing change, refocusing teams to common goals and restructuring company positions to best take advantage of individual strengths and weaknesses.

Prior to starting Part Time Business Partners, Clay served as President and CEO of Southern Hearth and Patio Inc. for 17 years where he was repeatedly recognized nationally within his industry, and even named “Small Business of the Year” by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce.

Clay has developed technical, marketing and safety programs for national educational foundations and served leadership board roles in his community including Rotary Club, The Boy Scouts of America and various veteran organizations. Clay himself is a U.S. Navy veteran of the first Gulf War, earning a letter of commendation during his service.

John Ballinger is founding partner at Part Time Business Partners, CEO at multiple risk management companies in Tennessee and a retired U.S. Army veteran, serving 21 years and achieving the rank of Warrant Officer.

John’s primary areas of expertise are risk assessment and mitigation, risk compliance issues and he serves as a legal and claims consultant for multiple corporations. He also advises companies on how to create succession planning for the owner’s business through vehicles like Employee Stock Ownership Plans.

Before starting Part Time Business Partners, John invested more than 20 years reviewing, establishing and implementing risk management programs for different companies throughout varying industries including airports, trucking and other transportation industries, as well as manufacturing, colleges and universities.

While helping his clients and maintaining chair positions at various companies, John now focuses his efforts advising business owners and managers on how to reduce their risk exposure and protect their investments, as well as creating and establishing a culture of personal growth using time tested and proven leadership fundamentals.

Douglas Ford has worked in a variety of leadership roles throughout his career. He graduated from Samford University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. Starting as an Assignment Editor in Birmingham, AL, to becoming the Chief Marketing Officer of a text-based, telehealth company, Douglas has always found his success in helping others reach their potential.

Working with multiple community-based, nonprofits Douglas was able to help each organization reach new funding levels and grow community awareness of the organizations and their missions.

Douglas has also spent considerable time entrenched in the legislative process as a staff member in the South Carolina State Senate. He managed legislation through the committee process, guided the handling of the bill on the Senate floor, and eventually saw much of the legislation he shepherded become law.

Now, Douglas has teamed up with a group of like-minded executives, who have dedicated themselves to using their collective experiences to help build successful organizations.

Doug Cox has been a licensed, practicing attorney in Chattanooga since 1987.  He received his undergraduate degree from East Tennessee State University and his law degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Doug was also an owner/operator of a 75 seat restaurant for years prior to pursuing his law degree.

Doug has been a partner at Dreaden and Cox since 2002.  The firm focus has been a general civil practice with emphasis on civil litigation, personal injury, workers compensation, social security disability, construction law and administrative law.

Prior to Dreaden and Cox, Doug served with the Chattanooga City Attorney’s Office from 1990 through 2002.  His duties and responsibilities included drafting contracts, resolutions and ordinances, advising departments and administrative boards (Board of Zoning Appeals, Beer and Wrecker Board, Sign Variance Board), and litigation involving the defense of civil suits in state and federal court.

Now entering into his “Act 3”, Doug is keenly aware of his role as an advisor in a fiduciary capacity. He now strives to minimize the potential for future conflicts on his clients, but welcomes being a part of the solution should a conflict arise.