Darren Hodges: Building Futures with HCS

Darren Hodges’ story begins like many others—he was just a young man stepping into the workforce, unsure of where the journey would take him. But what’s unfolded over the last four decades is a career defined by hard work, leadership, and a deep commitment to giving back to his community. Today, as Tennessee Valley Division Vice President at Coca-Cola Bottling United, Inc. (UNITED), Darren is more than just a successful business leader; he’s a game-changer for Hamilton County Schools (HCS) and its students.

Darren’s career started just before his first week of college when a contact helped him land a job at Coca-Cola UNITED in Chattanooga, part of the company’s Tennessee’s Valley Division that also includes Scottsboro, Alabama, and Jasper and Rome, Georgia. “It was a lucky break,” he recalls, “but from there, it was about putting in the effort and learning everything I could.” After earning his accounting degree, he worked his way up through sales and business development roles. In 1997, Darren took on his first leadership role as Business Development Manager, and one of his earliest partnerships was with HCS—managing vending machines in schools. It was a modest start to what would become a meaningful collaboration.

Fast forward to today, and Darren has climbed the ranks to Vice President, leading teams and solving challenges across Coca-ColaUNITED . Along the way, his passion for connecting with the community only deepened, especially as he saw the work of HCS’ Future Ready Institutes (FRI).

For Darren, the turning point came during a meeting with district leadership when he learned how many students didn’t know paths like his could be a career option. “That broke my heart,” he admits. “I thought, ‘How can we fix this?’ These kids are our future workforce, and it’s our job to show them what’s possible.”

Since then, Darren and his team have become deeply involved with HCS. Coca-Cola UNITED has since sponsored the Hixson High School Coca-Cola Business Institute, which offers Hixson students a pathway to learn business marketing skills. Darren’s goal is to inspire students to dream bigger and to see opportunities they might not have considered. He points to the work his team has done at Hixson High School as an example. “They call me when they need me, and I’m happy to show up,” he says. “But honestly, I think I get more out of it than they do.”

One standout moment was when Coca-Cola UNITED celebrated 125 years of bottling in Chattanooga. Instead of tagging in their corporate marketing team, Darren put students in charge of creating a video to mark the anniversary. “We gave them badges, cameras, and the freedom to take charge,” he recalls. “The result was so impressive—it showed just how capable these students are when given the chance.”

Darren’s connection to HCS goes beyond big projects. He’s been inspired by moments like seeing the SEAD program in action. “It’s amazing to watch how this impacts teachers, students, and classrooms,” he says. “You can see the benefits ripple outward.”

But Darren’s biggest message is for other businesses: get involved. “If you’re not working with HCS, why not?” he asks. “The schools make it so easy, whether it’s mock interviews, mentoring, or helping with workforce development. The students don’t just benefit—you do, too. Our current workforce came from these schools, and our future workforce is sitting in these classrooms.”

For Darren, his work with HCS is personal. “The leadership, the programs, the vision—it’s the most impactful experience I’ve been part of,” he says. “I’ve learned how to motivate and encourage the next generation, and that’s invaluable.”

Darren Hodges may be a VP at Coca-Cola UNITED , but his most meaningful role might just be as a champion for Hamilton County Schools.