Meet Joe Rife,
Executive Coach in Chattanooga
I’m Joe Rife, entrepreneur and an executive coach who knows what it takes to build and lead a business. I work with executives who want room to think, a clearer view of their choices, and the confidence to act on what matters.
I grew up on the plains of western Kansas and went to Boston to study at MIT, where I earned my Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate. My early career included engineering at Raytheon and leading MIT’s Sloan Automotive Laboratory.
Then I stepped into a different kind of challenge: running a company of my own.
Over three decades, I built Geneva Group through changes in technology, markets, and customer needs. Knowing the technical work was only part of the job. I also learned how to lead people, make difficult choices, and keep the business moving when things did not go as planned.
After selling Geneva Group’s business operations, I advised early-stage companies at Greentown Labs, sharing what I had learned as a business owner with young entrepreneurs. I thoroughly enjoyed this work, and decided to get my Professional Certified Coach credential with the International Coaching Federation. I now offer executive coaching services from my home in the Chattanooga area.
Today, I work with executives whose careers and companies continue to evolve. I am still learning, too, through continued coaching education, reading, and conversations that make me reconsider an idea.
Outside of coaching, you will often find me in my woodworking shop. I love turning an idea into something I can build with my hands. Woodworking keeps the engineering skills I developed at MIT in use: thinking through a design, solving practical problems, and seeing it take shape.
I also enjoy gardening and time with family. My wife, Janet, is my high school sweetheart. I am a parent and grandparent, and I still enjoy a good roller coaster ride.
If you are looking for someone who brings business experience, honest questions, and a real interest in your future, I welcome a conversation.
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