The issue I have with TN is that it is still the Deep South. So is GA, but Atlanta provides a refuge.
Chattanooga is a similar refuge, Democratic mayor and pretty liberal local government, 4th most democratic voting county in '16 (although admittedly still red by a small margin, mostly due to the outer reaches of town)
Also, I was curious, and by the Wikipedia definition[1] TN doesn't qualify as "deep south". We definitely still have our share of problems and there are "southern" things that drive me crazy but it's not quite as back woods as many people believe.
I worked for a company based out of a TN so I was there a lot. I was the only Black person who worked at the entire company of 200+ people. When another Black guy I recommended was hired they always called me by his name. Someone asked were we related.
It wasn’t bad, but I was there during the Presidential Election, it was....interesting.
There is a definite ultra conservative "culture fit" that is common in the business culture of the region. Newer companies don't seem to be effected.