Business Digest: Hake named top franchisee

Hake named top franchisee

Brad Hake, owner of Express Employment Professionals' Chattanooga office, recently received the company's Franchisee of the Year Award for excellence and achievements in sales, recruitment and placement.

Each year, Express recognizes and honors a franchisee who excels in building brand equity and a distinguished company reputation.

"Brad lives the Express vision of helping people succeed every day," said Express CEO and Chairman of the Board Robert A. Funk.

The Chattanooga franchise began operation in 1999 and serves the area with temporary help and direct-hire employees in a variety of fields, including administrative, commercial, data processing, technical, sales, marketing and more.

Woody earns insurance award

Terry Woody, of First Volunteer Insurance Agency Inc., in Jasper, Tenn., earned the No. seven position in Auto-Owners Insurance Co.'s 2011 President's Club.

The President's Club honors the top 25 agents for Auto-Owners whose life, health and annuity production is the highest for the company in a calendar year.

Woody's agency has represented Auto-Owners Insurance Co. for more than 10 years.

Spiller joins local law firm

John David Spiller Jr. has joined Miller & Martin PLLC as an associate in its Chattanooga office.

He joins the firm's corporate department where he will practice in the areas of corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures and securities.

Prior to joining Miller & Martin, Spiller practiced at the firm of Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody in Austin, Texas.

"We are thrilled to have David join our team as our corporate practice, and in particular the mergers and acquisitions practice, continues to grow," said Ward Nelson, chairman of Miller & Martin's corporate department.

He holds a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Companies eyed for freedom award

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a U.S. Department of Defense agency, has announced that 67 Tennessee Guard and Reserve members nominated their employers for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Nine employers are from the Chattanooga area: Chattanooga Restaurant Supply, EES Engineering & Services, Hamilton County Department of Education, Sherwin Williams, US Xpress Enterprises and Walden Security Services, all of Chattanooga. Also named were the Rhea County Sheriff's Department, Dayton, Tenn., Microplus Bio-Energy LLC, Jasper, Tenn., and Goodrich Corp. - Landing Gear Division, Tullahoma, Tenn.

The Freedom Award is DOD's highest recognition for employers supporting members of the Guard and Reserve.

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