Business Digest: Dr. Laina Rodela joins Life Care

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Rodela joins Life Care

photo Laina Rodela, M.D.,

Life Care Physician Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Life Care Centers of America, recently placed Laina Rodela, M.D., as an on-site physician at Life Care Center of Cleveland and Life Care Center of Ooltewah.

Rodela will share time between the two buildings, caring for patients in each. She will work with both facilities' on-site physicians.

"Working with seniors is rewarding on several different levels," said Rodela. "I enjoy interacting with patients and their families, providing medical care through a difficult time in their lives and assisting in their return home in a way that achieves their functional goals."

Before coming to Life Care, Rodela worked with Hearth Hospice and Palliative Care in Chattanooga and North Georgia. Prior to that appointment, she was an appeals physician at Unum in Chattanooga, reviewing medical records to determine patients' physical functional capacities. She also has experience as a hospitalist at Erlanger Health System.

Rodela earned her doctor of medicine degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2000. She completed her residency in internal medicine from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga unit, in 2003.


EMS wins top energy award

Electric Motor Sales & Supply Co., Inc., received the TVA EnergyRight Solutions first place award, for the most kilowatts saved in the Southeast District region for 2013. As a Preferred Partner Network member, EMS has partnered with TVA and its commercial and industrial end users to earn maximum incentives through energy-efficient relighting programs. EMS saved its customer base 945,000 kWh in 2013 alone.

"It is the mission of EMS to survey, report, recommend and guide our customer base to deploy the most efficient lighting systems available to them and also to take a total energy health assessment, whether it be lighting, motor and drive systems, power conditioning or total building automation systems," said Jamey Steffner, president of EMS.


Smith is CEO of General Shale

photo Charles Smith

Charles Smith has assumed the role of CEO at General Shale. He previously served as General Shale's president and chief operating officer.

"Charles has helped steer General Shale's operations through a major economic downturn, and he played an instrumental role in revitalizing the company's product development," says Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger AG.

Early in his career with General Shale, Smith's leadership roles included several plant management positions. As regional production manager, he was directly responsible for the operation of five brick plants, and he played a key role in company expansions and major capital projects.

Smith holds a bachelor's degree in industrial technology with a minor in business management from Tennessee Technological University.


Erickson earns CFA recognition

photo Marc Erickson

Marc Erickson of the Covenant College Foundation, the planned giving arm of Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, has been named a certified financial planner.

Erickson graduated from Covenant College in 1992 and worked in the insurance industry in the Chattanooga area for 17 years before joining the foundation in 2010 as executive director.

The CFP designation identifies individuals who have met experience and ethical requirements, successfully completed financial planning coursework and passed the 10-hour, two-day CFP certification examination.


Rector heads state group

Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee (PCAT) has named Kristen Rector as its new executive director. Rector will take the lead in the agency's strategic management, finance and administration, ensuring PCAT continues its work to strengthen Tennessee's children and families. Rector has been a program manager with the organization since 2002.

"Kristen is an outstanding advocate for Tennessee families," said Lynn Lawyer, PCAT board chair. "We are excited that she is taking the helm at Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee and feel certain that she will bring a high level of dedication and passion to her new role."

Prior to joining PCAT 12 years ago, Rector provided social work services to Marshall County schools and led the Child and Adolescent Unit at Peninsula Behavioral Health in Knoxville.

To be included

Send your business news to Wesley Holloway at wholloway@timesfree press.com or call 423-757-6613.