Business Digest: Russell joins McColpin, Coffman & Harris, PLLC

Sunday, June 8, 2014

photo Kathryn M. Russell

Russell joins local law firm

Kathryn M. Russell has joined the Chattanooga law firm of McColpin, Coffman & Harris, PLLC, as an associate. Russell's practice concentrates in the areas of general civil litigation, insurance defense, family law and estate planning. Russell graduated with her J.D. and MBA from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2004. She is a member of both the Tennessee and Georgia state bars. Russell is a member of the Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Georgia bar associations. In addition, she is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.


photo Rob Huffaker

Huffaker promoted to senior VP

BB&T Insurance Services has promoted Rob Huffaker to senior vice president and director of Tennessee employee benefit operations. Huffaker is an employee benefits consultant based at 735 Broad St. The Chattanooga native earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and CLU, ChFC, RHU and REBC designations from The American College.


Husch Blackwell welcomes Collins

Husch Blackwell welcomes K. Chris Collins back to the firm's Chattanooga office. A business litigation associate, Collins represents corporations and privately held companies and lenders. His broad range of experience includes government investigation, breach of contract, real estate and product liability disputes.

Collins practiced with Husch Blackwell at the start of his career as a litigator from 2010-13 and in a similar capacity, with a focus on corporate transactions and commercial contracts, at another full-service firm in Chattanooga from 2013-14 before returning to Husch Blackwell.

Collins received his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He received his B.S. in finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee.


photo Shaun Townley

Townley appointed VP at WTCI

WTCI has named Shaun Townley vice president of content and digital strategy. Townley is a native of Chattanooga and has served Chattanooga's PBS station since 2007, most recently as production manager. Prior to working at WTCI, he spent nearly seven years on the staff of Charlie Rose, one of the nation's most respected talk shows.

In 2013 Townley was among 25 producers from across the country selected to attend the prestigious CPB/PBS Producer's Academy in Boston. As vice president of content and digital strategy, Mr. Townley will lead WTCI's award-winning production staff to create original content and explore new ways to deliver that content to a changing community.

"When we say we're this community's storyteller, we mean it. With Shaun at the helm of our production department, we'll be telling stories in new ways," says Paul Grove, president and CEO.

Townley graduated from Rhodes College and has had a lifelong interest in photography and television production.


Kelley added at Full Media

Full Media has welcomed Jenna Kelley, a Cleveland, Tenn., native, to its sales team where she will serve small and mid-sized clients throughout the Chattanooga area.

A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Kelley came to Full Media with diverse sales experience including working in the media, food, retail and automotive industries. In her sales position at Full Media, she will work with organizations who want to utilize the Internet as part of their long-term growth strategy. She will assist them in understanding solutions that meet their needs and budgets, whether through website design, custom programming or Internet marketing services, which may include paid search, social media management, online public relations and search engine optimization.

Full Media CEO, Kris Nordholz, said, "Jenna is a passionate, growth-oriented sales professional, and we are excited to have her on Full Media's team."


Littlejohn celebrates 25 years

In celebration of its 25th year in business, Littlejohn Engineering Associates has changed its name to Littlejohn.

"Our new name illustrates our broader reach and expanded services," said Jim Littlejohn, president. "We always try to remember that the simplest solution is usually the best solution. We're taking the same approach looking ahead with our name and our brand -- efficient, understandable, straightforward and collaborative."

Founded in 1989 in Nashville, Littlejohn works with public and private clients across the country to plan and engineer infrastructure for notable projects and progressive communities. Consulting services in surveying, engineering, planning, landscape architecture, environmental services, industrial hygiene, health and safety are the core components of Littlejohn's expertise.

"Twenty-five years as a prosperous business is a testament to Littlejohn's commitment to client satisfaction and quality of work," said Scott McDonald, Littlejohn's Chattanooga business manager.


The Chattanoogan adds new chef

The Chattanoogan hotel has hired a new pastry chef. Pastry Chef Alyssa Mast is enhancing the hotel's culinary program by preparing all of the desserts served at the hotel. She is creating dozens of delicacies each day, including muffins, bars, cookies, cakes, pies, puddings, tarts, cobblers and other desserts for Broad Street Grille, The Foundry, Stroud's, in-room dining, and for groups and special events. Many of Chef Alyssa's desserts are made with local, seasonal ingredients, and there are several gluten-free offerings.

"We are very excited about Chef Alyssa joining the culinary team at The Chattanoogan," says Adam Roe, executive chef.

Before being named pastry chef at The Chattanoogan, Chef Alyssa was the pastry chef at Enzo's Market where she was responsible for preparing the handcrafted pastries and other desserts using natural, local and regional ingredients. She also worked in the banquets department of The Chattanoogan and was a decorator at Chattanooga Cupcakes. While attending culinary school in Charlotte, N.C., Chef Alyssa worked at Best Impressions Caterers and at The Point, which is now Trump National Golf Club.

Chef Alyssa graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a B.S. in baking and pastry arts and food service management.


photo Mandy Livingston

Livingston joins SunTrust

SunTrust Mortgage, Inc., is pleased to announce that Mandy Livingston has joined the team as a mortgage loan consultant serving the Chattanooga area. Livingston brings over a decade of banking experience and financial services knowledge from previous roles at SunTrust Bank. She believes strongly in client satisfaction and looks forward to serving new clients in the Chattanooga area.

Livingston is a graduate of Bryan College.


CapitalMark adds three bankers

CapitalMark Bank & Trust announces the addition of a new banker team led by J. Bryan Fryar, J. Christopher Ramey and Jennifer Mount.

Fryar attended Queens University of Charlotte and earned a degree in business administration. Ramey attended the University of Georgia and earned a degree in economics and finance. Mount has served the financial industry in several capacities including consumer lender and as a business services representative.

President Kenny Dyer stated, "I am confident these seasoned bankers will serve the Chattanooga market well. CapitalMark continues to report positive performance results by focusing resources to its Banker Teams. Clients will find value in Chris, Bryan and Jennifer's depth of experience, capacity to make timely decisions on a local level and ability to handle all of their banking transactions as a team."


3H GroupHotels awarded

At the recent Marriott Owners Conference, 3H Group Hotels was honored with the Marriott Partnership Circle Award, a top Marriott honor. This award honors companies who live Marriott's vision, share a mutual long-term commitment, fully embrace Marriott's brand initiatives, focus on employees to create a well-managed and engaged workforce, invest in hotel product and provide outstanding customer service.

-- Compiled by Wesley Holloway

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