News - Friday, December 15, 2017

The summer before that fateful day of September 11, 2001, right as the tech bubble was bursting, new college graduate Marcus Shaw went to work building internet data solutions at IBM Global Services.

“You have this unique dynamic and an opportunity as an engineer to do some really cool things because you’re coming into the industry when other people are falling out and leaving,” says Shaw, 40, who recently became executive director of The Company Lab, popularly known as CO.LAB, a Chattanooga nonprofit startup accelerator that supports entrepreneurial ventures of all sizes.

The group that brought Tennessee the voter photo ID law could be on the brink of spawning another kink on the voting process, one that cross-checks jury service with voter rolls.

At the behest of the American Civil Rights Union, legislators across the nation who belong to the American Legislative Exchange Council could be sponsoring bills in the next couple of years requiring local election commissions to take a closer look at people who miss jury duty.

Super Lawyers has recognized Amanda Jelks and Layne Gillespie as 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

Layne Gillespie is the owner and founder of Chattanooga Legal Group. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2002 and the Appalachian School of Law in 2007.

Baker Donelson has added Allie Weiss to its Chattanooga office. Weiss is a transactional associate with the firm.

Weiss is part of a team of attorneys with a niche national practice dedicated to representing lenders and borrowers in HUD-insured loans for commercial, multifamily and senior housing projects. She assists with due diligence issues, reviews contracts and helps with closing documentation and coordination.

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Kyle Hedrick as circuit judge in Hamilton County.

Hedrick will replace Judge W. Neil Thomas III, who retired after two decades on the 11th Judicial District bench.

Hedrick has practiced alongside Glenna Ramer in the Ramer & Hedrick law firm since 2001. He has also served as an administrative hearing officer for the cities of East Ridge, Collegedale, Red Bank and Chattanooga.

The Women’s Council of Realtors inducted its leadership for the coming year during its December business networking and resource luncheon.

Pictured, from left, are: Brenda Pargeon, program director; Christi Doll, secretary; Susan Stout, president-elect; Debbie Radford, president; Jamie Curtis, treasurer; and Connie Brewer, membership director.

It’s Christmas Eve when I find myself in a strange situation. Unlike other people in Chattanooga, I’m not fighting the traffic on Gunbarrel Road as I try to escape Hamilton Place Mall with my last-minute gifts, oooing and ahhing at the radiant display of lights at Rock City or home basking in the warm company of family.

Doug Dickey lived and breathed some of Tennessee’s football glory days, and he would like nothing better than to see those days return.

Dickey, 85, retired and living in Jacksonville, still loves Tennessee football. He coached the Vols to the Litkenhous national championship in 1967 when the Vols finished 9-2. USC, 9-1, was declared the national champs in the AP, Coaches, FWAA and NFF polls.

Hate can lead a person to act irrationally and do terrible things. Understanding, however, can change even the hardest heart.

That’s the message at the center of the new film, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Given the state of the world, it’s a timely film. Unfortunately, it suffers from an acute identity crisis.

Girls Inc. has announced the women selected to be honored at the 14th annual UnBought & UnBossed awards luncheon to be held on April 11.

Named for the phrase coined by Shirley Chisholm during her historic run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, the UnBought & UnBossed awards honor local women who through their career achievement and community involvement have made a significant impact on the lives of women and girls.

The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga on Dec. 7 honored the graduates of its first Inclusion by Design Executive Leadership Program. IBD is an executive leadership program designed to make the business case for inclusion.

“IBD provides an opportunity for women and people of color in Chattanooga to become skilled leaders,” says Warren Logan, Jr., president and CEO of the local Urban League. “The program was created to educate, motivate and inspire. Just as important, it was designed to pass along wisdom from top-notch business leaders in our community.”

Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee is directing $31,000 in state grant funding to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga to assist in building two new homes in the Scenic City.

The funding comes as part of a half-million- dollar grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and its sister organizations throughout the state will apply the grant toward the construction of 30 new homes for low-income families.

Alexis Willis will join the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce as director of small business and entrepreneurship beginning Jan. 8. Willis will direct the activities of the INCubator, which is located in the Hamilton County Business Development Center on the North Shore.

After 62 years of shaping communities through its engineering and architectural projects, Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon has rebranded as Barge Design Solutions.

The firm’s local office is located at 1110 Market St. in Warehouse Row.

CHI Memorial has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cornerstone Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe and has acquired the former Hutcheson on the Parkway in Ringgold.

At the request of Cornerstone’s Atlanta-based owner, ValorBridge, CHI Memorial began to manage Cornerstone Medical Center in August. Subsequently, a definitive agreement to acquire was signed effective Dec. 29.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will present its annual family holiday concert, Home for the Holidays, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre. The CSO will be joined by Chattanooga vocalist Neshawn Calloway, the CSO Chorus, the Center for Creative Arts Choir and the Metropolitan Bells, all conducted by CSO Music Director Kayoko Dan.