News - Friday, June 5, 2020

Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy was standing in the middle of a crowd on Frazier Avenue during the third night of protests in the city when a young man asked him what he was doing to bring about change.

Roddy did not offer a laundry list of legislation, policy changes or cultural shifts to soothe the anger protesters in Chattanooga and around the country are expressing in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

EB-5 Investors Magazine has included Baker Donelson attorney Robert Divine in its list of Top Attorneys in Specialized Fields.

This list features attorneys who are recognized in specialized EB-5 practice groups that focus on EB-5 policy and lobbying matters, complex cases and immigration compliance.

National Black Lawyers has selected Husch Blackwell associate Ariel Anthony for inclusion in its Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers in Tennessee.

Based in Husch Blackwell’s Chattanooga office, Anthony practices in the firm’s Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution and Private Wealth groups.

Ursula Carter has joined Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison as firm administrator, providing administrative and human resources support for the firm and its staff.

Carter has over 15 years of experience in operations, finance and office management.

Unlike Realtors who become agents because they love houses or want a better life, Jessica Carrasquillo began selling real estate by request.

At the time, Carrasquillo was working as a federally accredited Social Security disability representative at the Cleveland-Bradley Business Incubator. In this role, she helped to secure government benefits for clients who were unable to work.

Purchasing a home can be tricky. It can be a balancing act, especially if you’re trying to sell your home and purchase a new one at the same time.

There are more than enough moving parts with one transaction, let alone two. One option for homebuyers could be making an offer contingency on the purchase of their current home.

After the devastating tornado and severe storms that hit the Chattanooga area this spring, area homeowners are taking steps to protect their home from the elements.

Thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail and flooding can wreak havoc on your home. As you tackle home projects this summer, consider taking the following steps to prepare for potential storms.

The National Association of Realtors has inducted Chattanooga Realtor Geoff Ramsey into the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) Hall of Fame.

Ramsey has been an RPAC Major Investor for seven years and a President’s Circle Member for six years. Over this time, he has invested more than $25,000.

A majority of people – 65% – who attended an open house within the last year would do so now without hesitation, according to survey data the National Association of Realtors released Monday.

Research firm Engagious conducted the series of surveys, which explored how homebuyers and sellers want to safely handle home sales transactions during the coronavirus pandemic, for the NAR as the association kicks off National Homeownership Month.

Crye-Leike Real Estate Services Realtor Ron Tucker has earned the e-PRO Certification from the National Association of Realtors.

Tucker is affiliated with Crye-Leike’s Hixson office and serves residential and commercial buyers and sellers throughout Greater Chattanooga.

The recent market volatility has affected just about everybody’s financial and investment situations. So, if you were planning to retire soon, will it still be possible? 

Of course, the answer depends somewhat on your employment situation. With so many people’s jobs being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, your retirement plans may also have been thrown into confusion. But assuming your employment is still stable, what adjustments in your financial and investment strategies might you need to make for your retirement? 

Zack LeQuire has joined SmartBank as business deposit officer. He will be based in Chattanooga.

LeQuire will be responsible for developing new business from prospective clients through the acquisition of deposits as well as additional treasury management services.

Hamilton County Schools has selected four new principals for the 2020-21 school year. The schools receiving new leaders are Allen Elementary, East Brainerd Elementary, Daisy Elementary and Red Bank Middle School.

“High-quality leadership is vital to the success of our schools and learning communities as we push forward to higher achievement, even with the knowledge that certain challenges lie ahead,” says Neelie Parker, chief schools officer of Hamilton County Schools. “We understand the gravity of the school dynamic and how a quality leader manages change and sets the focus and culture, leading to the success of children in our schools.”

The Chattanooga Zoo’s giraffe herd has arrived.

The Chattanooga Zoo received three male reticulated giraffes from the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center in New Orleans. The three bulls, George, Porter and Hardee Star, lived together as a herd at the center.

Home movie and photo digitizer Legacybox has hired 60 full-time employees at its Chattanooga-based headquarters and production facility.

The new hires include employees across the company’s operations, including customer support, design, marketing, fulfillment and processing.

Construction setbacks at the new STEAM-designated Harrison community school will force the school to operate from two campuses when it opens for the 2020-21 school year. The COVID-19 pandemic and other setbacks this spring caused the delays, Hamilton County Schools say in a news release.

The Benwood Foundation will award $300,000 in scholarships to Hamilton County students over the next four years.

The foundation will partner with the Public Education Foundation and Hamilton County Schools to support high school seniors through their college journey.