The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer has named Amy Jo Osborn as the organization’s first CEO.
The AHFPC is a Chattanooga-based nonprofit organization that provides therapies to families impacted by pediatric cancer. All programs and services offered at the foundation are provided at no cost to individuals and the foundation does not bill insurance.
Osborn and her husband, Dr. James Osborn, founded the Austin Hatcher Foundation in 2006 after their son, Austin Hatcher Osborn, died of a rare form of childhood cancer. Following this loss, the Osborns noted a gap in services and founded the AHFPC.
Since co-founding the organization in 2006, Osborn has served in the role of president as a volunteer. As president, Osborn spearheaded the organization’s local and national growth, including a 1,200% increase in fundraising and a 4,600% increase in asset development.
Osborn has also developed partnerships with over 42 hospitals in 26 states to provide services to more than 88,000 individuals.
During the last 24 months, Osborn played a primary role in the implementation of a specialized electronic medical records system with MD LOGIC and in the design, construction and operations of the foundation’s 33,000-square-foot Education Advancement Center located in downtown Chattanooga.
Several agencies have recognized Osborn’s work with the foundation throughout her time as president. In 2018, she earned the Tennessee Governor’s Volunteer Star Award. In 2017, Samford University named Osborn its Humanitarian of the Year. In 2013, she received the Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropic Impact Award.
HHM accounting adds 7 to staff positions
HHM Certified Public Accountants has hired three senior managers, a supervisor and three staff accountants to support growth throughout the upcoming tax season.
Senior tax manager Jason Ashley will assist business owners, trustees, passive investors and individuals with tax consulting, research and compliance.
Ashley previously spent several years as a tax manager at a firm in Bluffton, South Carolina, and worked as a manager at a BDO alliance firm in Savannah, Georgia. He is a graduate of Missouri State University.
Also joining the firm as a senior tax manager is Donna Langerud, who brings 20-plus years of experience to the tax team and will prepare and review returns for a variety of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, S corporations and partnerships. Langerud will provide clients with strategic planning, risk assessment and tax law compliance specific to their situations.
Langerud previously worked at a public accounting firm in Houston, where she was a senior tax manager. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
Amy Smith, senior manager, brings more than 20 years of experience to the firm. She will consult with businesses and individuals.
Smith previously worked in private industry as the tax and fund accounting director for a large renewable energy company in addition to working at public accounting firms on the East Coast.
Smith is a graduate of St. John Fisher College, has attained a certificate in transfer pricing from Thomas J. Campbell School of Law and is currently pursuing her master’s in accounting at the Kenan Flager School of Business at UNC Chapel Hill.
Peggy Brandon joins the firm as a supervisor. With experience working with corporations, partnerships and S-corps, she will provide tax preparation and guidance to clients. In addition, she will provide estate and trust tax return preparation.
Brandon previously worked in the tax department at a large medical corporation in addition to working at public accounting firms in the greater Nashville area. Brandon is an enrolled agent and a graduate of Lipscomb University.
Joining the firm as staff accountants are Keenan Cox, Tyler Ballengee and Jackson Vetetoe. Cox joins the audit department and is a graduate of Lee University. Ballengee and Vetetoe join the tax department and are graduates of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Synovus names Harrell market president
Randal Harrell is the new Chattanooga market president for Synovus Bank. Harrell joins Synovus from Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he most recently served as director and credit executive.
Harrell joined Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a lending representative in 2016. He was named director and credit executive that same year. From 2015 to 2016, he served as vice president and commercial lender at Wilson Bank & Trust.
Before Wilson Bank & Trust, Harrell held a number of lending and commercial banking positions with several community banks in Tennessee. Harrell began his banking career with Homeland Community Bank in 2006.
He earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Tennessee Technological University.
Simpson joins CHI Memorial in Ringgold
Erin Miller Simpson has joined CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates – Ringgold. Simpson earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree in nursing at Kennesaw State University Georgia. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Chattanooga Area Nurses in Advanced Practice.
Coca-Cola UNITED announces staff changes
Coca-Cola UNITED has promoted Tanya Nichols to director of supply chain optimization and analytics. Nichols will be based in Chattanooga.
Nichols will lead supply chain optimization initiatives and build the supply chain analytics teams. Nichols has been with Coca-Cola for more than 24 years. She spent the last six at Coca-Cola UNITED working in source optimization and raw materials.
Coca-Cola UNITED has promoted Robert Gaffney to director of supply chain strategy and planning. He will be based in Chattanooga. Gaffney has been with Coca-Cola UNITED for nearly a decade and most recently served as director of business process planning and execution.