Christy Gillenwater has accepted a new position as president and CEO of Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and is stepping down from her leadership role as Chattanooga Chamber president and CEO.
Leading alongside volunteers, boards of directors and community partners and team members, Gillenwater spearheaded initiatives to develop long-term economic opportunities for Chattanooga as well as achieve more immediate goals.
“My experience in Chattanooga reinforced how collaborations between businesses, organizations and elected officials can create greater economic and talent development opportunities,” Gillenwater says. “I’ve been honored to serve in Chattanooga and Hamilton County.”
Gillenwater began her five-year tenure in Chattanooga after leading chambers of commerce in Bloomington and Evansville, Indiana. The Chattanooga Chamber board of directors named her president and CEO in September 2017 and she assumed her role in December.
The Chattanooga Chamber’s executive committee will immediately begin planning for the search process. Gillenwater begins her new role in January.
Outdoor Chattanooga welcomes new director
The city of Chattanooga’s Department of Parks and Outdoors welcomes Gail Loveland Barille as director of Outdoor Chattanooga.
“Elevation of Chattanooga’s outdoor recreational amenities through the creation of Outdoor Chattanooga under the leadership of the late Philip Grymes has been a game changer for our region for the last two decades,” says Scott Martin, Department of Parks and Outdoors administrator.
“Finding the right professional to build on Phil’s legacy was no small task. Gail’s record in scaling up outdoor recreation programming through creative public and private partnerships across the nation will usher in a new era of growth for the outdoor community across our region.”
Loveland Barille brings more than 25 years of working within nonprofits focused on outdoor recreation, inclusion and youth development to Outdoor Chattanooga.
Her career and community engagement extend to staff and volunteer leadership roles within a variety of international, national and local nonprofits, including the National Ability Center, Boys and Girls Club, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the International Paralympic Committee, Outdoors for All and Southeast Conservation Corps.
Over her career, Loveland Barille has led the fundraising for and development of recreation programs, events and facilities through public and private partnerships.
As an initial member of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation advisory committee, she advocated for the accessibility needs of the state’s local and visitor populations. As CEO of the National Ability Center, Loveland Barille worked with staff, volunteers and outdoor industry partners to create recreation programs, events and facilities for individuals with disabilities and their families.
“Gail is fearless in seeking out expected and unexpected partnerships to build inclusive and conservation themed recreational communities,” says Martha Ham, founder of the first outdoor all-inclusive recreation program in Utah.
“Over the past decade, I watched her blend tradition with innovation in building a network of recreational opportunities. She understands and values the role that access to nature plays in establishing and protecting the livability of a community and is committed to these principles.”
Since moving to Chattanooga in 2019, Loveland Barille has spent the majority of her time exploring the expansive natural environment in the surrounding areas of Tennessee and Georgia.
“Over the past three years, I’ve been impressed with the care and resources Outdoor Chattanooga directs toward removing barriers so our entire community can access the benefits of the outdoors and recreation,” she says. “This landscape is a unique asset for our urban community.”
GPS teacher named Geographical Society fellow
The American Geographical Society has named Dr. Ralph Covino of Girls Preparatory School as a 2022 AGS Geography Teacher Fellow. Covino is one of 50 teachers who will participate in this fifth year of the initiative.
Covino teaches Advanced Placement Human Geography at GPS. As part of the award, he will attend the AGS Fall Symposium Nov. 17-19 at Columbia University. The symposium provides teacher fellows with the opportunity to interact with geography and geospatial leaders from across the country, as well as receive professional training in geography and geospatial technology tools.
College of Medicine names Haynes Chattanooga dean
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine has named Dr. James Haynes as its dean in Chattanooga. Haynes has served as the interim dean in Chattanooga since December 2021.
The UTHSC College of Medicine-Chattanooga includes 400 faculty members, about 190 residents and fellows and around 250 students.
A family medicine physician and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Haynes hopes to use UTHSC’s academic infrastructure and resources to help affiliated hospitals grow residency positions.
“I’d also like to establish rural health care initiatives around the region and grow our research,” says Haynes.
Haynes says he also aims to improve faculty development by providing junior faculty a path for academic growth and promotion.
A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Haynes received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He completed his residency in family medicine at Eglin Regional Hospital at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
His military service encompasses two tours of duty in the Middle East, including a tour of duty in Iraq as part of a critical care evacuation team.
The Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians named Haynes its Family Physician of the Year in 2003. Haynes served as the family medicine consultant to the surgeon general of the U.S. Air Force from 2005 to 2007.
Haynes has taught in graduate medical education for more than 20 years and has served as the chair of the department of family medicine in Chattanooga since 2019.
He holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is a past president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.
Erlanger Foundation adds fund development leader
Erlanger Health System Foundation has added David McCurry as its executive director of development.
Before joining the philanthropic arm of the nonprofit health system, McCurry served in fund development leadership roles at a variety of nonprofit organizations including AMG International, Dignity Health, Willow Creek Association, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont College and Corban University.
Before his work in the nonprofit sector, he held regional sales and marketing leadership positions within the automotive aftermarket at Honeywell International and PAR Distributors.
McCurry earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Azusa Pacific University, an MBA in marketing from City University of Seattle and a master’s in nonprofit management and philanthropy from Bay Path University.
He also served as an adjunct professor at Bay Path, where he taught graduate level fundraising courses for more than eight years.
BrightBridge names Hamby underwriter
BrightBridge Capital has hired Caleb Hamby as an underwriter for the company. The Ringgold, Georgia native returns home after spending five years in the industry in South Carolina and Greely, Colorado, where he worked in commercial real estate lending, development and loan underwriting.
Hamby earned an MBA from Liberty University and his undergraduate degree from the University of North Georgia.
He has experience in underwriting multifamily and mixed-use properties, analyzing commercial real estate markets and addressing issues and risks that could affect closing or property performance.
Wendt joins Centennial Heart at Parkridge
Centennial Heart at Parkridge welcomes Dr. David Wendt, a board certified and fellowship trained cardiologist with more than 25 years of experience in the Chattanooga area. He specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart conditions.
Before joining Centennial, Wendt served as staff cardiologist for CHI Memorial and medical director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at Erlanger Medical Center.
He was also a clinical associate professor at Erlanger Medical Center and East Tennessee State University’s department of family medicine.
Wendt earned his medical degree from Wayne State University and served as an internal medicine intern and chief medical resident at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He sought advanced training from the University of Iowa and Duke University Medical Center, where he completed fellowships in cardiology and electrophysiology and published 30 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.
He is board certified in internal medicine.
Wendt will see patients in the Centennial Heart at Parkridge offices located at 2333 McCallie Avenue.