Trust for Public Land this month announced its promotion of David Johnson to parks and schoolyards program manager for its Tennessee office.
Johnson has served TPL since 2017 as a program director. He previously held several roles with the city of Chattanooga, including as assistant director of parks, where he oversaw budgeting and operational improvements throughout the parks system. He holds a Master of Public Administration in local government management from North Carolina State University and a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies from Western Carolina University.
In his new role as parks and schoolyards program manager, Johnson will lead efforts to make public school yards accessible to students and neighbors after school hours.
“TPL’s research shows that almost 20 million people across the country do not have easy and safe access to a park – and this includes thousands of kids and their families in Chattanooga,” says Noel Durant, TPL’s Tennessee state director. “We can start to address this by transforming some under-utilized school playgrounds into safe, welcoming parks.”
In Chattanooga, the Community Schoolyards program is a collaboration between TPL, Hamilton County Schools and the city of Chattanooga. A pilot project is currently underway at East Side Elementary, with two more schoolyard transformations scheduled for 2024.
Johnson collaborates with local leaders to plan parks, trails and open spaces, focusing on neighborhoods with low investment and parkland.
CAEC announces 2024 board of directors
The members of the Chattanooga Area Employment Consortium elected the organization’s 2024 board of directors during its December meeting.
Cheryl Zuckerman will serve her fourth year as chairperson. She works as a master vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Tennessee Department of Human Services and has served as chair for the Mayor’s Council on Disability for the city of Chattanooga under Mayors Andy Burke and Tim Kelly.
Alana Shores will serve her fourth year as vice-chairperson. She works as the ADA travel trainer safety administrator for the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority.
CAEC’s members elected Denise Estes to serve as secretary. She works as a technical consultant for EPB. In addition, the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute selected Estes for its Game ChangeHER program.
Jeromie Gentry will serve his second term as treasurer. He previously served as secretary for two terms. He works as a freelance marketing consultant, videographer and web developer, and is vice president of the Chattanooga Filmmakers Guild.
CAEC is a nonprofit organization that has served the disability community in Chattanooga for 25 years. It’s comprised of organizations and individuals who advocate for employment opportunities and fair working conditions for people with disabilities.
Members include Orange Grove Center, CARTA, Chattanooga Autism Center, See Rock City, Signal Centers and others. The organization meets monthly to discuss employment issues, share opportunities, and provide a platform for charitable programs to announce offerings.
CAEC’s next meeting will be Friday, Jan. 19 at the Edney Innovation Center at 1100 Market Street beginning at noon. Learn more and become a member at CAECtn.org.
Erlanger welcomes two team members
Drs. Sue Gouge and Robert Rudd have joined Erlanger’s list of care providers.
Gouge is a board-certified family medicine physician joining Erlanger Primary Care – South. She graduated with her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. She completed her family medicine residency at Erlanger while affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga.
Gouge has 17 years of experience working with family medicine patients in the Chattanooga area. During her time as an in-house physician for LifeCare Physician Services, she served as the medical director for two locations. Call 423 778-DOCS to schedule an appointment with Gouge.
Rudd is a board-certified pulmonologist, intensivist and sleep medicine physician with Erlanger Pulmonology. He received his undergraduate degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Ohio State University and completed his Master of Science degree from the University of Kentucky in Biomedical Engineering.
Rudd earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He most recently worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Memphis.
Rudd is a member of the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Chest Physicians and the Tennessee Medical Association. Learn more at erlanger.org/RobertRuddMD.