Three new deputies have joined the executive leadership team at Signal Centers. Jenny Wood and Joey Thomas will serve as deputy program officers and Sharon Green will serve as deputy finance officer.
Wood and Thomas will focus on the strategic and operational goals for Signal Centers’ local programs. Green will assist with the management of the accounting department, including supervising staff and overseeing financial processes and reporting.
Wood was previously Signal Centers’ director of children’s services. She has been with the nonprofit since 2022, when she joined as an early childhood development coordinator. Wood earned a Master of Education in early childhood and special education at Grand Canyon University and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Austin Peay University.
Thomas joins Signal Centers from Cempa Community Care, where he served as director of community health since 2023. He earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a juris doctor from the University of Memphis and is a former lieutenant with the Chattanooga Fire Department.
Green was most recently the chief of operations at Olivet Baptist Church, where she developed a background in accounting, nonprofit leadership and systems management. Green is completing a Master of Public Administration and holds a Master of Science in leadership from Belhaven University.
La Paz Chattanooga adds three to board
La Paz Chattanooga recently added three members to its board of directors: Shannon Millsaps, chief operating officer at Thrive Regional Partnership; Whit Guthrie, family office associate at Keel Point; and Xavier Cotto, workplace culture and performance program manager at TVA.
Pinnacle recruits Bua to lead Chattanooga office
Michael Bua recently joined Pinnacle Financial Partners as the leader of the Broad Street office in Chattanooga. Before joining Pinnacle, Bua was an assistant vice president and branch manager for Regions Bank in Chattanooga. He also has experience as a financial center manager from his time with Fifth Third Bank in Tampa, Florida.
Bua earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida Southern College. Outside of work, he’s an active volunteer in various community organizations.
HHM CPAs adds Waters as audit supervisor
Jeremy Waters recently joined HHM CPAs as an audit supervisor. Waters specializes in managing complex audits and ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulatory requirements. He will lead audit engagements, supervise audit teams and collaborate with clients to provide audit solutions. Before joining HHM CPAs, Waters worked at a top 25 CPA firm. He earned his bachelor of science in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University.
Worth joins CHI Memorial Primary Care
Dr. Anna Worth has joined CHI Memorial Primary Care Associates. Worth earned her medical degree from University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her family medicine residency at Christ Health Center in Birmingham, Alabama, and is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Second Story adds three new real estate brokers
SVN | Second Story Real Estate Management recently added three new advisers who will assist with opportunities to expand into seven states.
Sam Vaden, a commercial real estate broker with more than a decade of experience, will focus on investment sales. Vaden earned his Master of Business Administration from American University in Washington.
Nick Petras joins Second Story as the team’s leasing specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing and a concentration in professional sales management.
Jack Kelly will focus on medical office space sales and leasing. Kelly, who transitioned to real estate and property management in 2021, holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado.
Red Wolves appoint new board member
New Chattanooga Red Wolves board member Carlos Bocanegra brings extensive experience in professional soccer to the team. With a 15-year career spanning Major League Soccer and Europe, Bocanegra earned 110 caps with the U.S. National Team, competed in two World Cups, captained the 2010 World Cup team and served as a U.S. Soccer board member. He is also a U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. In addition, Bocanegra has 10 years of experience as a front office executive.
Hamilton County Schools announces changes
Hamilton County Schools has tapped Dr. Mary Catherine Gatlin to serve as the new principal of Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. With a background in instructional coaching as well as high school and middle school administration, Gatlin brings more than a decade of leadership experience in HCS.
Gatlin most recently served as principal of Loftis Middle School. Before her time at Loftis, she served as assistant principal at Red Bank High School and Signal Mountain Middle High School.
Gatlin holds a doctorate in educational leadership, an education specialist degree and a Master of Education in teaching and learning.
HCS has appointed Dr. Aleisha McCallie principal of Orchard Knob Middle School. McCallie currently serves as principal of Tyner Middle Academy and has extensive experience in middle grades education and leadership.
Her 18-year tenure in education includes roles as assistant principal at Clifton Hills Elementary and mathematics instructional coach.
McCallie holds a Doctor of Education in leadership and professional practice, a post-master’s certificate in school leadership and multiple teaching and instructional leadership endorsements.