Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, May 28, 2021

Newsmakers: LifeSpring names development director




LifeSpring Community Health has welcomed Kathryn Briggs as its new development director. Briggs is tasked with equipping the local pediatric ministry to serve more children and families in Greater Chattanooga with holistic care and services.

Briggs earned a degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and brings eight years of financial services, consulting and fundraising experience to LifeSpring.

A native of Chattanooga, she and her husband, Michael, have three children and reside in Lookout Mountain.

Ashley Platzer joins CHI

Certified physician assistant Ashley Platzer has joined CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates in Soddy-Daisy.

Platzer earned her master’s in physician assistant studies from Lincoln Memorial University, Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate.

She also holds a degree in dietetics from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Platzer is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a certified Department of Transportation medical examiner.

CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates in Soddy-Daisy is located at 210 Walmart Drive. Appointments, including same-day and video visits, are available at 423 332-6155.

Gravitt earns administrator designation

Hamilton County Register of Deeds Marc Gravitt has earned the designation of Certified Public Administrator from The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.

The program provides technical, administrative, managerial and leadership training to elected officials and their employees.

Reflection Riding president gets national recognition

The Association of Nature Center Administrators has named Mark McKnight, president and CEO of Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, its 2021 ANCA Outstanding New Leader.

This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates leadership, professionalism and creativity within the field of nature and environmental learning centers.

McKnight joined Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center as president and CEO in 2017. In the three years before his arrival, Reflection Riding’s revenue had dropped by nearly half, the board of directors was shrinking in size and the organization was still composed of two separate entities.

The organization completed its merger at the end of 2018. In 2020, the organization brought in about five times more proceeds than in 2016 due to increases in earned revenue, donations, memberships and grants.

McKnight has also developed new partnerships throughout the region, completed a strategic planning process, led a master planning process and put in place a conservation easement that will permanently preserve the organization’s 300 acres.

McKnight serves on the ANCA marketing committee, as well as on the boards of the Lula Lake Land Trust, the Cumberland Trails Conference, Thrive Regional Partnership and the Chattanooga Lion’s Club.