Hodgen Mainda has been named executive director of community development for EPB, Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board.
Mainda will lead EPB’s community development efforts while working with government relations at the state level.
“Hodgen has a substantial track record for working in both community and business development as well as government affairs,” says David Wade, president and CEO. “Through his engagement he has also developed a very strong network at all levels.”
Previously, Mainda served as vice president for Noon Development and River Branch Strategies. Through appointment by Governor Bill Haslam, he serves on the Tennessee Education Lottery Board of Directors.
“Since coming to Chattanooga eight years ago, I’ve made it my personal mission to support the growth and development of this community,” Mainda says. “I can’t think of a better way to do that than joining EPB where my efforts will be joined with an organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life in the local area.”
In 2014, Mainda was a co-recipient of YPAC’s Young Professional of the Year Award. Chatter magazine has recognized him as one of the 20 Under 40 individuals who are making a mark in our community.
He is a native of Nairobi, Kenya who moved to Tennessee in 1997.
BCBS promotes Winston to PR post
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has promoted Dakasha Winton to the newly created position of chief government relations officer.
Winton assumes responsibilities previously held by Calvin Anderson, who recently retired.
She will be responsible for leading all government relations efforts for BlueCross and supervising government relations staff in Nashville and Washington, D.C.
Previously, Winton served as director of state government relations and associate general counsel.
Before joining BlueCross in 2009, she was chief counsel for Insurance, Securities and TennCare oversight divisions of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. She was also a staff attorney for the department.
“Dakasha has proven to be particularly adept at navigating and communicating within the complex regulatory and legislative landscape, while demonstrating the highest levels of knowledge and integrity,” says JD Hickey, M.D., BlueCross president and CEO.
Winton graduated cum laude from Tennessee State University and earned her law degree from the University of Memphis.
BlueCare TN welcomes Martinez
Jeremy Martinez has been appointed vice president and chief financial officer of BlueCare Tennessee, the Medicaid subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Martinez will oversee company financial planning and administration of Medicaid contracts with the Bureau of TennCare.
Martinez joins BlueCare from the Washington state business unit for Centene Corp.’s Coordinated Care, where he served in executive roles for both finance and operations.
With Centene, Martinez was responsible for expanding networks statewide to add Medicare and commercial business lines to a Medicaid health plan. During his tenure, the company’s membership grew from 35,000 to 250,000.
Previously, Martinez worked at Kaiser Permanente, where he oversaw performance of the Medicare line of business in Colorado.
A Colorado native, Martinez holds a masters of business administration from Colorado State University-Pueblo and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2002.
HHM adds three staffers
HHM CPAs has hired one staff accountant and two senior managers.
Senior managers John Eaves and Britany Foley and staff accountant Amber Mueller will serve on the tax and audit team. These new team members bring over 25 years of experience to the firm.
“We hire professionals who add quality expertise and unique skills to HHM’s team,” says Donnie Hutcherson, managing partner of HHM CPAs. “We can confidently say that these new team members strengthen our team and our ability to offer exemplary service to our clients.”
Previously, Eaves worked for a Fortune 500 company for six years, where he was the director of the International Audit department. Foley has over a decade of experience working with Big 4 accounting firm, Deloitte Tax, where she led the Private Wealth Practice for the Memphis office.
“We’re excited for John, Britany, and Amber to join our team of financial professionals, and for the value they bring to our clients,” Hutcherson says.
CHI Memorial adds Vandergriff
Danielle Vandergriff, FNP-C, is joining CHI Memorial Medical Group.
Vandergriff earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in nursing from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is a certified nurse practitioner.
Vandergriff will serve new patients age 5 and up at CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates – Soddy Daisy.
In addition, the Rees Skillern Cancer Institute at CHI Memorial is pleased to announce Catherine Marcum, DPN, APN, AGACNP-BC, has received certification as an advanced genetics nurse (AGN-BC), with a specialty in adult cancer, from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
She is one of approximately 50 with this certification in the United States. The certification is good for five years.
TVA takes new position with TVA
TVA has appointed Mike Balduzzi its senior vice president and chief nuclear officer.
Balduzzi will be responsible for leading, operating and optimizing TVA’s nuclear fleet as part of its diverse portfolio of energy generation.
“Mike’s effective leadership and strong operational experience have helped us focus on achieving operational excellence throughout the organization,” Grimes says. “His expansive industry experience and success in his prior role make Mike an excellent choice to lead the Nuclear organization in achieving and sustaining top industry performance.”
Balduzzi joined TVA as the senior vice president of nuclear operations in January 2014 after serving as the senior vice president of nuclear technical services for Entergy Nuclear.
With more than 34 years of nuclear experience, he has held numerous leadership roles in operations, maintenance, and oversight activities at a number of nuclear facilities.
Balduzzi has a degree in civil engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has also completed the senior nuclear plant management course at INPO and the advanced management program at Harvard Business School, while serving as a director on the National Nuclear Accrediting Board.