The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, serving Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, has hired two new directors.
Laura Kilpatrick is the new director of agency and government relations, overseeing and directing the management of agency partners, collaborating with private and public sectors and advocating for legislation that addresses the many factors that contribute to food insecurity.
Scott Bruce is director of marketing and communications.
Previously, Kilpatrick was agency services and SNAP outreach coordinator for the Food Bank.
“As one of our most passionate and talented staff members, Laura has built an impressive network of agency partners and centers of influence to aid in solving hunger in our region,” said Gina Crumbliss, president and CEO of the Food Bank.
Kilpatrick has a bachelor’s degree in human services and a master’s in public administration from UT-C.
Bruce will oversee media relations and develop marketing strategies.
He is a former advertising specialist at the Chattanooga Times Free Press and music columnist for Chatter Magazine.
Bruce has a degree in graphic communication from Clemson.
Erlanger Health lauds supporters
The Erlanger Health System Foundations has honored four of its important supporters, Dr. Manoo Bhakta, Dr. Nita Shumaker and Olan and Norma Mills, all recognized for “their enduring commitment to foster quality medical services to the community, as well as demonstrating unquestionable character and human compassion.’’
Bhakta, M.D., is board certified in pediatric hematology/oncology and has served as instructor and associate professor of pediatric hematology/oncology for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga for the past 30 years.
He also served as chief of pediatrics, medical director and is currently the director of pediatric hematology/oncology at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.
Bhakta is the founder of the Erlanger’s Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, a clinic that provides comprehensive total care in pediatric hematology and oncology services with four pediatric oncologists and a wide range of support staff.
Nita Shumaker, M.D., is board certified in pediatrics and has served as clinical faculty for University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga for the past 22 years. She also served in the United States Air Force for four years as captain/pediatrician.
Shumaker has been named medical staff secretary, vice chief of staff, chief of staff, past chief of staff and board member for Erlanger Health System; secretary, chief of pediatrics and a member on the Quality Assurance Committee at Children’s Hospital; and a board member of Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers.
Norma and Olan Mills are both honorary chairs of the Children’s Hospital Believe Campaign and are being recognized with the third annual “Gordon Street Distinguished Leadership Award” for their extraordinary leadership and support to build a new children’s hospital.
Terracon welcomes Hawkins as manager
Harry Hawkins has been named manager of Terracon’s Chattanooga office.
He will direct a team of more than 40 professionals specializing in environmental, geotechnical, materials testing, drilling and laboratory services as the Chattanooga office expands.
Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm.
Hawkins has more than 30 years experience in civil engineering and construction management including managing projects in transportation, construction, and infrastructure.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech.
CHI Memorial welcomes Ronin
Alex Ronin, NP-C, is joining the CHI Memorial Medical Group.
Ronin earned an associate’s in nursing from Chattanooga State Community College and completed a nursing bridge program to earn his master’s in nursing from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale.
He is certified as a nurse practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Ronin joins Danielle Vandergriff, FNP-C, at CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates – Soddy Daisy, 210 Walmart Drive. Both are welcoming new patients.
City selects Colston for Public Works
Ricky Colston is the new director of city-wide services in Chattanooga’s Department of Public Works.
Previously, he was the deputy director of that division and has been with the city for 23 years. Colston began working for the city at 13 as a street cleaner in a youth jobs program.
In 2010, he was named as manager of street maintenance and construction.
“Ricky’s passion is serving people, and he’s dedicated his career to improving the lives of our citizens,’’ says Justin Holland, Public Works administrator.
Jim Templeton retired last year after more than 50 years of service.