Andrew Walker has joined Alliance Bancshares Inc. of Dalton, Ga., as vice chairman, president and CEO and also become vice chairman and CEO of the holding company's Alliance National Bank, also in Dalton.

Mr. Walker succeeds Charles Allgood, who has retired after being in those posts since the bank's founding in 1999. Jackson P. Turner, chairman of both the holding company and bank, made the announcement of Mr. Walker's appointment.

Mr. Walker has 34 years of experience in banking, including serving as a president and CEO for more than 24 years.

He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

He is married to the former Janet Turner of Dalton and they have a son, Drew.

Smith name d BlueCross VP

G. Henry Smith has been appointed senior vice president and chief-of-staff of the commercial operations unit at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

He will be responsible for strategic operations and service delivery for all commercial lines of business.

He joined the Chattanooga-based health insurer in 1995 as president of Advanced Insurance Services, the company's third-party administrator. In 1999 he became regional sales director for Memphis.

Morning Pointe appoints Morgan

Linda L. Morgan of Hixson has been named resident services director of Morning Pointe of Chattanooga, according to Independent Healthcare Properties LLC, its owner and manager.

The facility is at 7620 Shallowford Road.

She has 18 years of experience in health care management.

Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow founded Independent Healthcare in 1996.

Hood promoted by Life Care

Mark Hood has beenpromoted to vice president of quality improvement of Life Care Centers of America.

He previously served as director of clinical systems. He began his career with the health care company in 2003. Mr. Hood is a registered nurse and resides in Cleveland, Tenn.

Life Care is based in Cleveland and operates more than 220 nursing, subacute and Alzheimer's centers in 28 states.

Comtrak Logistics honors Hicks

Memphis-based Comtrak Logistics recently honored Chattanooga driver Ricky Hicks as an inductee into the firm's Million Mile Safe Drivers Club.

The recognition goes to those who have driven a million or more verifiable miles with no preventable accidents and have satisfied all company safety requirements, a news release said.

Comtrak Logistics has had a terminal location in Chattanooga for 22 years.

Veterinarian White earns certification

Dr. Darlene White has been certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, specializing in feline practice.

She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She practices at the Wolftever Pet Hospital located at 6225 Highway 58.

Before attending veterinary school, Dr. White attended the Baroness Erlanger School of Nursing and was employed at Erlanger Hospital and Emory Hospital.

Nonprofit agency adds Galen

Victoria Galen has joined Chattanooga Room in the Inn as the development coordinator.

The former mid-day disc jockey on 96.5 The Mountain, WDOD-FM, has eight years of media and community events experience. She will oversee the nonprofit charity's corporate fundraising and sponsorships. Chattanooga Room in the Inn provides shelter to homeless women and children, and helps the women to become self-sufficient.

Mrs. Galen, who is a native of Atlanta, is a graduate of the University of Georgia and has lived in Chattanooga for 15 years. She lives in Lookout Valley with her husband, Michael Kwasnik Jr., and son, Forrest.

City business wins award

Just Between Friends of Chattanooga has been named Franchise of the Year by Just Between Friends Franchise Systems Inc., a leader in children's and maternity consignment sales events.

Nicole Wilfong is the owner of the Chattanooga business.

Just Between Friends Franchise Systems has 73 franchises in 19 states with at least five currently under development. Last year its annual gross sales were nearly $7 million.

Allergist Raschal opens practice

Dr. Susan Raschal, a specialist in allergy, asthma and immunology, has opened a new practice, known as Covenant Allergy & Asthma Care. It is at 1350 Mackey Branch Drive, just off Gunbarrel Road in East Brainerd.

She is board certified in allergen and immunology.

She received a degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathy Medicine in 1990 and completed her allergy and immunology fellowship at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago in 1997.

Riverview Capital Management opens

Patrick Farnsley has announced the opening of Riverview Capital Management, which offers professional investment management for individual accounts and IRAs.

He has more than 25 years of experience managing investments, with the last taking place in Chattanooga.

J. Mark Vice is also involved in the business, focused on the client services area. He has previous experience as an account executive and manager with leading legal publishing companies.

Riverview Capital Management is in the Chattanooga Bank Building at 737 Market St. downtown.

Schulz named Verizon PR manager

Karen Schulz has been named by Verizon Wireless to serve as the firm's public relations manager for the Carolinas/Tennessee region.

She previously worked as strategic marketing manager for the Greenville News in Greenville, S.C.

Verizon is a cell phone company that provides wireless voice and data networks.

Byrum joins law firm office

Philip Byrum has joined the Chatanooga office of Husch Blackwell Sanders law firm as Of Counsel in the litigation group.

Mr. Byrum will focus on labor and employment.

He previously served as an associate in the law firm of Miller & Martin PLLC. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.

Three become law firm members

Neil A. Brunetz, Kyle W. Eiselstein and Ian K. Leavy, who are associates in the Chattanooga office of the law firm of Miller & Martin, have become members of the firm.

Mr. Brunetz' practice concentrates on courtroom representation of clients in civil litigation matters, including personal injury, wrongful death, workers' compensation, construction, contract, commercial disputes and malpractice actions. He is a graduate of Rhodes College and the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Mr. Eiselstein concentrates in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis in complex commercial disputes. He is a graduate of Florida State University and the UT College of Law.

Mr. Leavy concentrates his practice in the area of labor and employment law. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of Georgia School of Law.