EMJ names Coughran as chief finance officer
EMJ Corp., has named Steve Coughran as its chief financial officer.
As CFO for the Chattanooga-based construction company, Coughran will serve as advisor and strategic partner to EMJ President and CEO Burt Odom, and work closely with executive leadership to establish short-term and long-term financial strategies, support organizational transformation and maximize financial performance.
"We are excited to add Steve's unique set of skills to our EMJ team," said Odom. "Along with established leaders in the finance and accounting department, Steve will provide both financial stewardship and strategic and business leadership to our diverse family of companies.
Before joining EMJ, Coughran founded the Coltivar Group where he counseled large and small construction clients on a broad range of services including strategy, organizational structure, financial management, and operational effectiveness. Previously, he served at Ernst & Young in the Assurance Services division. As an entrepreneur, Steve has launched award-winning firms in the construction industry and authored the book, Delivering Value. He also served as a keynote speaker for national associations and universities, serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, where he teaches a course on strategic financial leadership.
Coughran is a CPA and earned degrees from the University of Denver and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University where he studied abroad in China, Chile, India and Germany. He advanced his specialization in strategy through study at the Executive Education Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
"EMJ is steeped in more than 50 years of servant leadership in the construction, renewable energy, development and safety industries. I am committed to working alongside the team to continue this legacy of leadership and success," Coughran said.
Manahan named to board for Society of Breast Surgeons
Dr. Eric Manahan, a partner in Dalton Surgical Group and medical director of Southeastern Breast Care Specialists, has been appointed to the national board of directors of the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS). The ASBrS is the primary leadership organization for surgeons treating breast disease.
Dr. Manahan received his undergraduate and MBA from Auburn University and completed his medical school and surgical residency at East Tennessee State University. He has more than 20 years experience in the treatment of benign and malignant conditions in the breast. He is an expert in his field and brings a wealth of expertise to the board and the society which represents more than 3000 surgeons in 35 countries throughout the world.
Dr. Manahan is currently the chairman of the Cancer Committee at Hamilton Medical Center. He is also chairman of the Fellows Education Committee and serves on the Corporate Relations and Education Executive Steering Committees for the ASBrS. He is the ASBrS representative to the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) and serves on the SSO Training Committee as well.
Westin hotel earns AAA Diamond rating
The Westin hotel, which opened in downtown Chattanooga last fall, has received AAA's Four Diamond rating, making it the only hotel in Chattanooga to earn this exclusive designation. AAA admits less than 7 percent of the more than 27,000 AAA inspected and approved hotels across the United States onto its Four Diamond list.
According to AAA's website, a Four Diamond hotel rating signifies a hotel that is "refined, stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail."
The 260-room Westin hotel includes 24 suits and 15,000 square fet of versatile indoor and outdoor event space. The Westin is the anchor for what developers Byron and Ken Defoor have dubbed the "West Village" part of downtown, which includes restaurants, coffee shops, retail outlets and other commercial and residential properties.
"We strive to make the Westin the premier Chattanooga hotel that services visitors and locals alike by going the extra step," said Tom Underwood, general manager of the Westin.
Myers, Boyd join Adventure Sports
Adventure Sports Innovation (ASI) has hired Philip Myers as operations manager and Molly Boyd as the Customer Experience Manager.
Myers has nearly 10 years' experience between the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), the nation's largest outdoor recreation company and one of the largest whitewater rafting operations on the East Coast, and Keystone/Vail Ski Resorts in Colorado. In his new job, Myers will oversee the scheduling and training of staff, in addition to defining and managing operational and safety procedures.
"I believe that people should follow their passion, experience new adventures, and always be responsible stewards of the environment," Myers said.
In 2016, Phil was selected for the Nantahala Outdoor Center's Master Guide Program, a specialized intensive leadership and rescue training course. He is a certified Whitewater Rescue Technician and Wilderness First Responder. An avid adventurer, Phil completed a 30-day, 277 mile Grand Canyon river rafting expedition.
Boyd also has extensive experience in outdoor leadership and managing customer programs. Prior to joining ASI, she was the program coordinator of the Safety Initiative for Bicyclists and Pedestrians for the Southeast Tennessee region.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Leisure Administration, with a concentration in Outdoor Recreation from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is also certified as a Wilderness First Responder and a League of American Cyclists Instructor
"I believe this is a great time for ASI to come into the market and bridge the two iconic titles of Chattanooga, 'Gig City' and 'Scenic City', through innovative technology for outdoor sports," Boyd said.
Since graduating, she has worked professionally in the outdoor industry with a variety of outfitters, organizations, and municipalities.
As a Chattanooga native and a passionate enthusiast in promoting outdoor ventures within the local area, she thrives in developing relationships to better serve the community in the outdoor education and recreation realms. She has extensive experience working on local boards and chapters throughout the region, including Bike Walk Tennessee, Bike Walk Chattanooga, TPO Multimodal Transportation Committee, and the Safe Kids Coalition with Erlanger's Children Hospital.
"We're delighted to have Phil and Molly become leaders in our company," said Patrick Molloy, CEO of Adventure Sports Innovation. "They are quickly becoming experts in our start-up, which will offer unique innovative outdoor activities; both bring their enthusiasm and experience to help us launch our company this summer."
Caliber Home Loans opens in Pointe Centre
Caliber Home Loans, a national mortgage lender, has opened a 4,715-square-foot office in The Pointe Centre at 1290 Premier Drive
Pointe General Contractors performed the construction of the new office and Brian Estes was the project manager for the build out.
Pointe Property Group will manage and maintain the property throughout the course of Caliber Home Loans 5-year lease.
TripAdvisor lists Aquarium in its Hall of Fame
The Tennessee Aquarium recently received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the fifth year in a row, earning induction into TripAdvisor's Hall of Fame.
Heather Leisman, vice president of industry marketing for TripAdvisor, said the Hall of Fame "allows us to publicly honor businesses that are actively engaging with customers and using feedback to help travelers identify and confidently book the perfect trip."
Now in its eighth year, the Certificate of Excellence achievement celebrates businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.
"It takes a small army of really incredible people to operate the Aquarium each day," says Aquarium President Keith Sanford. "Everyone here is committed to ensuring a great experience for our guests."