Five Star promotes three to expanded executive team and more Chattanooga-area career moves

Five Star promotes three to expanded executive team

Five Star Food Service announced the promotions of three company leaders to new executive positions to help lead the 35 branch operations for the Chattanooga-based food distributor.

Mark Stephanos will serve as executive vice president of operations, a position added to the company’s executive organizational structure, according to a news release. Stephanos most recently served as senior vice president of retail operations. He has more than 40 years of experience in the convenience services industry with knowledge of micro markets, vending, refreshment services, corporate dining and food production. Stephanos will now be responsible for the operations of all service lines companywide.

“This is a well-deserved and logical next step in his storied career,” Richard Kennedy, president and CEO, stated in the release.

Jeff Parks, previously president of Five Star’s Atlanta region, will now serve as the company’s senior vice president of retail operations assuming Stephanos’ prior role. Parks’ expanded responsibility will now give him oversight of all micro market and vending operations. Kennedy said Parks’ 34 years of industry experience and deep level of knowledge has primed him for this growth opportunity since joining the company in late 2018 via the acquisition of Southern Refreshment Services.

Frank Field, who joined Five Star 14 months ago as director of strategic initiatives, has been promoted to vice president of retail support.

He spent the prior five years leading the micro market and purchasing functions for Imperial, a prominent Canteen franchise. Field will oversee all corporate operational support teams including the areas of retail administration, execution, compliance, loss prevention and acquisition integration.

Lynda Hood named board chair for American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society of Chattanooga elected Lynda Hood, the executive director of the Chattanooga Bar Association, as the 2022 board president. She succeeds Eddie Grant as head of the 16-member board.

Hood is no stranger to the American Cancer Society and prior to this appointment she served as an ambassador for American Cancer Society of Chattanooga in 2021, the board since 2015 and as the Gala of Hope chair in 2015 and 2016, raising more than $350,000 for the society during that time.

“Lynda has an impressive resume professionally and philanthropically, so we are especially honored to have her take on this leadership role as our board chair for ACS,” Cindy Rix, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society, said in a news release. “Having Lynda in this leadership role will allow ACS the opportunity to grow, providing additional resources, education and opportunity to patients who are currently in their fight or have survived their fight with cancer.”

Parkridge makes Healthgrades’ list of America’s best hospitals

Parkridge Medical Center and its sister hospital, Parkridge East, have been named among America’s 250 best hospitals by Healthgrades, an online resource that provides information about physicians, hospitals and health care providers across the country. Parkridge is among the top 5% of hospitals in the country and an overall leader in clinical excellence, according to Healthgrades.

“My colleagues at Parkridge Medical Center are united by a common goal toward which we strive every day: excellent patient-centered care,” Tom Ozburn, president and CEO of Parkridge Health System, said in an announcement of the new rating. “We all share responsibility for each patient’s experience and outcome, and this award underscores our commitment to our patients and our community.”

Flerl named hospitality manager of CHI Memorial Stadium

Stadium Development Company, which manages CHI Memorial Stadium, said Sydney Flerl has been named hospitality manager of the full-service event space. Flerl, who has been with the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club for two years, will oversee the food, beverage and catering operations for all sporting events, music festivals and other programming at CHI Memorial Stadium.

“Sydney’s sports and event management background, coupled with her demonstrated experience in the hospitality industry, bring tremendous value to our operations at CHI Memorial Stadium,” Caroline McWhorter, president of Stadium Development Company, said in an announcement. “Sydney’s commitment to creating an elevated experience at CHI Memorial Stadium is evident and we look forward to sharing that with Chattanooga Red Wolves fans and other venue guests in the season to come.”

Flerl is a Chattanooga native and graduated from UTC with her degree in sports administration in 2017. She has more than five years of experience in sports and event management, including two years with the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club. She previously served as front office administrator and game day operations manager and was integral in the launch of the Executive Club & Suites last year.

Fitzgerald to chair Downtown Alliance

Kelly Fitzgerald, vice president of commercial brokerage for SVN Second Story Real Estate Management, has been elected board chair for the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance.

Fitzgerald has been with the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance since its formation in 2020 and previously served as vice-chair and a member of the executive committee. She also has served on the boards of the Chattanooga Design Studio, Chattanooga Area of Commerce and Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga.

“Kelly was involved with the creation of the DCA and has continuously been there every step of the way,” Downtown Chattanooga Alliance Executive Director Steve Brookes said in a statement.”She will bring strong leadership skills and extensive knowledge of the community to our team.”

Fitzgerald previously founded Society of Work, a membership-based, shared office space designed to create a culture of hardworking individuals, located in the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance’s business improvement district. She has completed multiple transactions on a variety of retail and office projects for both landlords and tenants, ranging from local to institutional, across the South.

CHI Memorial Hospitals recognized for excellence

The American College of Cardiology has recognized CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga and CHI Hospital Hixson for their demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. The hospitals were awarded accreditation based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

“Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical treatment,” Diona Brown, CHI’s market senior vice president of cardiovascular and neurosciences, said in a news release. “This accreditation recognizes the amazing work our physicians, nurses and staff do to ensure our patients with chest pain are evaluated quickly and receive the appropriate medical treatment in a timely manner, providing the highest quality care to help improve their lives.”

McLemore names Crimmins as director of marketing

McLemore, a development company owned by the Scenic Land Company, announced that Conley Crimmins has joined the management team as director of marketing. The native Chattanoogan returns to the area after working for the past eight years at the award-winning magazine “Garden & Gun,” where she helped organize more than 200 events ranging from sporting lifestyle experiences to private dinners, bourbon tastings, cultural exploration trips and music experiences that fit the pillars of the magazine’s brand.

As part of the marketing team at McLemore, Crimmins will be responsible for developing, creating and executing special events, brand partnerships, community growth, membership enhancements and brand development. She joins IV Whitman, executive vice president of marketing at McLemore.

Located on Lookout Mountain in Northwest Georgia, McLemore is a master-planned mountaintop community featuring a Rees Jones and Bill Bergin highlands course.

“McLemore’s management team is comprised of individuals who possess a strong breadth of experience and expertise in the areas they work,” McLemore President and CEO Duane Horton said in an announcement of Crimmins’ appointment. “To have someone with Conley’s talent and knowledge of the area as our director of marketing will be invaluable as we continue to elevate the McLemore brand on national and international levels.”

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