Business Digest: Deborah Boggs heads Bethlehem Center fundraising

Boggs heads Bethlehem fundraising

The Bethlehem Center has appointed nonprofit leader Deborah Boggs as the organization’s development director.

Boggs will be responsible for providing strategic direction to secure grants and gifts from foundations, corporations and private donors for the organization, which has served the community for nearly 100 years.

“Deborah is a seasoned professional who has an excellent track record of raising significant funds,” said Claire Overmyer, president of the Bethlehem Center’s board of directors. “Her wealth of experience working with nonprofits for nearly 15 years made her the ideal choice for the Bethlehem Center.”

Prior to joining the Bethlehem Center, Boggs served as the executive director of the Literacy Council of Kingsport, Tenn.

Proctor joins Husch Blackwell

Wendy M. Proctor, an attorney who formerly worked with one of the nation’s largest mall real estate investment trusts, has joined Husch Blackwell in Chattanooga as senior counsel on the firm’s real estate, development and construction team.

Proctor will focus on reviewing, negotiating and drafting complex lease agreements for Husch Blackwell clients. She previously worked as a senior attorney for Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Nashville, as a senior counsel for real estate for PetSmart in Phoenix, as a leasing manager for Hallmark Cards and as a staff attorney at CBL & Associates Properties in Chattanooga.

Mannarino temp Food Bank head

The Chattanooga Area Food Bank has appointed of Christa Mannarino as interim president, effective Oct. 26, while the nonprofit searches for a permanent president. Mannarino is a certified fundraising executive and holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

She previously served as director of development and external relations at Girls Preparatory School and has worked in a variety of nonprofit and civic groups at UTC, the Association for Visual Arts, Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chattanooga Venture.

The local Food Bank, which works with 300 partners in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia to provide food to low-income persons in a 20-county region, also added six new directors to its board.

The new directors include Ben Brown, founding partner with Alderman Holdings; Stefanie Crowe, executive vice president at Cornerstone and Smartbank; Matt Evans, lead pastor of Rock Bridge Community Church; Mary Kilbride, a community volunteer; Jason Luna, a local entrepreneur who serves as both a founder and owner at 38 Degree Draft and chief operating officer at Rapid RMS; and Elizabeth (Betsy) McCright, executive director at the Chattanooga Housing Authority.

Insurance group honors McConnell

State Farm Insurance Agent Sherrell McConnell has been recognized by Trademark Who’s Who for showing leadership in the insurance industry.

McConnell, a 33-year agent for State Farm whose office is in East Brainerd, is included in the annual “Who’s Who” directory for the insurance industry.

Koukounas joins Check Into Cash

Michael Koukounas, formerly vice president of credit, fraud and collection oversight for USAA, has joined Check Into Cash in Cleveland, Tenn., as the chief risk officer.

A 25-year business veteran of analytics, Koukounas has built a career leveraging data, analytics and systems to drive billions of dollars of business in senior roles in Citigroup, GE Capital, American Express and Equifax. His responsibilities have included modeling, analytics, strategic systems development and management, credit and fraud policy, and data management.

“Michael gives us another boost of confidence that we can take on whatever comes our way in the future,” said Steve Scoggins, president of Check Into Cash. “He’s a forward-thinking professional who will keep Check Into Cash moving full steam ahead, building on our past success and ensuring customers have access to our vital financial services.”

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