Tennessee Aquarium promotes 4 leaders under reorganization plan and more Chattanooga-area career moves

Aquarium promotes 4 leaders under reorganization plan

The Tennessee Aquarium has appointed Gordon Stalans as its new chief operating officer and appointed Thom Demas as chief husbandry and exhibits officer under a reorganization plan by the nonprofit attraction.

At the same time, the Chattanooga aquarium announced the appointment of Jeff Worley as director of exhibits and graphics, Corey Cobb as director of IMAX operations and Adam Lundy as IMAX manager and systems operator.

“We have begun a new strategic planning process to carry the Aquarium 10 or more years into the future,” Tennessee Aquarium President Keith Sanford said in an announcement of the new leadership appointments. “Succession planning is one of our priorities within this road map to the future. These promotions and organizational changes will help ensure our continued growth and success.”

For more than 30 years, Stalans has served as chief financial officer and chief information systems officer, focusing on creating the aquarium’s annual and long-term financial plan, challenging the aquarium’s teams to tackle exciting goals and keeping budgets on track, according to the announcement. He also serves as financial director for the Creative Discovery Museum and the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Demas has served the Tennessee Aquarium since 1997, beginning as the dive safety officer and working his way up to become the director of aquatic collections and life support systems, the announcement said. Demas has served as interim vice president of husbandry since Jackson Andrews, the aquarium’s previous chief operating officer, retired in February.

Worley joined the aquarium more than 30 years ago. He now leads a team of graphic artists, audio/visual technicians and an award-winning photographer, the announcement said.

At the IMAX 3D theater, Cobb and Lundy will be responsible for the facility’s day-to-day operations and extended operational plan. This includes working closely with numerous film distribution companies to coordinate showings for educational documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters like “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” and “Oppenheimer,” according to the announcement.

Lifespring adds staff for behavioral health

LifeSpring Community Health is expanding its staff and adding behavioral health to its services. The nonprofit pediatric clinic has appointed Rachel Tolliver as director of its new behavioral health team. Prior to joining LifeSpring Community Health, Tolliver served as a licensed and board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Counseling Center, according to an announcement of the expanding staff. She is a graduate of Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, earning a Doctor of nursing practice degree with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner emphasis.

Alyson De Jesus joins LifeSpring Community Health as a bilingual marriage and family therapy intern. Prior to joining LifeSpring, De Jesus worked at Integrate Christian Counseling, a private practice counseling center in Chattanooga, as well as the Marriage and Family Clinic at Lee University, according to the announcement. She earned both a Bachelor of Science in psychology and Master of Science in marriage and family therapy from Lee University. De Jesus is certified in both trust-based relational intervention and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

Christopher Davila joins LifeSpring’s Behavioral Health team as a community health worker. In this role, he will engage with patients’ families, the community and LifeSpring’s partners around behavioral health education, advocacy and evaluation, the announcement said. A graduate of Covenant College, Davila has lived in several countries throughout Latin America and has worked in Volunteer Behavioral Healthcare System. He has certifications in youth mental health aid and motivational interviewing.

“Anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation have increased in youth and added enormous burdens on already stressed parents and households,” Jill Fikkert, co-founder of LifeSpring Community Health, said in the announcement. “Our approach in addressing these needs is twofold — direct services, which will provide counseling to patients and their families, and community-based activities, which will develop behavioral health awareness, education and explore innovative ways to improve the mental health of youth in our community.”

Anderson earns CFP certification

Financial advisor Becki Anderson of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Chattanooga has received the certified financial planner certification.

The industry certification, which is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, is achieved by passing a number of exams and to committing to abiding by the board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct.

Anderson’s office is in Warehouse Row in downtown Chattanooga.

Commons to head operations for Ronald McDonald House

Tiffany Commons has been promoted to chief operating officer of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. Commons has worked in different leadership roles for the organization over the past 15 years and also has served as president of the Associations of Fundraising Professionals Southeastern chapter and as public image chair of the Hamilton Place Rotary Club, according to a news release.

As COO, Commons will play a pivotal role in spearheading the growth and strategic development of the organization under the guidance of CEO Michael Brown.

“Tiffany has demonstrated exemplary leadership characteristics throughout her tenure at RMHC of Greater Chattanooga,” Brown said in the release. “She has consistently exhibited a passion for our mission and a drive to make meaningful differences in the lives of the families we serve.”

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