Business Digest: Foundation taps Anthony as CFO

Foundation taps Anthony as CFO

The Public Education Foundation has promoted Suzy M. Anthony to become the organization’s first chief financial officer. Anthony joins the senior leadership team to provide strategic guidance to the staff and board of the 25-year old nonprofit.

Anthony joined the PEF staff in July 2013 and is responsible for all aspects of accounting, finance, human resources and operations. This new position will incorporate strategic planning, growth of new and existing local and regional programs, development of partnerships and resources in the community and input on the direction of the organization.

She previously served as auditor and audit manager for Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC (formerly Hazlett, Lewis & Bieter, PLLC). Anthony is a public school parent and lives in East Brainerd with her husband, Mike, and two children.

Leggett will chair area BBB

Jay Leggett Jr., city president of Athens Federal Community Bank, has been named 2015 board chairman of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Leggett has been a member of the BBB board of directors since 2005.

“Fostering trust and cooperative relationships between area businesses and the consumers they serve is a primary goal of the Better Business Bureau,” Leggett said. “Together we can create a positive economic impact on our region and discover new opportunities for growth.”

Leggett received his BS in finance and economics and MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and serves on the boards of Sky Ridge Medical Center and Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region.

Cornerstone promotes two

Cornerstone Community Bank of Chattanooga has promoted Doug Hightshue and Sam D. Moody to senior vice president positions.

Hightshue started with Cornerstone in March 2004 and has more than 24 years of banking experience.

He is a McCallie School graduate, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of the South and has completed the Graduate School of Banking program at Louisiana State University.

He is a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church and the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga. His favorite fundraising activity is the annual Kiwanis Duck Race. He and his wife have two daughters and a son and reside on Signal Mountain.

Moody joined Cornerstone in May 2007, and has 43 years of banking experience. He attended Cleary College in Ypsilanti, Mich., with studies in industrial management. He also completed the Tennessee Young Bankers School at Vanderbilt University.

In addition, he has completed numerous American Institute of Banking courses. Moody has extensive civic involvement and is a member of the Ringgold Kiwanis Club and the East Brainerd Sertoma Club. He and his wife have been members for more than 21 years of The Crossing Church, where he serves as a councilman and trustee.

Vision associate wins award

The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott named Chattanooga native Rene Phelps the 2014 Associate of the Year Award at Marriott’s recent General Manager Conference.

Phelps, the guest service manager at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chattanooga West/Lookout Mountain, was nominated by her supervisors, who identified her as an “associate culture ambassador” and a team member who goes “above and beyond for guests and her fellow associates.”

One such example is the professional, calm and sensitive way in which she cared for a guest who experienced a medical emergency at the property.

“We could not be more proud of Rene and her achievement,” said Mitch Patel, CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, which owns the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chattanooga West/Lookout Mountain. “Receiving this elite and distinguished award speaks volumes of her character and capabilities.”

Fous to head Black Creek Mountain

Southern Land Co., has added Tom Fous as the managing director of Black Creek Mountain, the golf course community in Lookout Valley at the base of Aetna Mountain.

Fous brings more than 20 years of developing and operating master-planned golf communities in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. He has been associated with eight of the Top 100 Golf Residential Communities in the United States. Fous’ achievements also include being an avid marathoner and an amateur competitive golfer.

NW Mutual honors Sterner

Northwestern Mutual is honoring Chattanooga financial representative John P. Sterner, CFP, with membership in its 2014 Forum Group, which recognizes individuals for an outstanding year of helping clients achieve financial security. Sterner is affiliated with the Pruett Financial Group based in Nashville. This is the fifth time that Sterner has received the Forum honor.

The annual Forum conference is an exclusive achievement, with approximately 5 percent of Northwestern Mutual’s more than 6,000 financial representatives invited to attend.

President’s Club inducts Moore

A Chattanooga health insurance agent was singled out recently for induction into a renowned assemblage of top insurance producers in the nation.

Ryan Moore, a life and health insurance agent with AmeriLife and Health Services of Chattanooga, LLC, was inducted into the President’s Club of AmeriLife, a premier insurance marketing group.

Moore wrote $220,729 in new business annualized premiums in 2014. Life and health insurance agents who write at least $150,000 in annual premiums qualify for AmeriLife’s President’s Club membership.

Send your Business News to Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6340.