The Unum headquarters building is located in downtown Chattanooga. Unum completes purchase of H&J Capital insurance
Chattanooga-based Unum has completed its purchase of Louisiana-based H&J Capital LLC, parent of Starmount Life Insurance Co. and AlwaysCare Benefits.
Unum announced earlier this year it had agreed to buy the dental and vision benefits company for $127 million, plus net assets.
“We are excited to welcome Starmount to the Unum family and to establish Baton Rouge as our center of excellence for the dental and vision market,” said Unum President and CEO Rick McKenney. “This is an excellent fit for both our Unum US and Colonial Life businesses and is an important component of our long-term strategic growth plan.”
Founded by the Sternberg family in 1983, Starmount will remain headquartered in Baton Rouge with a leadership team including CEO Erich Sternberg and President Deborah Sternberg and a staff of more than 220 employees, according to Unum.
CWLI seeks leader to replace Traynor
Mical Traynor, the executive director of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute for the past 21 months, will retire as head of the organization, effective Sept. 23.
Traynor was named to head the 20-year group since December 2014 when she left CWC Office Furniture to direct CWLI. The institute was founded in 1996 with the mission of promoting the leadership capabilities and influence of women in the Chattanooga community and the group regularly conducts seminars, mentorship programs and other events to help women learn and network with one another to advance more female leadership in Chattanooga.
Traynor, who helped the group rebrand itself, develop a new website and surpass 500 members, said she is eager to join her husband, Dan, in retirement and travel more.
CWLI board chair Patti Frierson praised Traynor for “a wonderful period of growth” for the group and said a search for a new director has begun.
Holston Gases buys Welding Equipment
Holston Gases announced Monday it has completed its purchase of Elders Supply & Equipment, Inc, which operates in Nashville and Gallatin, Tenn. as Welders Supply & Equipment
“This is a perfect fit,” Holston Gases President Robert Anders said. “The gas and supply products of Welders Supply & Equipment will compliment those of Holston Gases, allowing the customers to consolidate their purchasing with one vendor at competitive prices.”
Holston Gases is a regional distributor of industrial, medical, and propane gases that operates 27 locations, including facilities in Chattanooga, Athens and Crossville, Tenn.
TVA’s Norris Dam is on the Clinch River in upper East Tennessee.Norris Dam added to historic registry
One of East Tennessee’s most iconic energy sources, and a popular tourist and recreation destination, is officially now a protected American historic resource.
The National Park Service has added TVA’s Norris Dam, which extends 1,860 feet across the Clinch River in East Tennessee, to the National Register of Historic Places. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., last week presented TVA Historian Pat Ezzell the plaque that will be prominently displayed at Norris Dam.
Norris Dam is the first TVA dam to receive recognition on the National Registry. It and the nearby town of Norris both are named for George Norris, the Nebraska senator who authored the TVA Act. He also is known as the father of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“My great-grandfather and my family are honored to have this magnificent structure bear his name,” said Dr. David Norris Rath, great-grandson of Sen. Norris. “It is a wonderful tribute to the work he did to bring TVA to the region.”
Aerotek hiring fairs set for Volkswagen
Aerotek will conduct five job fairs this month to hire logistics and production team members to work for the Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga. Starting pay for the new jobs in $13 an hour with bonuses and pay rate increases every six months.
Persons may apply for the jobs at hiring fairs sponsored by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce from 1 to 5 p.m. today at Chattanooga State’s East Campus, 7158 Lee Hwy. in Chattanooga; on Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Urban League of Chattanooga, 730 E. M. L. King Blvd.; on Aug. 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. at East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Ave.; on Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr., Ste. 102 in Hixson, and on Aug. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Dr. in Chattanooga