Top cardiologist joins Erlanger Heart Institute
Erlanger Heart Institute has added Dr. Matthew Wiisanen, the first fellowship- trained structural interventional cardiologist in the region.
Wiisanen received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota. After completing the internal residency program at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, he completed the cardiology fellowship and the interventional cardiology fellowship programs at the University of Kentucky Division of Cardiovascular Diseases.
Wiisanen is an expert at the transcatheter aortic valve replacement, (TAVR) procedure, the MitraClip procedure, closure of atrial septal defects and other structural heart problems. Through one small incision, he is able to replace a failing heart valve, providing a new lease on life for those too weak for traditional heart surgery.
“Dr. Wiisanen’s world-class expertise will be valued at Erlanger Health System,” said Kevin Spiegel, president of Erlanger Health System. “His extensive training and experience with the TAVR procedure will greatly benefit the Erlanger Heart Institute and its patients.”
Whittington joins Legacy Senior Living
Byron Whittington has been named director of operations and development support for Legacy Senior Living, a Cleveland, Tenn.-based management company of assisted living and memory care facilities.
In this management position, Whittington will work closely with company President Barry Ray and Chief Operating Officer Bryan Cook to coordinate, facilitate and catalyze support for facility operations and future development projects.
Whittington became a resident of Cleveland, Tenn., when he moved from his hometown, Talladega, Ala., to attend Lee University, where he completed a double major in business administration and accounting. He later returned to Lee for his master’s in business administration.
“Byron joins us after serving many years as the coordinator of business affairs at Lee University. The nearly 10 years’ experience he logged there positioned him very well to be the perfect fit for us in this new role,” said Cook.
Legacy Senior Living operates a family of senior living communities throughout the Southeast specializing in independent living, assisted living or Alzheimer’s care services.
Swafford named development director
Douglas Swafford has been appointed the business development director for the National Association of Credit Management of East Tennessee, which is based in Knoxville. His territory includes Chattanooga, Birmingham and the state of Alabama and the Florida panhandle.
Swafford has been a credit practitioner his entire career at companies such as Brock Candy Co., Arnold Palmer Golf Co., ADC Telecommunications and most recently at U. S. Xpress.
He is a native of Chattanooga, attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the NACM Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management at Stanford University.
Bell, Johnson earn TCA designations
Donnie Bell and Luke Johnson have completed the educational requirements to earn the designation of Tennessee Certified Assessor (TCA). Bell and Johnson are two of only four appraisers across the state to receive this designation by the Tennessee State Board of Equalization.
To receive this designation, one must be a full-time employee in mass appraisal and have completed course requirements as defined by the State Comptroller’s Office.
Johnson is a graduate of Soddy-Daisy High School and East Tennessee State University. He has been employed by the Hamilton County Assessor of Property’s Office since 2013.
Bell is a graduate of Ooltewah High School. He came to the assessor’s office in 2014 with many years’ experience in the residential appraisal market.
First Tennessee names Shaffer regional president
Richard Shaffer is taking over as regional president of First Tennessee’s community banking group in Tennessee.
Shaffer, 51, will provide executive leadership for the First Tennessee community bank presidents in the Tennessee communities of Cleveland, Columbia, Cookeville/Sparta, Greeneville, Jackson, Morristown/Dandridge and Sevier County. He previously managed commercial products for First Tennessee.
“At First Tennessee we have built our business on the strength of our relationships with our customers and our commitment to the communities we serve,” said David Popwell, president of banking for First Tennessee’s parent company, First Horizon National Corp.
Chattanooga State names Nichols as VP
Dana Nichols was named vice president of academic affairs at Chattanooga State Community College this summer.
In her new role, Nichols has instituted an initiative that she calls “Paws on the Pavement,” where she literally walks around campus every other Friday to meet and greet personnel from all departments to help familiarize herself and to let others get to know her in an “informal, low-stress way.”
As a former assistant vice president of academic affairs at Lanier Technical College in Georgia, Nichols came to Chattanooga State because of its outstanding reputation for innovation.
Nichols has been involved in higher education for 18 years with classroom experience teaching English, ESL and linguistics.
She is a 2006 doctoral graduate of Georgia State University.
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