Dr. Van Decar joins Siskin’s Institute
James Van Decar, M.D., will join the Siskin Center for Developmental Pediatrics in January.
Dr. Van Decar is a neurodevelopmental pediatrician with more than 30 years of experience serving children with special needs and is an expert in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of developmental disabilities in children. He retired from the Air Force in 2015 after a 28-year career spanning medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, residency in pediatrics and fellowship in developmental disabilities in San Antonio, Texas, and then multiple assignments including Lakenheath Air Force Base in England, Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He also established one of the Department of Defense’s first early intervention programs for children when their families were stationed overseas.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Van Decar to Siskin Children’s Institute, ” said Derek Bullard, president of the Siskin Institute. “His vast experiences working in the field of developmental disabilities and his passion for serving children with special needs and their families make him a great fit for SCI.”
Morning Pointe promotes Pollard, Beckstrand, Harvey
Morning Pointe Senior Living and Independent Healthcare Properties has promoted three managers to executive positions at the Ooltewah-based senior living chain.
Former Regional Vice President of Operations Rob Pollard will now serve as divisional vice president of operations for the state of Tennessee. Chris Beckstrand, currently an executive director at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga, will take on a new role as area director of operations for the East Tennessee area. Cody Harvey, an Executive Director-in-Training (EDIT) and registered nurse, will take the helm as the new executive director at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga – Shallowford.
Pollard, a graduate of the University of North Florida, is a veteran of the senior living industry, with 20 years of experience in the field, including three and a half of those years spent with Morning Pointe.
Beckstrand has nine years of experience in the senior living field and has been with Morning Pointe for three years. A Utah native, Beckstrand graduated from Westminster College.
Harvey has spent the past year with Morning Pointe as an EDIT. He is a registered nurse and a former certified nursing assistant, and he spent two years in the senior living field as a CNA. He obtained his nursing degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is currently finishing his master’s degree in Business and Healthcare Administration at Southern Adventist University.
“It is so exciting to watch Morning Pointe continue to grow, due in no small part to the dedicated efforts of individuals like Rob, Chris and Cody,” said Greg A. Vital, president and CEO of Morning Pointe Senior Living.
The Ark Pet Spa names 4 managers
The Ark Pet Spa & Hotel has hired or promoted four new managers.
Jonathan Malone, a graduate of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, joins The Ark Pet Spa & Hotel’s franchise crew as a construction manager. Malone will oversee and manage new franchise construction and leasehold improvements.
Susan Murphy, MBA, joins the franchise crew as the Ark’s retail brand manager. Murphy will oversee the Ark’s retail brand called Slobberbones Bakery & Market. Previously, she managed multimillion- dollar direct mail fundraising programs for nonprofit clients.
Sarah Speer is promoted to director of operations. Speer spent several years with The Ark as a facility manager and is also a certified pet nutrition specialist.
Adam Harbin is promoted to vice president of franchise development of The Ark Pet Spa & Hotel. Harbin was the leader of the team that developed The Ark’s franchise package and has helped take The Ark from two locations to five company-owned franchise locations.
Key heads branch for Reliant Bank
Reliant Bank has appointed Melissa Key as vice president and branch manager of the bank’s new Chattanooga location at Republic Centre on Chestnut Street.
Key brings 19 years of banking experience and is currently enrolled in The Southeastern School of Banking. An active community leader, Key participates in a variety of organizations, including the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute, Scenic City Women’s Network. She serves the Chattanooga Chamber as an ambassador and board member. Before joining Reliant, Key held management and business banking roles at Atlantic Capital Bank and SunTrust Bank.
In her role, Key is responsible for the daily operation of Reliant’s full-service branch, including operations, personal and small business lending, and product sales.
“As we began planning the opening of our first full-service branch in Chattanooga, we pursued an individual with a strong knowledge of Chattanooga and a background in management and business development. Melissa’s talent to develop and nurture client relationships coupled with her solid community ties and involvement positioned her as an ideal candidate,” said Terry Todd, executive vice president and Chattanooga Market president.
Grabeman joins Mace+Carmichael
The public relations agency Mace+Carmichael has named Chloe Grabeman as digital content strategist, responsible for planning, developing and delivering impactful digital content to align with clients’ business goals.
Grabeman earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations at Lee University and previously managed digital strategy, online platforms and communications for Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce in Georgetown, South Carolina. She is also a published author with her book titled “Real and True: Hope for the Restless Heart,” which she co-authored with her mother.
“Chloe is excellent at all stages of content creation and is a digital guru,” says Amanda Carmichael, partner at M+C.
Mace+Carmichael is a full-service public relations consulting company started in Chattanooga in 2009.
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