Cline to head Athens Dominion Senior Living
Kayla Cline has been named executive director of Dominion Senior Living in Athens, Tenn. She has previously worked as a caregiver, business office director, marketing director and most recently executive director at a senior living community in North Carolina.
Cline will lead the assisted living and memory care community in all areas, including working with the community to develop partnerships and build bonds with the residents and family members.
Cline, a graduate of Winthrop University, said she grew up volunteering at a local senior living community “and I quickly realized I had a calling to work in this field.”
“I grew up in a small town, and Athens reminds me of home,” she said.
Element Funding opens Hixson office
Element Funding, a division of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. has opened an office in Hixson to help more home buying clients in Tennessee and Georgia.
The branch location at 5617 Highway 153 will be managed by Kevin Blair, a native of Dallas who is a long-time resident of Chattanooga and has worked in the mortgage industry for more than 17 years. Blair was formerly a Branch Manager at Brand Mortgage for six years. Kevin is a member of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, the Chattanooga Association of Realtors and the Scenic City BNI Chapter.
“One of my greatest joys in this industry is to help homeowners successfully fund their home mortgage goals all while being able to exceed expectations and build lifelong relationships,” said Blair.
Blair is joined by Sales Manager Stacie Miles, Loan Officer Mike Congdon, Loan Officer Beth Mansell, Loan Processor Kristy Hickman, Loan Processor Melanie Carter, and Administrative Assistant Kelsey Harrod. This team has more than 80 years of combined experience in the mortgage industry
Bethel Bible names Brunker as CFO
Harriet Brunker has been named chief financial officer of Bethel Bible Village, a nonprofit organization which has served children since 1954.
Brunker most recently served as controller at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for the past three years. Her finance experience includes public accounting and insurance, including several years at Unum.
“We are fortunate to have Harriet join us at Bethel,” said Kevin Beirne, Bethel President. “It’s unusual to find someone with Fortune 500 expertise and nonprofit experience.”
Brunker grew up in Hixson and is a graduate of Milligan College and earned her CPA license in Virginia in 2005 while employed with a CPA firm.
Brunker previously served on the board of the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestra and currently serves as the treasurer of the DuPont Community PTA Board of Directors.
“I am excited for the opportunity to serve our community and make a difference in the lives of those we care for at Bethel,” she said.
Love directs home visits at Siskin Children’s Institute
Siskin Children’s Institute has named Deidra Love as director of home and community-based early intervention.
Love earned her master’s degree in early childhood special education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after graduating with an English degree from Carson Newman University. She brings more than 18 years of experience in the early intervention field as a teacher, home visitor, and behavior specialist/consultant.
“The work of home visitors is so important, as we strive to increase children’s progress and growth by building on the strengths and supporting the needs of their families,” Love said.
MetMin adds Ruggieri as program impact manager
Metropolitan Ministries (MetMin) has apppointed Rebecca Ruggieri as program impact manager to monitor the effectiveness and impact of MetMin’s programs and better assess and modify client service practices. Ruggieri earned the Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia with expertise in research design, management and evaluation of programs.
“That impact examination is critical to mitigating the challenges that those whose lives are characterized by poverty face,” said Rebecca Whelchel, executive director of MetMin
Ruggieri will work both internally and collaboratively to examine the social service response to households in crisis, a common, evidence-based measurement tool for program effectiveness will be identified and shared with agency colleagues, stakeholders and funders.
“Helping with the cost of rent or utilities seems so simple, but it is truly an investment in our guests’ lives and in the stability of our community,” Ruggieri said.
For nearly 40 years, MetMin has provided services that prevent homelessness and assure long-term stability for those whose stability is fragile.
Siskin therapist earns certification
David R. Barron, a physical therapist at Siskin Hospital, has passed the Great Lakes Seminars Synthesis course to become a Certified Integrated Manual Therapist (CIMT).
The CIMT certification program trains therapists to assess dysfunction from a whole-body perspective.
Dr. Barron specializes in neuro, lymphedema, vestibular and balance and is a member of Siskin Hospital’s Center for NeuroRecovery team.
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