Nathan Fort named director of Dayton city parks and more Chattanooga-area career moves

Nathan Fort named director of Dayton city parks

Nathan Fort has joined the city of Dayton’s parks and recreation department as its new director.

Fort previously served as education services director for the Salvation Army of Nashville and recreation manager for the city of Columbia. A graduate of Bethel College, Fort was voted by the National Recreation and Park Association as one of the top 30 young professionals in the parks and recreation field under 30.

“I’m super grateful to return to Tennessee to live my dream,” Fort said. “When I interviewed for the position, it sounded like the perfect fit for a southern country boy like me.”

The city of Dayton operates the Pendergrass, Point and Centennial parks, and it furnishes and maintains 11 ball fields, nine tennis courts, three soccer fields, a football stadium, a college-size basketball court and a pickleball court. Fort said he is looking to expand and grow recreation opportunities in Dayton.

Bo Watson named chair of Tennessee State Museum

Tennessee state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, has been named chair of the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission. As chair, Watson will lead the commission to oversee operations of the state museum in Nashville.

The commission is entrusted by statute with establishing the strategic direction of the museum, with an emphasis on the educational and cultural enrichment, and also works to ensure Tennesseans have access and exposure to the museum collections and special changing exhibits.

“The state museum consistently delivers outstanding and relevant exhibits for Tennesseans,” Watson said in a statement. “I’ve always been honored to participate in the artistic, cultural and historical education of those in our state, and I will keep pursuing those goals as chairman.”

The museum, as part of its ongoing goal of preserving and displaying objects relating to Tennessee history, has several permanent exhibits that cover the state’s founding, natural history, The Civil War and Reconstruction, recent state history and modern culture.

“Sen. Watson has been a valuable contributor on our board for the past four years,” said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. “It is clear that he understands and cares about our mission, so I’m thankful he’s continuing his service in this new position.”

Chattanooga State’s nursing head joins Thought Leadership Council

Martina Harris, director of the registered nursing program at Chattanooga State Community College and assistant dean of nursing and allied health programs, has joined Sentinel U’s Thought Leadership Council.

Sentinel U, a provider of web-based simulation education technology solutions for nursing schools, hospital systems and health care professionals, uses the experts from nursing, academia, research and development on the Thought Council to help guide Sentinel U in its continued development of effective virtual nursing simulation.

The Sentinel U Advisory Council is a two-year commitment and meets at least three times each year to provide valuable thought leadership on current popular topics such as the state of the nursing profession and the future of simulation integration.

“We are honored to have this group of highly respected individuals commit their time and energy to help Sentinel U meet the continually evolving needs of health care education and training,” said Dr. Laura Gonzalez, vice president of clinical learning resources at Sentinel U.

Julie Horton joins CHI Memorial Internal Medicine Associates

CHI Memorial Medical Group announces nurse practitioner Julie Horton has joined CHI Memorial Internal Medicine Associates – Chattanooga on Hixson Pike.

Horton earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. She then completed a Master of Science in nursing degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

WTCI PBS awarded two Public Media Awards

At the 53rd Public Media Awards, WTCI-TV was recognized as the winner of two national awards in the Division 2 competition. WTCI-TV, the PBS affiliate celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, won the Public Media Award for its Military Chronicles for Greater Chattanooga: Touched by War, and was recognized as the winner of the Public Media Award for Innovation in Education for its new channel, WTCI EDUCATE.

“The awards recognize the best in public media,” WTCI CEO Bob Culkeen said in a statement. “Our station is rich in quality content … . We showed the system what a little station in Chattanooga does on a daily basis.”

– Compiled by Brandi Dixon

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