Chattanooga Whiskey Co. names Sauls head distiller
Chattanooga Whiskey has named Tiana Saul as head distiller, succeeding founding head distiller Grant McCracken, who will continue with the company as chief product officer.
Saul began her career with Chattanooga Whiskey in 2015 as the assistant manager at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery before transitioning to the production team in 2017. She has developed a variety of expressions, including barrel-aged gins and infused liqueurs, which helped establish Chattanooga Whiskey's Experimental Single Batch Series as one of the most prolific and innovative collections in the industry.
As head distiller, Saul will lead a production team of 15 full-time employees and cover all aspects of production, grain-to-glass.
"Over the years, Tiana has shown, among other things, a keen eye for the details, a unique sense of style, and a natural understanding of leadership," McCracken said in an announcement of her appointment." She is someone the entire team has always looked up to – in every aspect of what we do."
Joining Chattanooga Whiskey as their first head distiller in 2014, McCracken led the build out of both the Experimental and Riverfront Distilleries, the creation of a whiskey style known as Tennessee High Malt, and the product transition from the 1816 expressions to the release of Chattanooga Whiskey 91 & Cask 111.
TVFCU names Weekley as lending vice president
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) has promoted Eric Weekley to vice president of consumer and mortgage lending, a new position at Chattanooga's biggest credit union that will combine his current responsibilities in the real estate department with a leadership role in the credit union's consumer lending division.
Eric Weekley / Contributed photo"Eric has been indispensable in our real estate department since he started at TVFCU nearly four years ago," said Todd Fortner, president and CEO. "We've seen tremendous growth under his leadership, with TVFCU becoming the Chattanooga area's top mortgage lender by dollar amount and number of loans last year."
Weekley joined TVFCU in March of 2019, previously spending five years at ORNL Federal Credit Union in Knoxville as vice president of mortgage lending. In his new role, Weekley will lead both credit union divisions as they work with members regarding mortgages, HELOCs, auto loans, education loans and other personal loan options.
To support this effort, Weekley is looking to expand his team with an indirect loan funding officer and mortgage loan originator assistant.
Life Force paramedic earns service award
The Tennessee Ambulance Service Association has recognized Jim Fox, flight paramedic for his extraordinary service during the 2023 state conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Fox received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his service in treating some of the region's toughest cases. He began his career in 1982 as an EMT in Florida, then launched his career as a flight paramedic with Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida in 1985. In 1988, Fox moved to Chattanooga to join Erlanger as one of the original flight crew members for Life Force. He has logged more than 3,000 transports from his days as a ground EMT, paramedic, and flight paramedic.
Fox now serves as the business development director for Life Force. Over the past three decades, Fox has taught life-saving skills to thousands of first responders, either in a formal classroom setting or on the job.
"I am extremely proud of Jim and all of his extraordinary accomplishments over his 41-year career," Robbie Tester, vice president of patient logistics at Erlanger. "He continues to demonstrate and set the standard for others to follow."
La Paz promotes Celis and Lopez
Jasmin Celis has been named operations and administration coordinator and Jesus Lopez has been appointed office coordinator for La Paz Chattanooga.
Jasmin Celis / Contributed photoIn his new role, Celis will work with the executive director to provide administrative support with human resources, donor cultivation, volunteer engagement and special events. As office coordinator, Lopez will work to support the team with logistics, administrative duties and early client engagement.
Since opening our doors in 2004, La Paz Chattanooga has grown into the leading organization promoting inclusion of the Hispanic and Latino community in Southeast Tennessee.
Information about new hires, promotions and business awards should be sent to onthemove@timesfreepress.com.