Thatcher Smith joins Warren and Griffin and more Chattanooga-area career moves

Thatcher Smith

Thatcher Smith joins Warren and Griffin, P.C.

The Chattanooga law firm of Warren and Griffin, P.C. has hired attorney Thatcher M. Smith.

Thatcher earned his law degree from the Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, graduating first in his class with highest honors, while accumulating 16 CALI Excellence for the Future Awards which are given in recognition for the highest grade achieved in an individual class.

Smith, a Chattanooga native, graduated from Boyd Buchanan High school and later attended the University of Tennessee for his undergraduate education before starting law school.

Dalya Qualls, Torrey Feldman join board of Chattanooga Urban League

Dalya Qualls, senior vice president and chief communications officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Torrey M. Feldman, attorney at Rockridge Venture Law, has joined the board of directors for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.

Dalya Qualls

Qualls is a longtime communications professional. She graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2000 and earned a masters in mass communications from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Qualls has worked for Keene State College, Clark University, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and HCA Healthcare before continuing her career with BlueCross.

"BlueCross has been a longtime partner of the Urban League, so I'm honored to join its board of directors to help continue its work and inspire inclusion," said Qualls.

Torrey Feldman

Feldman, in addition to her current role at Rockridge Venture Law, owns O&O productions, which provides photography and videography services for a variety of clients. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in communication and information, journalism and electronic media before earning her master's at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a law degree from American University Washington College of Law.

"I am so excited to serve the Urban League because I believe in the mission of this organization and its crucial role in serving Chattanooga's African American community," said Feldman.

Ashley Ward heads BlueCross innovation of Medicare Advantage network

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has selected Ashley Ward as director of Medicare Advantage provider network innovation. This is a new role for the organization.

Ashley Ward

In this position, Ward will develop and drive initiatives that strengthen provider partnerships and improve health outcomes for BlueCross members with a Medicare Advantage plan.

"We are excited to have Ashley in this new role, focused on enhancing relationships with providers to support quality care for our members," said Todd Ray, senior vice president of corporate provider network management and Medicare products.

Ward has more than 25 years of experience in health care, most recently serving as manager of provider engagement and outreach in the company's senior care division. Before joining BlueCross in 2016, she led operations with direct involvement in managed care activities for a large physician group in East Tennessee.

Ward earned a degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University.

- Compiled by Brandi Dixon

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