Jason DanielsBlueCross names Jason Daniels as director of shared services
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has named Jason Daniels as director of shared services.
In this role, Daniels has oversight of business solutions processes and enterprise document management. He'll lead the teams responsible for performance improvement and technology solutions, operations database development, automation initiatives, and claims systems testing. He'll also coordinate vendor solutions and vendor contract management.
"Jason has extensive experience in many aspects of our company resources and technology," said Maria Darras, vice president of commercial operations. "In this role, he'll oversee processes that will ultimately enhance the member and employer group experience."
Daniels has been with BlueCross for more than 20 years. He most recently served as manager of business strategy in member benefits administration with responsibility for operations strategy and technology support.
He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia.
HHM Certified Public Accountants expands staff
HHM Certified Public Accountants, a full-service CPA and consulting firm with locations in Chattanooga and Memphis, has hired a senior manager, three staff accountants, and three administrative professionals to expand services and support growth.
Michael Davis was added as senior manager within the Management Advisory Services department. With more than a decade of valuation and consulting experience, Davis will provide valuation analysis of businesses and other intangible assets for purposes of transactions, financial reporting, as well as estate and gift tax planning. Additionally, Davis will provide expert witness testimony in litigation matters involving business valuation, lost profits, and other forms of economic damages. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Texas A&M University, as well as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) designation from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
Joining the firm as staff accountants are Abigail Bentley, Ashton Mizell, and Olivia Young. Bentley joins the audit department and is a graduate of Western Governors University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Mizell joins the tax department and is a Lee University graduate, also with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Young joins the dealership services group and holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The firm's administration team also expanded in November. Dustin Bartley joins the firm as an IT systems administrator. Bartley will focus on IT hardware and software research and installation, troubleshooting, and repair.
Kelry Mann joins the firm as a human resources coordinator. She will manage the firm's onboarding process.
Briana Greene joins the firm as an administrative assistant in the audit department. She will manage the firm's continuing professional education (CPE) program.
"We are delighted to introduce these new professionals as part of our growing team," said Donnie Hutcherson, managing partner of HHM CPAs. "They each bring invaluable experience and will be assets to our firm's operations and services."
CHI Memorial recognized by AHA for stroke treatment
CHI Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.
CHI Memorial also received the Association's Target: StrokeSM Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.
"Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Each year program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their health and rehabilitation once at home.
Erlanger adds new doctors to its medical practices
Erlanger Health System said it has added Drs. Alexandria Cooke, Chelsea Shugars and Katie Pannell to its growing list of providers.
Cooke is a board-certified, fellowship-trained family medicine physician with UT Family Practice. Though she is a Georgia native, Dr. Cooke has spent the majority of her adult life in Tennessee. She received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Southern Adventist University in nearby Collegedale. Cooke spent several months working as an overseas missionary before attending medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Following her medical education, Cooke moved to Chattanooga and completed a family medicine residency with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga (UTCOMC) at Erlanger, followed by a family medicine surgical obstetrics fellowship at Clínica Médicos.
Shugars is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurologist with Erlanger Neurology who specializes in neuromuscular medicine. She attended Clemson University for her undergraduate studies, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in health science. She worked at the National Institutes of Health before pursuing her medical education at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Shugars spent her remaining medical training at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. There, she completed an internal medicine internship, along with a neurology residency, in which she served as Chief Resident of Neurology during her final year. Her training culminated in a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine.
Pannell is a board-certified family medicine physician with Erlanger Primary Care – Hixson. She grew up in northwest Tennessee and completed her undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Dr. Pannell then attended the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University. Following medical school, she traveled to Chattanooga, where she completed a family medicine residency at Erlanger, affiliated with the UTCOMC.
Spencer Mercer joins KrafCPAs firm
Spencer Mercer is the newest member at KraftCPAs PLLC, where he joins a team of 17 other partners at the 63-year-old certified public accounting firm.
Spencer MercerMercer, a Greeneville, Tenn., native, began his accounting career at Kraft's Nashville location in 2009, shortly after receiving his master's degree in accounting at the University of Tennessee. He relocated to join the firm's Chattanooga team in early 2021 following its acquisition of Matheney Stees & Associates in 2020; MSA served the Chattanooga region for more than two decades, particularly in the healthcare and construction industries.
Mercer works extensively in the construction and manufacturing/wholesale/distribution industries with a focus on tax planning, consulting, and compliance.
"Spencer filled a significant role with our Nashville team, and he's continued to thrive in Chattanooga," KraftCPAs chief manager Vic Alexander said. "We're eager to gain Spencer's input and ideas – not only for us as a firm, but also as a neighbor in the community."
Mercer is a member of the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association, Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee, Chattanooga Area Chamber, Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He also has been active as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
First Horizon Bank appoints Jeremy Haley to head Ringgold branch
First Horizon Bank recently named Jeremy Haley as manager of First Horizon banking center in Ringgold, Georgia.
Jeremy HaleyHaley began his career as an insurance consultant, then transitioned over to banking as a financial relationship consultant. He worked his way up to senior financial consultant before joining First Horizon Bank.
"We are excited to have Jeremy as our manager in Ringgold,"said Jay Dale, Chattanooga market president/ "He will be a great fit and we're very pleased to have him as a member of the First Horizon team."
Haley attended Bryan College, where he played on the men's basketball team.
- Compiled by Brandi Dixon
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