MEMPHIS PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
Here's a look at promotions, hirings, movers and newsmakers in the Memphis area:
Dr. Gregg Mitchell has been named chair of the Department of Family Medicine in Jackson for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's College of Medicine. He was serving as interim chair since 2015 and serves the department as both the program director and fellowship director. He assumed his new role in November. Mitchell received his medical degree from UTHSC.
Hilltop Securities Inc. of Dallas announced Brian Branigan joined its Fixed Income Capital Markets division in Memphis as senior vice president of institutional sales. He has more than 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Hilltop Securities, he worked with Suntrust Robinson Humphrey as vice president.
Baker Donelson attorney Brad Trammell was recognized by BTI Consulting Group, the leading provider of strategic research to the legal community, in its 2020 Client Service All-stars list. Attorneys included in the BTI Client Service All-star list were singled out by name for delivering superior client service during in-depth, independent interviews conducted by BTI with top legal decision-makers. He is a shareholder in Baker Donelson's Memphis office and concentrates his practice in commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation.
Bill Gillespie has been named the new vice principal of Houston High School in Germantown. He has more than 25 years of experience in high school education, the last four as a secondary instructional supervisor for Germantown Municipal School District. Beginning in 1996, he taught multiple English
preparations and served as both an assistant and head coach for boys' and girls' soccer at Germantown High School. Gillespie earned his master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and an EDS in Educational Administration, both from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Dunavant Enterprises and Dunavant Global Logistics Group have announced the addition of Michael Bartz as chief information officer. He'll direct all information technology and initiatives as well as lead and manage client systems and business process integrations. Bartz has more than 20 years of systems engineering, managed services and solutions experience. Prior to joining Dunavant, he was vice president of Information Technology for Retrans.
The membership committee and the Board of Directors announced the selection of three new members to the Society of Entrepreneurs. The new members are Tyrone Burroughs of First Choice Sales and Marketing, and Michael Hudman and Andy Ticer of Enjoy A | M Restaurant Group. First Choice Sales and Marketing opened in the niche market of products focused on African American consumers and services manufacturers and retailers domestically and internationally; including Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Sally Beauty, Kroger, Walgreens and Target. Enjoy A | M Restaurant Group has been involved with
Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Hog & Hominy, Josephine Estelle in New Orleans, Catherine & Mary's, Gray Canary and Bishop.
Michael Cooper has rejoined Neel-schaffer as a hydrology/hydraulics engineer in the Nashville office. He has nearly 15 years of experience as a hydrology/hydraulics engineer, including 81⁄2 years previously with Neel-schaffer. He has experience performing hydraulic analyses for state routes and interstate bridge and culvert crossings. He also has extensive environmental permitting and mitigation experience with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, as well experience performing MS4 review, stormwater analysis and design and hydraulic analysis and design for the Georgia Department of Transportation. Cooper is a Registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
NOTEWORTHY
Cal-maine Foods of Jackson, Mississippi, announced in December that its Board of Directors approved a $40.1 million capital project to expand the company's cage-free egg production at its Guthrie, Kentucky, production facility. The project will include related site work and the additional infrastructure to convert existing conventional capacity to house approximately 1.5 million cage-free hens and 300,000 pullets.
Crye-leike Real Estate Services announced recently that it experienced record yearly sales in its Memphis region. The region comprises 22 owned and franchised offices that sold more than $2 billion in real estate during 2020, a number that it has not reached since 2006.
Sanderson Farms of Laurel, Mississippi, in December announced that John H. Baker III informed the company that he will retire from the Board of Directors when his current term ends at the 2021 annual shareholders' meeting. He is proprietor of John H. Baker Interests, a real estate and development company in Houston, Texas, and he also owns and manages a 1,500-acre ranch in southeast Texas that maintains an active cow-calf operation. Baker previously served on the Board of Trustees of Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Baptist University.
The Tennessee Arts Commission is accepting nominations through March 31 for the 2021 Governor's Arts Awards, to be presented by Gov. Bill Lee and first lady Maria Lee in the fall. These accolades are Tennessee's highest honor in the arts, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to cultural life.
The three award categories are the Folklife Heritage Award, presented to folk artists or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Tennessee's traditional arts; the Arts Leadership Award, presented to individuals or organizations who have demonstrated significant contributions that have impacted or advanced the value of the arts in Tennessee; and the Distinguished Artist Award, presented to Tennessee artists of exceptional talent and creativity in any discipline. Instructions on the nomination process and the nomination form are available at tnartscommission.org/governors-artsawards/.