The Trust Company of Tennessee has hired Deena Turner as a relationship manager.
Turner brings 30 years of experience in financial services, insurance and relationship management. In her new role, she will work with clients to identify and pursue their financial and retirement goals.
Her experience includes managing retirement plan client relationships, providing employee education and helping individuals prepare for retirement.
Turner’s career has included roles in financial planning, retirement services, business development and nonprofit leadership. She also has experience providing investment and retirement planning guidance, working with employers and retirement plan participants, and developing relationships with clients and community partners.
Ceja to oversee local BASF manufacturing
BASF has named Julio Ceja site director of its Chattanooga facility, Dispersions North America, where he’ll oversee the company’s two manufacturing operations in the city.
Ceja brings 19 years of manufacturing experience and joined BASF in 2019 as plant manager of its dispersions unit in Altamira, Mexico. He relocated to the U.S. in 2022 to serve as senior production manager at BASF’s Freeport, Texas, site before advancing to his new Chattanooga role.
Ceja says his initial priorities include listening to employees, strengthening safety culture and operational discipline, and ensuring the facility has the capabilities and organizational structure to support future growth.
Longer term, he aims to establish Chattanooga as a benchmark BASF facility for safety, operational excellence, innovation and employee engagement.
Ceja and his family recently relocated to Chattanooga. He says he also plans to build on BASF’s partnerships with local organizations, emergency response agencies and educational institutions while increasing employee involvement in the community.
Townley named interim WTCI PBS CEO
WTCI PBS has appointed Shaun Townley interim president and CEO as Bob Culkeen departs the Chattanooga public television station to become executive director and general manager of WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee, Florida.
Townley has spent 19 years at WTCI and has helped support executive decision-making as the station navigated financial and operational challenges in recent years.
WTCI Board Chair David Martin says Townley brings an understanding of the changing public media landscape and the station’s role in the Tennessee Valley.
Townley says he plans to build on WTCI’s recent successes while continuing to provide programming and services that educate, engage and inspire the community.
Pulmonologist Reihani joins CommonSpirit
CommonSpirit Medical Group has expanded its lung and airway care services with the addition of Amir Reihani, a fellowship-trained interventional pulmonologist at CommonSpirit Medical Group – Interventional Pulmonology – Chattanooga.
Reihani specializes in interventional pulmonology, which uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat complex lung, airway and pleural conditions. His clinical interests include advanced and robotic bronchoscopy, pulmonary nodule and lung cancer evaluation, therapeutic bronchoscopy for complex airway disease and pleural interventions.
Reihani completed an interventional pulmonology fellowship at Ohio State University, following fellowship training in critical care medicine at Stony Brook University and pulmonary medicine at Eisenhower Health in California. He also holds a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University.
Reihani is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call 423 531-6104.
Kelly appoints deputy operations chief
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has appointed Kirsten Ert Acuff as the city’s deputy chief operating officer.
Ert Acuff most recently served as city manager for Lakesite, where she oversaw municipal operations, budgeting and financial management, and helped advance infrastructure, stormwater, parks and recreation projects.
Under her leadership, Lakesite received a Tennessee Municipal League Small City Progress Award.
Before joining Lakesite, Ert Acuff worked in higher education and served as a senior community planner for the city of Collegedale. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Hawai’i and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is also a certified municipal finance officer.
Girls Inc. welcomes new board members
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga has welcomed five new members to its board of directors as the organization begins a new fiscal year.
Amanda Burney, Tiffany Commons, Tequilla Hurt, Dottie Love and Angela Malone have joined the board, which provides strategic direction, financial oversight and long-term planning for the organization.
Girls Inc. also recognized five outgoing board members for their service: Chanteé Boykin, Shawanna Kendrick, Ashton Lewey-Johnson, Diana Meadows and Quetta Pipkin.
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga provides programs and other resources for girls and young women in the community.