Chattanooga State Community College has selected Tiffanie Robinson, managing partner and CEO of Aslan Holdings, as the 2025 honoree for its Dinner of Firsts celebration, recognizing her leadership, community impact and journey as a first-generation college graduate.
The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 13 at The Chattanoogan Hotel.
Robinson, the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduated from Lee University and has built an accomplished career as an entrepreneur, investor and civic leader. She previously served on the Hamilton County school board and is known for her dedication to improving education and supporting economic growth across the region.
The evening will feature a lively roast of Robinson by a panel of friends and colleagues, including Mickey Cloud, Kristina Montague, Justin Robertson, Mike Robinson and Kirby Yost. Tom White will chair the event and Terran Anderson will serve as master of ceremonies.
Proceeds from Dinner of Firsts benefit the Tom Edd Wilson First in the Family Endowed Scholarship, supporting first-generation students at Chattanooga State.
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Center for Sports Medicine welcomes Mitchell
The Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics has announced the addition of Dr. Ronald Mitchell, a fellowship-trained hand and upper extremity specialist, to its team. Mitchell, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, brings over a decade of experience treating complex musculoskeletal injuries.
He specializes in treating arthritis, fracture care, nerve compression, sports injuries and ligament and tendon injuries, offering both surgical and nonsurgical solutions to help patients regain mobility and function.
A graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, Mitchell completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Houston Methodist Hospital and served as a staff surgeon and department head in the U.S. Navy. His military career included assignments in North Carolina, Naples, Italy and Afghanistan, where he provided life-saving care in both advanced medical centers and combat environments. He earned several commendations, including the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “C” device.
Mitchell most recently completed a fellowship in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute. In addition to his clinical work, he earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and has published research in leading orthopaedic and sports medicine journals.
Wayne named fellow of construction legal group
Matt Wayne, partner in the Chattanooga office of Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell (CSVL) and chair of the firm’s Construction Litigation practice, has been named a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA).
The CLSA is an invitation-only, international honorary society recognizing excellence and leadership in construction law. Membership is limited to just 1,200 attorneys worldwide and is based on proven skill, professional reputation and ethical standards.
Wayne represents residential and commercial builders, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, advising on everything from contract negotiations to project disputes and representing clients in court, mediation and arbitration.
In addition to co-chairing CSVL’s construction practice group, Wayne was recently appointed as a Pupillage Group Leader for the Brock-Cooper Inn of Court, where he mentors younger attorneys and helps develop professional skills within Chattanooga’s legal community.
Pinnacle adds veteran adviser in Chattanooga
Pinnacle Financial Partners has expanded its Chattanooga team with the addition of Chris George, a seasoned financial adviser with 12 years of experience in financial services. George brings a strong background in medical private banking, wealth management and business banking.
Before joining Pinnacle, George served as a senior vice president and private client relationship manager at First Horizon Bank in Chattanooga. He also worked as a wealth adviser and financial center manager at Regions Bank.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor’s degree in business, George is actively involved in the community. He serves on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce and Ronald McDonald House and volunteers as a coach with First Tee. He’s also a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga’s class of 2024-25.
Higney named to 2026 Best Lawyers
David Higney, an attorney with Grant Konvalinka & Harrison, has been selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in three practice areas: Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental; and Energy Regulatory Law.
Recognition in “Best Lawyers” is based entirely on a rigorous peer-review process, where attorneys are nominated and evaluated by fellow lawyers practicing in the same geographic region and specialty areas.
As a shareholder with Grant Konvalinka & Harrison, Higney advises clients on complex regulatory issues and represents them in litigation, compliance and dispute resolution.
Signal Centers adds two executives
Signal Centers is expanding its executive leadership team with the appointment of Taylor Bostwick as chief marketing officer and Summer Simmons as chief development officer.
Bostwick will oversee strategic planning and management of Signal Centers’ communications and public image. She previously served as president and CEO of The Speech & Hearing Center before its merger with Signal Centers in July 2024. She brings more than a decade of marketing and leadership experience, including roles as marketing director at Hamilton Place for CBL Properties, account executive at Waterhouse Public Relations, corporate communications specialist at Unum and head of marketing at Papercut Interactive.
Bostwick holds a degree in mass communication and public relations from East Tennessee State University.
Simmons will lead Signal Centers’ fundraising strategy, donor engagement and community partnerships. She brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit development, most recently serving as chief development officer at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Simmons has also held leadership roles with Camelot Care, Omni Visions and Youth Villages.
She earned her degree in child and family studies from East Tennessee State University and her master’s degree in human service counseling from Liberty University.