Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, February 1, 2019

Newsmakers: Chattanooga CVB welcomes Zumbaugh as COO




Mike Zumbaugh has joined the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau as the company’s first chief operating officer. Zumbaugh will focus on streamlining the company’s finances, human resources and operations as the CVB executes a new growth-focused strategic plan.

 “Mike’s 27 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry has given him an understanding of all aspects of how a CVB operates, making him uniquely qualified for this role,” says Barry White, president and chief executive officer of the Chattanooga CVB. “Having him on board will help us move toward operational excellence.”

Most recently, Zumbaugh was at the Irving, Texas, CVB, where he was vice president of finance and administration for three years. Prior to Irving, he was vice president of finance and administration for the Greater Lansing, Michigan, CVB, where he started his career 24 years earlier as finance manager.

“Between Barry reaching out to me and the initial interview, my wife and I visited Chattanooga three times,” Zumbaugh says. “We’d never been here before, and were impressed with the vibrancy of the downtown area, Southern hospitality and incredible views from Lookout Mountain. It immediately felt like home.”

Zumbaugh graduated from Davenport University with a degree in accounting and information systems. In 2001, he earned Destination Internationals’ Certified Destination Management Executive designation, the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement.

Zumbaugh continues to be actively involved with Destination International by serving on its Professional Development Committee and co-chairing its Human Resources Task Force. Zumbaugh and his wife of 28 years, Loretta, have two adult children who live in Michigan.

Source: Chattanooga CVB

Acumen Wealth hires portfolio analyst

Acumen Wealth Advisors has hired Wesley Flatt as a portfolio analyst. Flatt joins Acumen to enhance the investment process through market research and analysis of client portfolios and their underlying holdings.

As a member of Acumen’s Portfolio Management Committee, Flatt conducts portfolio analysis by studying economic trends affecting the performance of various types of investments and evaluates historical correlations.

He also performs special analyses in response to market events, client concentrations  and research requests and communicates investment ideas and strategies with clients.

Prior to joining Acumen, Flatt served as vice president of Regions Investment Management’s equity analyst team, was an equity trader on the RIM trading desk and managed due diligence for the RIM Alternatives Strategies Group.

He earned a degree in finance from Auburn University, is an NCAA and SEC champion swimmer and is a designated Chartered Financial Analyst.

LBMC adds employees to Chattanooga office

Consulting firm LBMC has added the following employees to its Chattanooga office:

Hayden Williams has joined LBMC as a senior accountant in the audit department. He previously served as an accounting manager for SouthEast Eye Specialists. He holds his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Carson Newman University.

Justin Ritchey has joined LBMC as a senior tax accountant. He previously served as a senior accountant for Arnett, Kirksey, Kimsey, Sullivan, Lay & Hall. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a member of the TSCPA and AICPA.

La’Keithia Caldwell has joined LBMC as a staff auditor in the audit department. She previously served as a staff accountant for Elliot Davis. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a member of the TSCPA and AICPA.

Tori Robbins has joined LBMC as a staff accountant in the tax department. She previously served as a tax associate for Dixon Hughes Goodman. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Whitney Enochs has joined LBMC as a staff accountant in the tax department. She previously served as a staff accountant for Mauldin & Jenkins. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.