Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, March 29, 2024

Newsmakers: New La Paz Chattanooga board members named




La Paz Chattanooga has appointed its 2024 board of directors’ executive committee, welcomed several new members to its board and grown its full-time staff by onboarding a new case manager.

Appointments to La Paz’s executive committee include: Josselyn Aguilera Nielsen, owner, North Star Boutique, board chair; Shadrina Booker, city of Chattanooga, vice chair, director of community engagement; Moises Cardenas, Partner at Sentri Roofing, secretary; and Corinne Henderson, CPA and partner at Henderson & Gardner, treasurer.

The organization’s new board members include: Arielle Hayes, principal, University High; David Roddy, chief operating officer, Hamilton County; and Suzy Anthony, vice president of finance and operations, United Way of Greater Chattanooga.

La Paz’s new case manager, Claudia Rodríguez Mandujano, was previously a Spanish teacher at Girls Preparatory School. Born and raised in Mexico City, Rodríguez holds a master’s degree in psychology. Throughout her career, Rodríguez has taught both English and Spanish to students of all ages.

Detective graduates National Forensic Academy

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brandon Septor has graduated from the National Forensics Academy (NFA). Septor serves in Investigative Services.

The National Forensic Academy is a 10-week training program co-funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance designed to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies in evidence identification, collection and preservation. The NFA is offered in-residence and utilizes a curriculum developed by forensic practitioners from across the United States.

Throughout the NFA training, participants were challenged in the various disciplines of forensic science through extensive classroom instruction, laboratory activities and field practicums. Academy participants also completed written and in-class competency exams. The goal of the National Forensic Academy is to prepare the crime scene investigator to recognize key elements and to improve the process of evidence recovery and submission.

The training Septor received at the NFA Academy is Tennessee POST Certified and included 400 hours of coursework.

HCSO captain graduates from FBI academy

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Uniformed Services Captain Spencer Daniels has graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The National Academy offers 10 weeks of communication, leadership and fitness training. FBI Academy instructors, special agents and other staff with advanced degrees provide the training.

Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.