Celebrity Server Fundraiser Supports Local Health Programs
Montgomery nonprofit The Wellness Coalition (TWC) hosted “Waiters for Wellness,” a celebrity server fundraiser, to support its free health and wellness programs in the River Region on June 18 at Central restaurant.
Celebrity servers included Dr. Chai Chamnong, Chamnong Family Medicine; Ed Crowell, Air Force Brigadier General (retired) and 2019 mayoral candidate; Elton Dean, Montgomery County Commission Chairman and 2019 mayoral candidate; Shannon Ferrari, City Watch Uncut-Montgomery Founder and 2019 mayoral candidate; Dr. Crystal Reese, Jackson Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician; Dr. Brian Richardson, Jackson Hospital Urological and Robotic Surgeon; and David Woods, Owner, WCOV FOX 20 and 2019 mayoral candidate.
Parties made a reservation with the celebrity server of their choice, and at the end of their meal, had the opportunity to make a donation. “The Wellness Coalition has been working to improve the health and quality of life for residents in the River Region for 20 years with positive results,” said Ghandi Daniels, interim Executive Director at The Wellness Coalition. “This event was a new opportunity for the public to get involved and make a real change in our community.”
Local Nurse Selected for The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination
Gretchen Vercher, Chief Nursing Officer of Encompass Health Montgomery was approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing and selected by NCSBN to participate on the NCLEX-RN® item development panel of subject matter experts. The NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® examinations identify those candidates who demonstrate minimal competence to practice nursing at the entry level. Passing the NCLEXRN® exam is one of the requirements necessary for attaining a nursing license/registration in the United States and participating Canadian provinces and territories.
Homewood Suites Honors Locals
Hilton celebrated its 100th anniversary in May, and Montgomery’s Homewood Suites by Hilton celebrated 30 years the same month. To promote both milestones, the property decided to recognize groups making a difference in their communities, honoring the dispatchers of the 911 and the communications department for the City of Montgomery. On May 29, the hotel hosted a reception for the employees at the communications office.
Francine Molette, General Manager, and Ray Brown, Director of Sales, explained the choice. “They are always behind the scenes but play a vital role in the safety and well-being of the city. They are actually the first-first responders, and we want to say ‘thank you’ for all they do,” Brown said.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Montgomery is used to community service. At the LBA Hospitality conference in Birmingham, it was awarded the Barry Kraselsky C.A.R.E.S Award for the fourth consecutive year. This is awarded to an LBA Property for outstanding community service.
Local Architects Complete State Park Renovations
Seay, Seay and Litchfield just completed an interior renovation of the lobby, dining and hotel rooms of Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, Alabama, for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
A challenge that faced the architectural team at SS&L was to brighten up the space but still maintain the rustic charm of the state park. The outdated reception desk underwent a complete transformation, making the new desk a focal point of the lobby. The architect used a resin-based panel in the façade of the desk that contains twigs to bring an outdoor element into the interiors. The desk is backlit to create a warm glow for guests as they enter the lobby. The lobby facelift was complete with new furniture that helped to bridge the gap between the newly renovated and the existing space. In addition to new carpet and LVT in the hotel rooms and suites, new bedding and draperies were implemented in each room.
ServisFirst Bank Announces Advisory Board Addition
ServisFirst Bank, a subsidiary of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., recently announced the addition of Taylor Williams to the ServisFirst Bank Montgomery Board of Directors. Williams is responsible for managing PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s economic development and governmental affairs divisions. Prior to joining PowerSouth Energy, he worked as a corporate development project manager at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.
Trustmark Names Kimberly Baker Advisory Board Member
Kimberly Baker has been named a member of the Trustmark Advisory Board in Montgomery. Baker currently serves as the Director of Development and Marketing for Valiant Cross Academy and has over 17 years of experience in marketing, public relations, development and nonprofits.
Rheem Acquires Intergas
At the end of May, Rheem acquired Intergas of Coevorden, the Netherlands, through its group entity, Paloma Rheem Global, Inc. Intergas is a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency, residential gas boilers and water heaters.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Rheem is the only manufacturer in North America that produces heating, cooling, water heating, pool/spa heating, commercial boilers and commercial refrigeration products. Today, Rheem is America’s No. 1 water heating brand, and its products are available in more than 50 countries. With the acquisition of Intergas, Rheem will obtain a first-class platform in the European heating and hot water market, which is the second largest in the world.
River Financial Corporation & Trinity Bancorp, Inc. Merge
On June 5, River Financial Corporation and Trinity Bancorp, Inc. announced jointly the signing of a definitive agreement for a strategic merger of the two entities. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined entity will have more than $1.275 billion in total assets, $875 million in total loans and $1 billion in total deposits with 17 locations across Alabama.
As part of the merger, a combination of shares of River Financial common stock and cash will be issued to the shareholders of Trinity. As a result of the bank merger, Trinity Bank locations in Dothan and Enterprise will operate as River Bank & Trust.
Aesthetica Opens
Aesthetica, a new medical day spa, recently opened in East Montgomery. The facility, which is close to EastChase, has the area’s only WarmSculpting with SculpSure, a laser procedure endorsed by Hollywood celebrity Brooke Shields. “We offer every spa service from laser hair removal, to laser body sculpting (permanent spot body fat reduction) and laser skin tightening,” said Dr. Caroline Abolade, Medical Director and CEO of Aesthetica.
Aesthetica has one of the few Vivace microneedling facial machines in the area. “It’s not your grandmothers’ microneedling; it’s radio-frequency laser, tightening the face while remodeling acne scars and smoothing wrinkles and fine lines,” Abolade said.
Other services include laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, laser skin tightening, mink lash extensions, lash tinting, lash lift, microdermabrasion, vaginal revitalization and facial vein treatment. Spa services feature sugaring, waxing, dermaplaning, massages and facials infused with serums.
Bradley Launches Cannabis Industry Team
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has launched its Cannabis Industry team, a multi-disciplinary group of attorneys dedicated to meeting the specific needs of cannabis industry clients, including hemp companies.
“As the cannabis industry in the United States has experienced rapid growth – especially after the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill that removed hemp from the schedule of controlled substances – Bradley is well positioned and committed to helping businesses navigate an array of legal challenges involving marijuana and hemp,” said Bradley partner Whitt Steineker, co-leader of the firm’s Cannabis Industry team.
Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters said, “Bradley’s Cannabis Industry team brings together attorneys from diverse practice areas who understand the emerging cannabis marketplace. Our team also has deep experience guiding highly regulated businesses through complex and often conflicting regulations and laws.”
TROY, Alabama Independent School Association Formalize Dual Enrollment
An agreement signed by Troy University and the Alabama Independent School Association will provide ACCELERATE, the University’s online learning portal for non-public high school students, to AISA member schools.
Modeled on the ACCESS program, ACCELERATE provides classes for students that broaden the depth of academics offered by participating schools, provides advanced-placement classes in subjects that may not be available in every school and affords students the opportunity to take advantage of dual enrollment classes to earn college credit. “We currently have almost 600 students from AISA institutions studying with us on campus, and I see that number continuing to grow through this partnership. We have 170 AISA students enrolled in dual enrollment and that is a number I see growing exponentially. It is a great partnership,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., Chancellor.
Michael McLendon, Executive Director of AISA, said he expects the agreement to have a tremendous impact for students in the AISA’s 76 member schools. “Through the dual enrollment process, students will have access to college-level classes, as well as advanced-level classes that they might not ordinarily have access to at their local school,” McLendon said.
Alabama Ag Credit Awards Scholarships
Alabama Ag Credit awarded six $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in Alabama. Unlike many scholarship programs, applications were accepted for not only those looking to attend a four or two-year college, but also for those attending a technical school or vocational school. To qualify, students had to be graduating seniors and have parents/guardians who are customers of Alabama Ag Credit. Along with direct scholarships to students who are children of borrowers, Alabama Ag Credit also gives scholarships to the two land grant universities in its territory, which include Auburn University and Tuskegee University.
