Faulkner University Names New Chief of Police
Faulkner University recently welcomed Phillip Calvert as the new Chief of Police of Faulkner’s Campus Safety & Police Department following his service as the university’s interim chief of police since March. Calvert was first employed at Faulkner in April 2012 and was promoted to the BCJ Director and Assistant Professor of the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department in November the same year. Calvert will no longer direct the BCJ program, but will continue to teach courses where appropriate while serving as Chief of Police full time.
New Senior VP of Alabama Power
Jeff Peoples has been elected senior vice president of Employee Services and Labor Relations for Alabama Power. Peoples most recently served as Alabama Power’s vice president of Human Resources and Ethics and vice president of Operations Services for Southern Company. In his expanded role, Peoples will lead Alabama Power’s human resources, safety, internal and external labor, and ethics and culture organizations. He will continue to serve as vice president of Operations Services for Southern Company with additional responsibilities over power delivery and safety training. Peoples began his career with Southern Company in 1984 as a chemical technician at Alabama Power’s Plant Miller.
Butler Snow Names New CFO
Butler Snow announced that Mandy Pope has been named the firm’s new chief financial officer. She will fill the role formerly held by Rance Sapen who was recently promoted to chief operating officer of the firm. Pope brings more than two decades of executive leadership and management experience to the role.
River Bank & Trust Promotions
Karen Thompson has been promoted to Vice-President at River Bank & Trust. Thompson began her career with River Bank & Trust in 2008 as a Utility Teller and Customer Service Representative. Since then, she has earned a steady stream of upward promotions from Operations Supervisor to Assistant Vice-President. Becky Hallman has also been promoted to Vice-President. Hallman joined River Bank & Trust in 2006 as a Lending Assistant. Since then, she has earned a progression of promotions from Assistant Vice-President of Credit Administration to Human Resources Director and Shareholder Relations Director.
Montgomery Eye Physicians Welcomes New Practice Administrator
Montgomery Eye Physicians announced the hiring of Bradley R. Cochrane in June as Practice Administrator. Cochrane has more than 11 years of experience in the healthcare industry. With his IT background, Cochrane is most excited about the technological advances in the healthcare industry and establishing some of those innovative ideas at Montgomery Eye Physicians.
The Montgomery Academy Announces Head of School
The Montgomery Academy Board of Trustees recently announced the unanimous confirmation of John McWilliams as the new Head of School. McWilliams will be the ninth Head of School and, as a 1996 Montgomery Academy graduate, is the first alumnus to serve in this role. McWilliams received his B.A. degree in history from Yale University and a master’s degree from Dartmouth College. Upon his graduation from Yale, he returned to Montgomery Academy to teach in the history department and earned the McLemore Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has acted in various capacities at the Academy
Palomar Insurance Expands Team
Palomar made several announcements in June. Wesley Johnson joined as the company Production Assistant specializing in the trucking, transportation and construction industries where he provides professional assistance to producers/brokers. Evan Strother came on board as an Account Executive, bringing extensive experience working as an underwriter for Auto-Owners insurance prior to joining Palomar. Palomar also named a new Vice President of Employee Benefits, Paul Cobb. Cobb joins Palomar’s growing Employee Benefits practice that offers solutions for a variety of companies and industries of varying sizes. And the company promoted Brett Cohrs to Vice President of Marketing.
Starke Agency Announces New Director of Sales and Marketing
Bobby Barnes, a 29-year veteran in the insurance industry, joins the Starke Agency as Director of Sales and Marketing, having most recently worked as Client Advocate/Account Executive for Willis Towers Watson. He has previously worked in both local and private agencies, including Starke Agency itself, and publicly traded regional and global brokerage companies.
Rheem Makes Global Leadership Appointments
Rheem recently announced two key global leadership appointments. Chris Peel has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of Rheem Manufacturing Company with global responsibility for all business operations. In addition, JR Jones has been named executive chairman of the board of Rheem Manufacturing Company. For the past 10 years, Peel has served as Rheem’s president and chief operating officer. Jones will continue to provide guidance for Rheem’s vision and strategy, in addition to his board responsibilities. Jones has served as the president and chief executive officer of Rheem for a decade.
Balch & Bingham Welcomes Estate Planning Attorney
Balch & Bingham LLP announced the addition of estate planning attorney April D. Wise as a partner in its Montgomery office and member of the Estate Planning & Trusts Practice. Wise brings more than a decade of experience in estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration and litigation, and special needs planning and settlement planning.
Associated Business Services Hires New Staff
Cheryl D. Davis, former chief financial officer of The Enstar Group Inc., has joined Associated Business Services. The longtime certified public accountant has been with ABS since March. Davis had been retired for about two years after a 29-year career with The Enstar Group, which had its headquarters in Montgomery, before relocating to Bermuda in 2007. Before joining The Enstar Group and moving to Montgomery in 1988, Davis worked for Peat Marwick, which later became KPMG and is one of the big four accounting firms. She was a senior tax manager. Associated Business Services also recently added two bookkeepers to its staff. Mary Teel joined the firm in March, and Mary Watson, a certified public accountant candidate, was hired in May.
Gilpin Givhan Hires Three Attorneys
The law firm of Gilpin Givhan, a professional corporation, recently hired three associates. John George Archer and Patrick Perry practice in the firm’s Tax and Corporate and Securities groups, while Morgan Eason practices in the Business Litigation and Tax Controversy group. Archer focuses on tax and business planning; mergers and acquisitions; and securities and regulatory compliance. Perry’s main areas of focus are tax and business planning and estate planning. Both advise clients on transactional, regulatory and tax matters. Eason represents businesses involved in complex litigation.
Machen McChesney Announces Promotion
Machen McChesney has promoted Scott Barranco, CPA to Senior Accountant. Barranco has been employed with Machen McChesney since 2016. His areas of expertise include accounting and auditing. He specializes in individual and business tax compliance and planning.
Tony LaMear Joins Hill Hill Carter
Hill Hill Carter announced the addition of Tony LaMear as the firm’s Director of Operations and Chief Security Officer. LaMear will be using his vast experience to support HHC’s ongoing dedication to the ever-evolving area of data security.
