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NAWRB recognizes Aerial Development’s Turner with Gershwin Award
The National Association of Women in Real Estate Business has honored Britnie Turner, founder and CEO of Nashville-based Aerial Development Group, with its 2015 Gershwin Award.
Turner was recognized Aug. 18 during the NAWRB gala awards and annual conference in Long Beach, California.”The Gershwin Award honors the woman who is writing a soundtrack for success while mentoring fellow members in an effort to foster and grow new talent,” according to a NAWRB release.
At 21, Turner founded Aerial Development Group, which bills itself as a “social venture real estate development company that revitalizes urban neighborhoods and supports orphans in Kenya.”
Legal Aid Society appoints four board members
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, which bills itself as Tennessee’s largest non-profit law firm, has added to its Board of Directors Cynthia Jordan, Katie Bell Klinghard, Nikylan Knapper and Sal Varsalona.
“We are honored to have these individuals join Legal Aid Society’s Board of Directors,” Gary Housepian, Legal Aid Society executive director, said in a release. “All of our new members are integral parts of their respective communities and their insights for our organization over the next few years will be invaluable.”
Jordan is a client eligible member appointed by the Anderson County Community Action to represent the Oak Ridge service area. She currently works for the Oak Ridge Pre-School.
Klinghard is a fifth-year associate at The Kennedy Law Firm in Clarksville, where she practices various areas of family law, litigation and criminal defense. Klinghard graduated with a degree in communications from Austin Peay State University and earned her J.D. from Nashville School of Law. Klinghard was appointed to the board by the Montgomery County Bar Association to represent the Clarksville service area.
Knapper is an attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor and joins the board as a representative of the Napier-Looby Bar Association. In her previous roles, Knapper was an assistant public defender and an attorney for Legal Aid Society. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Central Missouri and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Varsalona is an attorney with the law firm of Forrester and Varsalona in Clinton and also serves as the city judge in Rocky Top. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in political science and psychology, as well as a law degree from the University of Tennessee. Varsalona was appointed to the board by the Anderson County Bar Association to represent the Oak Ridge service area.
Touchstone Title earns national certification
Touchstone Title & Escrow, a Nashville-area real estate closing and escrow company, has earned certification in accordance with the American Land Title Association’s Best Practices ensuring the highest standards and practices according to the national certified public accounting and consulting firm Pershing, Yoakley & Associates.
In a release, Touchstone Title & Escrow President Kim Hollingshead said the PYA certification scrutinizes all processes from licensing and escrow account controls to the most important industry best practice of safeguarding data.
“The assessment required hundreds of hours of documentation and staff training. Daily, our industry combats security breaches. Many companies are self-certified. We felt it was important for the realtors and lending institutions we serve to take this to a higher standard,” Hollingshead said.
Lee LaGraize, vice president and area manager for Fidelity National Title Group, which bills itself as the largest title insurance underwriter in the world, said the certification is difficult to achieve.
“Honestly, I can count on one hand the number of companies certified in Tennessee. The audit process is expensive and rigorous so this is a huge accomplishment. As an individual attorney achieving ALTA certification, this shows a lot of determination of Kim’s part. Ultimately, realtors and banks working with this team will have greater protection,” LaGrazie said.
Hollingshead is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and Lipscomb University.
FiftyForward announces board of directorsNashville-based FiftyForward has announced the following members for its board of directors for the 2015-16 fiscal year.President: Scott McKean (retired Bridgestone executive)
President-Elect: Jeri Hasselbring (Discovery Center at Murfree Spring)
Secretary: Renée Jenkins (American Red Cross)
Treasurer: Kerri Kelley Frye
Board members include Michael Aulisio, HarperCollins Christian Publishing; Julia Bonner, Pierce Public Relations; Courtney Caldwell Crants, SunTrust; Lucy Chism, U. S. Bancorp; Karen Clark, community volunteer; Mary Clements, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation; Teresa Corlew, Nashville Electric Service; Sondra Cruickshanks, community volunteer; Eddie Davidson, Piedmont Natural Gas; Margaret Dunlap, UPS; Cullen Earnest, Advance Financial; Robin Fritz, Ingram Industries Inc.; Gina Grisham, Bank of Nashville; Dr. Ralf Habermann, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Carl Haynes, community volunteer; Pam Hess, St. Thomas Health; Vanessa Hickman, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority; Ashford Hughes, LiUna!; Karah Jennings, RJ Young; Jennifer Joyce, UPS; Dr. Jim Lancaster, Cigna-HealthSpring; Mercedes Lytle, community volunteer; Amy Mohan, Sherrard and Roe, PLC; Barbara J. Moss, Elder Law of Nashville PLC; Dr. Charles Mouton, Meharry Medical College; Jana Lisle Parham, UBS; Laura Purswell, Compass HR Partners; Janet Rachel, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Travis Richmond, HCA, Linda Peek Schacht, Lipscomb University; Brian S. Shelton, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings; Doug Small, Blue Dog Merch; Pete Stringer, First Tennessee Bank; Andrea Turner, PR consultant; Dr. Beth Woodard, Massey College of Business, Belmont University; and Allyson Young, YMG Coaching and Consulting.
Send personnel information to execappts@nashvillecitypaper.comor to wwilliams@nashvillepost.com.