November/December 2014
SCARBROUGH JOINS EXIT REALTY
MONTGOMERY – Katelyn Scarbrough joined EXIT Hodges Real Estate in Montgomery.
“We’re excited to welcome Katelyn to EXIT Realty,” Paul Hodges, broker of the EXIT Hodges Real Estate, said in a statement. “EXIT is growing and attracting quality business people like Katelyn each and every day.”
Scarbrough, who was raised in Montgomery, has been in the real estate business since 2014.
RUTLAND NAMED PRESIDENT FOR LOWDER NEW HOMES
MONTGOMERY – Lowder New Homes Inc. announced that James W. “Jimmy” Rutland IV has been promoted to president.
Rutland, who has been with the firm for 15 years, was serving as vice president. He has 20-plus years in the real estate development and homebuilding industry and was responsible for the initial development of the 800-acre Deer Creek master planned community in Montgomery.
Rutland is a certified Graduate Builder and Green Professional Builder by the National Association of Home Builders. In 2005, the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association named him the Builder of the Year, and, in 2010, the Home Builders Association of Alabama named him the State’s Home Builder of the Year.
“Lowder New Homes is fortunate to have Jimmy Rutland as our new president,” Colonial Co. Chairman James Lowder said in a statement. “Jimmy’s dedication to our homebuyer’s satisfaction, his accomplishments, experience, and professionalism and the respect he has earned from his peers, all contribute to our pride in Jimmy as our new president.”
Rutland said in a statement, “I am honored and excited to continue working with one of the most respected families and businesses in the Southeast. Lowder New Homes’ foundation was established almost 60 years ago with a vision and a goal of building homes and neighborhoods that people could be proud of. As president, I look forward to continuing that vision in the River Region and beyond.”
GOODWYN, MILLS AND CAWOOD HIRES ARCHITECT FOR HEALTH CARE DIVISION
BIRMINGHAM – Architect Bonnie E. Austin has joined Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc.’s health care division.
A 1992 graduate of Auburn University with both a bachelor’s degree in architecture and building construction, Austin’s experience includes women’s and infants’ facilities, rehabilitation facilities, intensive care units, hyperbaric chamber outpatient clinics, senior and assisted living home facilities and medical office buildings.
Austin will be based in the firm’s Birmingham office, but will also spend significant time in the Atlanta office as the company continues to expand its health care presence in Georgia.
Austin was the architect of record for The University of Alabama-Birmingham Women and Infants Center and the adjoining Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Center in Birmingham. The Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Center, a 630,000 square-foot, nine-story medical building, houses the nation’s largest single-room neonatal intensive-care unit.
She served as the project coordinator for the building fit-out, which consisted of a 56-bed neonatal intensive care; 52-bed continuing care nursery; 40-bed well-baby nursery; 59 private ante-partum and post-partum rooms; 30 gynecology and gyn-oncology exam rooms; 13-room maternity evaluation unit; five post-anesthesia care unit rooms; four operating rooms; and 17 labor, delivery and recovery rooms specializing in high-risk patients.
MORGAN STANLEY WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADDS FINANCIAL ADVISER
MONTGOMERY – Rebecca Baker recently joined Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, after 10 years serving as an adviser and certified public accountant at Aldridge Borden.
She is a licensed financial adviser with the Series 7 and 63 certifications. Baker graduated from The University of Alabama's Culverhouse School of Accountancy with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration. She received a master’s degree in business administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.
Baker became a certified public accountant in 2007.
WIND CREEK HOSPITALITY HIRES CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CHEF
ATMORE – Wind Creek Hospitality (WCH) hired Chef Peter D’Andrea as the corporate executive chef.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. One of his most exciting cooking experiences was cooking with renowned chef Julia Child at her 80th birthday party.
D’Andrea spent five years at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. He said that “one of his greatest honors” was receiving three James Beard invitations to cook at the townhouse in New York City.
He will be responsible for the creation and development of the culinary brand as well as the quality of food and beverages offered to WCH guests at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Atmore, Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka and Creek Casino Montgomery. He will continue the WCH tradition of purchasing local ingredients for recipes as often as possible.
AUM OUTREACH DIVISION HIRES SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER
MONTGOMERY – Rebecca W. Thomas has joined Auburn University at Montgomery as senior manager of marketing in the outreach division.
She has spent her career at MAX Credit Union, where she was hired as a business development officer in 2006 and held various marketing roles before being promoted to assistant vice president of marketing in 2014.
BALCH & BINGHAM WELCOMES 11 NEW ASSOCIATES
BIRMINGHAM – Balch & Bingham LLP announced 11 new associates to the firm, expanding offices in Birmingham, Montgomery and Gulfport, Miss.
The new associates will bolster the business, environmental, litigation and financial industries sections of the firm.
Jacob Harper, who will work in the Montgomery office, is a member of the litigation section. He received his law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in biosystems engineering from Auburn University.
 “We are truly honored to welcome these talented new attorneys to Balch,” Alan T. Rogers, managing partner, said in a statement. “They represent the most brilliant graduates and truly embrace our collegial culture and commitment to delivering legal excellence and predictability to our clients.”
