|   Jeremy Arthur | m |
PRATTVILLE - Jeremy L. Arthur has been selected the new president for the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Jeremy brings an excellent skill set to the position,” said Randy Grissett, chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors. “Our Chamber board and leadership are impressed with his extensive professional experience and enthusiastic passion for the Chamber business. He received unanimous approval from our board of directors to lead the chamber. We look forward to continuing to work with Jeremy at the Prattville Chamber in this key leadership role.”
Arthur has held the interim president position at the Chamber since January and was named executive vice president in 2004.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue the work at the Chamber in this new role,” Arthur said. “The business community in Prattville has built a great Chamber and I look forward to advancing this strong organization.”
Prior to joining the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2004, Arthur was an Outreach Research Associate for the Economic Development Institute at Auburn University. He was responsible for several community assistance projects, particularly serving West Alabama and administered and coordinated the Intensive Economic Development Training Course at Auburn University.
He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University. His graduate studies include a master’s degree in public administration from Auburn University with a minor in economic development. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Auburn University in public administration and public policy.
 
|   Stacy Benefield |  m |
MONTGOMERY – Square Root Interactive announced Stacy Benefield has been promoted to the position of account services director.
Benefield, who served previously as Square Root’s account executive, joined the team in 2006, and worked as the liaison between the agency and its local, national and international clients including Alabama Retail Association, Business Council of Alabama, Remington College, Northstar Travel Media and Focus on Mexico.
Benefield brings more than 11 years of experience to her new role at Square Root.
As account services director, she will provide leadership and direction to all account services staff, while focusing on client satisfaction and retention. Benefield is also responsible for developing strategies to foster and respond to business development opportunities among existing clients.
In addition to her new responsibilities, Benefield will continue to serve as an account executive for key accounts, staying in communication with clients throughout the planning, implementation and support phases of projects.
Square Root Interactive is an interactive design agency specializing in Web-based communication solutions and creative services.
|   Samuel R. Morgan |  m |   Alfred E. Cook |  m |
AmeriFirst Bank announced that Samuel R. Morgan has been hired as the president and CEO and Alfred F. Cook Jr. has been named executive chairman of the bank’s board of directors.
Morgan comes to AmeriFirst Bank with 38 years of banking experience. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Auburn University. He graduated from several banking schools, including Louisiana State University School of Banking, University of Oklahoma National Lending Graduate School and Ohio State University Commercial Loan Management School.
Morgan, who has served in numerous banking capacities over the years, will maintain offices in Union Springs and Montgomery.
Cook has served on the AmeriFirst Board since 1995. He recently retired after serving eight years as director of economic development for the City of Opelika. Cook previously worked in the corporate development department for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.
|   R. Brett Garrett |  m |
MONTGOMERY - R. Brett Garrett has been made a shareholder in the law firm of Rushton, Stakely, Johnston & Garrett, P.A.
Garrett joined the firm as an associate in 2004. As a member of the litigation practice group, he handles a wide range of litigation matters with his primary focus on professional liability and general casualty insurance defense.
Garrett specializes in representing physicians, nurses, hospitals and pharmacies and has significant experience representing medical and nursing professionals in administrative and licensure matters. He also represents a number of health care providers and companies specializing in correctional medicine.
He received an undergraduate degree in political science/pre-medical studies from the University of Alabama in 2000 and his juris doctor from Cumberland School of Law in 2004.
|   Dawn Cherry |  m |
 WALKER360 HIRES VETERAN STRATEGIST
MONTGOMERY - Walker360 has announced that Dawn Cherry has joined its team of marketing and advertising professionals.
Cherry, a native of the Tri-County area, worked for 18 years at two top-50 banks and the past nine years as a marketing strategist and marketing analytics consultant for top-tier banking, natural gas and health care clients.
She has extensive experience in strategic planning, segmentation systems, marketing plan development and implementation, campaign analysis and tracking. Cherry received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Troy University.
“Dawn is extremely intelligent and capable,” Walker360 President Taylor Blackwell said. “Her 28 years of experience in all facets of the financial services industry will enable us to provide a new level of service and additional marketing capabilities to our clients.”
Walker360 is an advertising and printing company that offers a range of services from marketing plans and strategies to graphic design and copywriting for radio, TV, print, outdoor, direct mail, websites and packaging.
|   Edwin Marty |  m |
MONTGOMERY- Edwin Marty has been named the executive director of The Hampstead Institute.
Marty, who has extensive regional, national and international experience in sustainable agriculture, will oversee everything from planning and educational programs to community outreach and events at Hampstead Farms in East Montgomery and the newly opened Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm.
While working as a garden editor for Southern Living magazine, Marty founded the Jones Valley Urban Farm, a non-profit, educational and working production farm in downtown Birmingham. During his eight-year guidance, Jones Valley Urban Farm grew from a single vacant lot into a citywide farm with 28 acres in production that provides food to restaurants, youth nutrition gardening programs for thousands of Birmingham students and garden plots for low-income housing residents.
“Edwin Marty is a national expert and leader in the sustainable food movement,” said Chad Emerson, Hampstead Institute board member and director of development for the City of Montgomery. “The Hampstead Institute is thrilled to have Edwin on board to direct our efforts and help make Montgomery and the River Region leading proponents of sustainable agriculture and development nationwide.”
The Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm opened in April as a working farm that grows, harvests and sells fresh, locally grown foods.
“The unique public-private cooperation in Montgomery presents a tremendous opportunity to promote sustainable agriculture in Alabama’s capital city,” Marty said. “There is no reason to think Montgomery cannot become a leading model for sustainable agriculture, education and outreach for other markets across the country. I look forward to leading the city and The Hampstead Institute to the forefront of the local, healthy food movement. ”
|   Terry Hardy |  m |
MONTGOMERY – Terry Hardy has joined MetLife Financial Group of the South as a financial services representative.
Hardy, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, is a registered securities representative and licensed to offer life and health products in Alabama.
MetLife Financial Group of the South, an office of MetLife, offers a broad array of financial products and services including life, disability income, long-term care insurance, annuities, mutual funds and investment products.
 
