Baker Donelson has added 32 associates across the firm, including eight in Nashville. They are:

• Daniel Abrams, who advises health care clients in all aspects of corporate governance issues and mergers and acquisitions. He is a graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law and Colby College.

• Aaron S. Chaloner Ph.D., who concentrates his practice in intellectual property law. He guides clients of all sizes through all stages of IP prosecution, and is skilled at navigating copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret concerns. He is the author of multiple publications and has presented his research at national and international scientific meetings. Chaloner is a graduate of Baylor University and earned his Ph.D., in neuroscience from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He earned his JD from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

• Meg Hancock, who during law school clerked for Magistrate Judge Chip Frensley in the Middle District of Tennessee. She is a graduate of Duke University and the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

• Julie A. Kilgore, who focuses her practice in the areas of data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity, and previously served as in-house counsel at a health care technology company. She is a graduate of Samford University and Samford’s Cumberland School of Law.

• Star Kimbrow, who concentrates her practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, general corporate matters, securities, and corporate governance. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee College of Law.

• F. Dalton Thompson III, who concentrates her practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, general corporate matters, securities and corporate governance. After graduating law school, Thompson served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Gilbert S. Merritt Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He also practiced construction law and commercial litigation at another firm. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Vanderbilt University Law School.

• Frank Taub, who focuses his practice on litigation matters across various industries. Before attending law school, he served in the United States Army as an infantry officer. During law school, he clerked for both the Hon. Eli J. Richardson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Hon. Jeffrey S. Bivins of the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Penn State University and the Belmont University College of Law.

• J. Tyler Wampler, who focuses his practice on litigation matters across various industries. Before practicing law, Wampler served in the United States Army where he worked in Aviation Operations. Before joining the firm, he interned with Baker Donelson where he worked on issues in complex business litigation, securities litigation, and client internal investigations. He is a graduate of Clemson University and the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Convention Center board members reappointed

Three members – Robert Davidson, Barrett Hobbs and Vonda McDaniel – have been reappointed by Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and confirmed by Metro Council.

Davidson is a certified public accountant and consultant, primarily serving the construction industry. Hobbs is a proprietor with Cumberland Hospitality Group, overseeing several restaurant and bar establishments in the downtown area. Both Davidson and Hobbs were originally appointed to the board in January 2020.

McDaniel is president of the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. She is the longest serving board member having been appointed when CCA was authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly and created by the Metropolitan Council in 2009.

The reappointed members will continue to serve in their current roles on the board and on any related committees. McDaniel was also recently reappointed as Vice Chair.

Community Foundation taps Munch for CFO

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has selected James C. Munch as its new chief financial officer. He succeeds the organization’s long-tenure CFO, Melisa Currey, a 29-year team member who helped lead CFMT to distribute more than $1.2 billion in impactful grantmaking throughout the Greater Nashville region and beyond.

Munch holds an executive MBA from Northern Illinois University, along with dual degrees in finance and economics, complemented by minors in accountancy and mathematics. His journey through the financial world has included tenures with Fortune 500 companies, including Textron and Hamilton Sundstrand.

At the National Museum of African American Music, Munch served as vice president of finance.

Herbert named Metro’s director of codes administration

Bill Herbert of Thompson Burton PLLC is joining Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s team as director of codes administration, working with the mayor’s office on a special project related to Metro’s Development Services.

Herbert joined Thompson Burton in spring 2022 following his previous public service as codes director for the Metro Legal Department.

Herbert previously took over Codes from longtime director Terry Cobb in 2018. He also served as Metro zoning administrator. Herbert also was an attorney in private practice and for both Metro and Cheatham County.

The Finch hires Rodriguez as GM

Milkshake Concepts has hired Ben Rodriguez as general manager of The Finch in advance of its early 2024 within the historic Union Station complex.

Rodriguez has worked in hospitality for more than 20 years in New York City, Austin and Detroit. He has been part of the growing restaurant scene in Nashville for the last 11 years, most recently as general manager of Sunda. He and his wife also owned and operated a small gourmet store and cafe outside of Nashville.

Rodriguez will oversee the 6,896-square-foot space, which formerly housed Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and has been comprehensively renovated to reflect the historic character of the 123-year-old Union Station Baggage Building, infusing it with new life and vibrancy.

Music City Center chef gets ACF Chapter Award

Music City Center Executive Chef Max Knoepfel is the recipient of the 2023 American Culinary Foundation Middle Tennessee Chapter Chef of the Year award. The annual award recognizes the candidate who has not only influenced the local chapter but the local community as well.

Knoepfel has been with the facility since the doors opened in May 2013. Under his leadership, MCC has also developed partnerships with local farms to supply fresh produce and with local schools to train new talent.

This is the second honor bestowed on Knoepfel this year. In May, he received the 2023 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Silver Plate Award in the Travel & Leisure category.