Keith Meador, M.D., MPH, has been named director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Meador succeeds Ellen Wright Clayton, M.D., J.D., Craig-Weaver Professor of Pediatrics, who is stepping down after 12 years as director to devote her attention to her research and policy work, including roles at the Institute of Medicine and the Human Genome Organization.

The Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society was created in 2006 by Clayton and Larry Churchill, Ph.D., professor of Medicine and Ann Geddes Stahlman Chair in Medical Ethics, who at the time directed the Center for Clinical and Research Ethics. Clayton had been serving as director for the Center for Genetics and Health Policy.

Meador came to Vanderbilt in 2010 from Duke University, where he had established and directed centers focused on the intersections of religion and health.

GBT Realty Corp. adds five to team

GBT Realty Corporation, a national retail real estate company headquartered in Brentwood, has added five team members:

Olivia Tomlin joins the company as asset management associate, responsible for assisting with shopping center and net lease property closings. She is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama.

Brittany Stanley has more than six years of commercial and real estate experience and joins GBT as leasing coordinator. Within this role, she is responsible for providing leasing, sales and marketing support to brokers. She is a graduate of University of West Florida.

Susan Hilton serves as property accountant and has more than 10 years of residential and commercial real estate accounting experience. She is responsible for corporate and shopping center day-to-day accounting activity. She earned her degree in accounting from International College of Naples.

Barbara Ladd brings more than 15 years of experience in B-to-B sales and marketing. Ladd was previously director of business services with Athlon Sports Communications. She earned her B.F.A. from Austin Peay State University.

Pamela Scott joins the company as executive assistant to the CEO. She has 20 years of experience in assisting senior level executives with day-to-day administration and operations.

Bass, Berry & Sims adds 4 associates

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC has added four new associates to the firm’s Corporate and Securities Practice in the Nashville office: Jamie L. Barwig, S. Ryan Hoffman, J. Daniel Huffines and Jesse K. Skinner.

Barwig’s practice focuses on intellectual property. She earned her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and received a B.S. in Public Relations and B.A. in History from the University of Florida. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Jaime taught for a year in Chicago through the Teach for America program.

Hoffman earned his MBA in 2011 from the University of Tennessee College of Business Administration and his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law. While in law school, Ryan co-authored an article on crowdfunding enterprises and federal securities laws and conducted research for an upcoming book chapter on corporate governance and the Diamler-Chrysler merger.

Huffines focuses on securities regulation, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Dan practiced in the Memphis office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz. Dan received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and earned his law degree from The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

Skinner earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. He received a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University. Before attending law school, Jesse worked for several years in the government relations department of a national petroleum refiners and petrochemical manufacturers trade association. Prior to joining the Bass, Berry & Sims, Jesse worked in the Houston, Texas office of Bracewell & Giuliani.

Brown named VP of Vanderbilt Health

Laura Beth Brown, R.N., president of Vanderbilt University Medical Center Home Care, has been named vice president for Vanderbilt Health Services.

In this new role, Brown will report directly to C. Wright Pinson, MBA, M.D., deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs and CEO of the Vanderbilt Health System.

While continuing to serve as president for Vanderbilt Home Care, Brown’s scope of responsibilities will expand to include operational oversight for Vanderbilt Health Services (VHS) and its subsidiary entities. She will be responsible for management and guidance for specific initiatives and strategies, ensuring appropriate management teams and structures are in place for each VHS entity.

Pinnacle adds advisor to Goodlettsville team

Amy Campbell has joined Pinnacle Financial Partners as senior vice president and financial advisor for its Goodlettsville office.

Campbell’s financial services experience spans 16 years. Before joining Pinnacle, she served as branch manager for Regions Bank’s Glenbrook office in Hendersonville.

She earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University.

Nashville RBI names 2012 board, officers

Nashville RBI, a nonprofit organization that provides inner-city youth the opportunity to participate in baseball and softball leagues, as well as off-season educational and mentoring programming, has announced its 2012 board of directors and officers.

Board Members:

• John Ray Clemmons (Chairman), attorney, Chaffin, Burnsed & Blackburn, PLLC
• Kevin Hargrove (Treasurer), branch manager, Brickman Group Ltd.
• Steven J. Eisen, (Secretary), partner, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Dennis W. Alpert, president, Hidden Bay Group, LLC
• Bill Gubbins, managing member, Gubbins Light & Power
• Tom Jurkovich, VP corporate affairs, Tennessee Lottery Corp.
• Kamaria Mack, recruiter, Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy
• Andrew Maraniss, partner, McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations
• Henry Smith, executive director, Northwest Family YMCA
• Van Steel, manager, KPMG
• Eric Ward, senior marketing associate, KraftCPAs, PLLC
• Jeff Wernick, managing director, Trion Capital Partners, LLC

Executive Director:

• Reggie Whittemore

Dodson Parker adds new associate

The Nashville law firm of Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella, PC, has added Jason Gichner as its newest associate. Gichner joins the firm’s litigation section, with an emphasis in business, employment and criminal defense matters.

Gichner was previously senior trial attorney at the Metro Public Defender’s Office, where he handled hundreds of cases and developed extensive jury trial experience. He earned his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University, where he served on the Journal of Transnational Law and the Moot Court Board. While in law school, he received both the Outstanding Oralist of the Year Award and the Clinical Legal Student of the Year Award. He received his B.A. from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.

Tellis joins Fifth Third as VP, wealth adviser

Cody Tellis joins Fifth Third’s private banking team as vice president and wealth management advisor. He was recently with BB&T Wealth Management, serving as vice president and wealth management advisor for the past four years.

While working as a building contractor and land developer in California, Cody received several advanced degrees (J.D., MIT and LL.M) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and Trinity International School of Law in Orange County, CA. He is a certified financial planner (CFP) and is currently pursuing his CPA license.

Other recent hires at Fifth Third include:

Jim McDonald , joining the mortgage team in Nashville as a mortgage loan originator. He has 16 years of experience in the mortgage industry and has previously worked for SunTrust, Wells Fargo and GMAC Mortgage. Jim is a graduate of Indiana State University

Tiffany Hendrix joins as a wholesale mortgage account executive. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business, industry and accounting from Mississippi State University. Tiffany was previously employed at Franklin American Mortgage Company and has 10 years of industry experience.

Drew Young is a personal banker at the Brentwood Financial Center. He was previously employed at Reliant Bank and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Jeremy Long is a personal banker. He was previously employed at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in St. Louis, Mo., earned a degree in Economics from Murray State University.

Ferguson named COO at Barge, Waggoner

Randy Ferguson has joined engineering and architectural firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner, and Cannon, Inc. as chief operating officer (COO). Ferguson will be responsible for managing the firm’s day to day operations, improving project performance, and assisting in implementing Barge Waggoner’s project management and technical design and quality programs.

Ferguson joins Barge Waggoner from Jordan, Jones & Goulding, Inc. For most of his nine years with JJG, he managed the Environmental and Water Resources division, ultimately serving as senior vice president.