Saint Thomas Hospital adds cardiac specialist

Dr. Evelio Rodriguez has joined Saint Thomas Heart as director of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery and director of arrhythmia surgery.

A board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, Rodriguez previously served as associate medical director of the arrhythmia center at East Carolina Heart Institute at Pitt County Memorial Hospital and associate professor of Cardiovascular Sciences at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine.

Rodriguez received his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He completed his general surgery residency, cardiothoracic research and cardiothoracic surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

 
Lipscomb adds high school principal

Lipscomb Academy has named Lanny Witt its high school principal. Lanny Witt will take over from longtime leader Mark Pugh.

Witt, who previously served five years as head of schools at Boyd-Buchanan School in Chattanooga, replaces longtime leader Mark Pugh.

Witt's hiring is the latest in a series of major moves at Lipscomb Academy (formerly David Lipscomb Campus School), which recently named a new elementary school principal. This summer, the academy is expected to start on a project to include the construction of new middle and high schools by 2016.

 
Paradigm Group hires business development director

Paradigm Group has named Peyton Gibbs director of business development. Previously, Gibbs worked in government relations for the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also worked as an associate with SHOUTAmerica.

Gibbs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Tennessee Technological University, and he received his master’s degree in management and leadership from Liberty University.

 
Chamber hires entrepreneurial growth director

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has named Alison Lynch director of entrepreneurial growth and engagement.

Lynch previously served as a mentor to emerging entrepreneurs at JumpStart Foundry. Prior to that, she was the chief operating officer at BlueJar Media, LLC. Lynch also served as a director and co-owner of Columbus Ventures LLC. 

Lynch earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Longwood University.

 
ProImage names president

Michael Rose has been named the president of ProImage Facility. Rose was previously vice president of operations at the company, which he joined in April 2010.

Previously, Rose was president of West Point Holdings LLC. He was also president and owner of Let's Talk Wireless Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

 
Film Festival names development director

The Nashville Film Festival has hired Deb Pinger as development director. She will lead all marketing communications, and donor-related efforts for the organization.

Pinger’s career includes time with The Tennessean, as well as the VIA Institute on Character. She also served as executive director of RISE Learning solutions.

 
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia names dean

Christopher Hulin has been named dean/program director of the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia.

Hulin, who was previously assistant program administrator, will replace vice president/dean/program administrator Mary Elizabeth “Ikey “DeVasher, who served at MTSA for nearly 40 years.

Hulin, who also works as an anesthesia provider at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin and at Metro General Hospital, earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a focus in education from Samford University and holds multiple degrees.