Jonathan Edwards has joined The Barnett Group as director of client technology. Edwards will work with clients and prospects to analyze their medical claims and plan options to find the best fit for them.

EDWARDS

(Photo: Lance Murphey)

Hometown: Henderson, Tenn.

Education: Harding University, B.A. in marketing, 2006; Freed-Hardeman University, master of business administration in leadership management, 2009

Work Experience: Zywave Inc., Milwaukee, Wisc., July 2010 to December 2011; Freed-Hardeman University, study abroad, Citerna, Italy, 2007 to 2008

Family: Wife, Kristin; Daughter, Mia Isabella, one month

Last book read: “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey

Favorite music: Dashboard Confessional, Secondhand Serenade, Josh Groban, Framing Hanley, Tripswitch and Umiak

Sports team: A.C. Fiorentina (Italian soccer), Memphis Grizzlies and Tennessee Titans

Activities you enjoy outside of work: Playing soccer, playing the guitar, running, remodeling houses and walks with my wife and daughter.

Who has had the greatest influence on you? My grandfather Earl Edwards and my father, Terry Edwards, have, without a doubt, had the greatest influence on me. They taught me from a young age that in order to be successful God must always be first in my life. The rest will follow.

What attracted you to The Barnett Group? I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside The Barnett Group for the past year and a half, and since the beginning have loved the way they treated their clients. They really take a consultative approach to employee benefits by truly putting the client first. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity to further add to what they have been doing so well for so long.

What do you most enjoy about your work? I absolutely love how technology allows us to provide so much more to our clients. We are able to analyze and make recommendations on a much better level than we could 10 years ago. It allows us to really take a consultative approach with our clients rather than just quoting insurance. I also love the people I work with at The Barnett Group. They have all welcomed me into the family with open arms. This is definitely an opportunity that I look forward to every morning when I wake up.

Arick Elion has joined Signature Advertising as a motion designer. Elion previously worked as an art director of a digital media company where his focus was motion design and print. Jennifer Casey has joined as an account manager. Casey is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in journalism with an advertising concentration. Ben Hampton has joined as a designer. He previously worked as an art director at inferno and held internships at Red Deluxe and Combustion.

Susan Krigbaum and Ray Mullins have joined the board of directors at Memphis’ RISE (Responsibility, Initiative, Solutions, Empowerment) Foundation. Krigbaum is vice president of Express Business Systems for FedEx Corp. Mullins is vice president and member district manager for Wells Fargo Bank. They will join 10 existing 2011-2012 RISE board members.

BRILLARD

Rick Brillard has joined the audit staff of Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck PLC certified public accounting firm.

Maria Lapuente Garrett has joined Metropolitan Bank as a senior managing director. Garrett has 11 years of banking experience. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and serves as president of the board of directors of the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County.

HUTTON

Robert L. Hutton has been elected a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. Hutton is a member in the firm Glankler Brown PLLC, practicing in litigation with experience in federal civil rights, constitutional law, general business litigation and criminal law. Invitations to memberships were extended to 25 attorneys this year by the board of trustees.