Jonathan D. Blotner

Janna Fite Herbison

Dr. Beverly Cross

Dr. Ray Walther

Mark Freedman

Jonathan D. Blotner has joined Impact Marketing as a corporate communications specialist. In his new role, Blotner will head all public relations efforts within the company, assist in research and development of new business, as well as create new interactive media opportunities for Impact's clients. Blotner formerly was CEO and media director of J. Blotner Advertising & PR in New Orleans.

Joseph C. Weller has been named vice chairman of Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. Weller, one of the co-founders of the company, has served as chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer for more than 37 years. Charles D. Maxwell has been named chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer. He previously was assistant secretary and treasurer. R. Patrick Kruczek has been named chief administrative officer.




He previously was chief operating officer of Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. and director of Equity Research.
Elkan Scheidt replaces Kruczek as director of Equity Research. Scheidt was director of the Equity Strategies Group and associate director of Equity Research.

Leigh Bonner is the 2006 recipient of the Rhodes College Presbyterian Mission Award. Bonner, a 2006 graduate, received a bachelor's degree in French and international studies with a minor in music. The award, which is made possible through individual and church donations to Rhodes, will support Bonner for a year of service in Ghana.

Native Memphian Janna Fite Herbison has kicked off a tour for her recently published book "Southern in the City ... A Mason-Dixon View of Manhattan." Herbison is a former press secretary for the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus and a former television news reporter. She served as House Democratic press secretary from March 2000 to September 2001. Herbison was a news reporter for the CBS-affiliate station in Knoxville from 1995 to 1997. She now works as a communications consultant.

The Tennessee Board of Regents recently presented FedEx Corp. with its Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. The award was presented at TBR's

quarterly meeting.

Kristina Thomas has been awarded the David L. Boren scholarship by the National Security Education Program (NSEP). The scholarship will allow Thomas to travel this fall to Nanjing, China, to study Chinese language, history and culture. Thomas is the guest services manager at Peabody Place Museum. She is the first student in Memphis to receive the scholarship. In addition to the NSEP scholarship, Thomas also received a Freeman-Asia scholarship. The scholarship is given by the Institute of International Education to students who want to study in Asia and promote Asian culture around the world.

Dr. Ray Walther has been named medical director for the Methodist University Hospital Emergency Department. Walther has been employed as an emergency department staff physician at Methodist University Hospital since 1986. He also has served as medical director for Methodist Fayette Hospital.

Former Memphian Mark Freedman has become the first male valedictorian to graduate from Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing in New York City. Freedman originally was a civil engineer who decided to make a career change to nursing. He previously earned a bachelor's degree from Tulane University in 1998. He plans to work in the emergency department of Lincoln Hospital in The Bronx.

Austin Peay State University has awarded scholarships to the following Shelby County high school graduates: Whitney Sarah Darden, John Lewis Pauls and Mia Lashundra Williams. All three received Academic Honors Scholarships. Darden is a graduate of Collierville High School, Pauls is a graduate of Bolton High School and Williams is a graduate of Frayser High School.

Andra Stelbrink has joined Residential Loan Centers of America Inc.'s Memphis office as a loan processor.

Dr. Beverly Cross has been appointed to the Lillian and Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence in Urban Education at the University of Memphis. In her new role, she will provide leadership in the College of Education's mission to enhance educational success for urban learners. Cross previously was an associate professor of curriculum theory and urban education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.