VOL. 127 | NO. 120 | Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Memphis Newsmakers
Hoover Joins Agape As Director of Development
By Kate Simone
Brian Hoover has joined Agape Child & Family Services as director of development. In his new role, Hoover will be responsible for leading Agape’s development efforts, such as fundraising and special events. He will also oversee the organization’s marketing, public relations and volunteer initiatives.
Hometown: Pleasant City, Ohio
Work Experience: Technology sales and sales leadership roles with SunGard, Asentinel, EMC and HardMetrics since 1994.
Family: Sara, wife and best friend for 15 years; Collin, 11; Kyler, 6; Kam, 5; baby girl due to arrive in September.
Favorite quote: “Excellence always sells.” – Earl Nightingale
Favorite movies: “Braveheart” and “Remember the Titans”
The sports team(s) you root for: College football rocks! Ohio State Buckeyes and Arkansas Razorbacks.
What’s playing on your stereo right now? Country music or hip-hop. Unfortunately, I’m not good at remembering lyrics and/or artists, so I usually don’t know that info. Since my boys usually pick the station, I rely on them for those details.
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Hanging out with my family and friends, coaching, mountain/road biking and working out.
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could play the guitar.
Who has had the greatest influence on you? Don McLaughlin. Don is a minister and spirit-filled man that played the father figure role in my life when I was young. Without Don and his influence at a young age, I would not be here today.
What attracted you to Agape Child & Family Services? Agape has an unwavering commitment to real and collaborative philanthropic work across the city. Loving God radically – and loving people the same way – is at the center of it all. I’m humbled to be part of this mission.
What are your goals as director of development? Leverage my professional and personal experiences to be the best development resource in Memphis. I want to embrace the Agape mission and use my skills to lead my team effectively, engage others, and create awareness and support for people in need.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? In 2009, I decided to be more intentional and proactive about living a balanced and purposeful life with my wife and children. My career decisions since then have been exclusively focused on quality time with my family. As a man, leading my family is my No. 1 priority.
What do you most enjoy about your work? Working with a talented team of people that are dedicated to serving a mission that is bigger than us.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Follow your dreams and pursue your passions. However, don’t lose yourself or the value of others in the process.
Dr. Dennis Mathews, Eye Specialty Group partner, has been named to the Tennessee Board of Optometry by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Mathews is an associate professor at the Southern College of Optometry, a consultative optometrist with the Vitreoretinal Foundation and a fellow of The American Academy of Optometry.
Jennifer Rodrigues has been named marketing manager with the University of Memphis Division of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing. Rodrigues has worked with the U of M athletic department’s media relations office for 14 years.
Betty Witherspoon has been named The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing 2012 outstanding alumna. Irma L. Jordan has been named the college’s 2012 most supportive alumna.
Kacy Coble has joined Kiesewetter Law Firm as an associate attorney. Coble is a recent graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Nine attorneys from Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC’s Memphis office have been ranked as leading practitioners in the 2012 Chambers USA directory. Attorneys ranked in Band 1 are Leo Bearman Jr., general commercial litigation; E. Franklin Childress Jr., bankruptcy litigation; Robert C. Liddon Jr., real estate; and Buckner Wellford, medical malpractice defense litigation. Ranked in Band 2 are Mary L. Aronov, real estate; Matthew S. Heiter, corporate/mergers and acquisitions; Jackie Prester, banking and finance; and Edward R. Young, labor and employment. And ranked in Band 3 is Robert J. DelPriore, corporate/mergers and acquisitions.
Joe McLaughlin has joined inferno as account coordinator. McLaughlin will work with the account service team on marketing and advertising campaigns, interactive initiatives and special events.
Emily Sawyer Greer has been named to Christian Brothers University’s board of trustees. Greer is chief of staff for ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Tim Brown and Dr. Nadeem Zafar have been named to Mid-South Food Bank’s board of directors. Brown is president of Kroger Delta Marketing Area. Zafar is an associate professor of pathology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.