Mark Levine has joined Southern Growth Studio as president. In his role, Levine leads the firm’s Strategic Analysis team and plays a key part in the company’s culture, business development and client relationship management.

LEVINE

Hometown: Birmingham, Ala., but Memphis has been my home for the last four years.

Work experience: Formerly director of mergers and acquisitions, The ServiceMaster Co.; director of business development, Guardian Pharmacy; roles in finance and strategy, The Home Depot; financial consultant, Ernst & Young Corporate Finance; associate, VCapital investment bank.

Family: My wife, Michelle, and I have a 7-year-old black lab named Ollie and are members of the Temple Israel congregation in East Memphis.

Favorite quote: “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

Favorite movie: “Gladiator”

The sports team(s) you root for: University of Alabama football, Indiana University basketball and Memphis Grizzlies

What’s playing on your stereo right now? Broken Bells

Activities you enjoy outside of work: Traveling, jogging, basketball, reading and spending time with family and friends.

What talent do you wish you had? Playing guitar.

Who has had the greatest influence on you? My parents, for providing encouragement and support, teaching morals and values, and being wonderful role models in general.

What attracted you to Southern Growth Studio? The Studio is a one-of-a-kind firm in the Mid-South – an opportunity to be at the intersection of strategic planning, innovation, field research and brand planning. It’s rare to find an environment where consumer anthropologists, design thinkers, economists, brand planners and MBAs work together for a wide range of clients, including some of the fastest-growing companies in the country.

What are your goals in your new position? Continue building upon an already strong foundation for growth.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? This is a tough one. … I’ll go with the trophy I received for being named “Most Cooperative” on my first-grade soccer team.

What do you most enjoy about your work? Working with a diverse and talented team on a wide variety of challenging engagements in an environment that fosters creativity.

If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Think in terms of other people’s point of view.

Richard Myers, partner and former managing partner of Apperson Crump PLC, has been elected to the board of the World Cataract Foundation. Myers joined Apperson Crump in 1997 and has been a partner since 2002.

Glankler Brown PLLC attorneys Saul C. Belz and Oscar C. Carr III have been named litigation stars by Benchmark Litigation, a guide to the nation’s leading business litigation firms and attorneys. In addition, Glankler Brown was named a top litigation firm in the area.

CRISMAN

Stephen R. Crisman has been appointed vice president for advancement at Christian Brothers University. Crisman will lead the university’s fundraising initiatives and will serve as the resource liaison for the board of trustees’ advancement committee.

Randy Hudgings and Chris Triplett of the Memphis office of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc. have graduated from the Lipscomb University College of Business’ School of Executive Education. Hudgings is the director of Barge Waggoner’s aviation business unit, and Triplett is office manager.

Ten Memphis educators have been named American Achieves Fellows and recently attended the NBC News Education Nation Summit as representatives of Memphis-area schools. They are: Monica Brown, Patrice Shipp, Melissa Collins, Steven McKinney, Tisha White, Brittany Clark, Agata Jedrzejewski, Tanya Dennis, Kashunda Hill and Davida Smith-Keita.

NORMAN

First Baptist Church Pastor Keith Norman has been awarded the Bishop Carroll T. Dozier Award for Peace and Justice from Christian Brothers University. Norman was honored for his community activism and dedication to serving those in need.

Ronny Bran has joined the staff of the Lightman Tennis Center at St. George’s Independent School. Bran has served as director of tennis and head tennis professional at country clubs and tennis centers in Arkansas and Tennessee for more than 24 years.

WARD

Sam Ward has been named general manager for Hyatt Place Memphis/Germantown. Ward previously served as general manager of Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Jackson, Tenn.

Sydney Teigland has joined The Children’s Museum of Memphis as visitor services manager. Teigland manages the operation of the gallery floor, leads staff in maintaining customer service standards and more. Alex Smythe has joined the museum as visitor services coordinator. Smythe interacts with visitors to enhance their museum visit.

The Budgetel Inn & Suites at the Memphis Airport and owner Jay Patel have been recognized with the Overall Excellence in Quality Assurance Award by the hotel’s franchise partner, America’s Best Franchising.