VOL. 131 | NO. 24 | Wednesday, February 3, 2016
NEWSMAKERS
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Hinds Joins Martin Tate Law Firm
By Kate Simone
Rebecca Hinds has joined Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston P.C. as an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation section. In this role, Hinds represents clients in civil and commercial litigation matters, including business law, transportation liability, construction disputes, breach-of-contract matters and employment law. She also helps commercial clients obtain tax incentives and advises individuals and businesses in the drafting and negotiation of contracts.
Hometown: Martin, Tenn.
Experience: I earned my law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, after which I clerked for two federal judges and then in 2014 entered private practice.
Family: They’re all doctors!
Favorite quote: “Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.” – Charlotte Bronte, “Jane Eyre”
Favorite movie: “The Sound of Music”
The sports team(s) you root for: The Memphis Grizzlies, of course.
What’s playing on your stereo right now? Season 2 of “Serial”
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Reading, exercising, traveling, antiquing
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could cook. Is cooking a talent or a fundamental life skill? Either way, it eludes me.
Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? Professionally, it’s U.S. Magistrate Judge Diane K. Vescovo, for whom I worked as a judicial law clerk after law school. Judge Vescovo is the epitome of grace, kindness and humility – not to mention that she’s brilliant.
Personally, my dad. While he’s smart, successful and devoted to his family, all of which I admire, what I love most about him is that he’s the kind of person who does the right thing even when it’s unpopular or even when no one is watching. He makes me want to be a better person.
What attracted you to your company? The people here love their jobs, and it shows. That is somewhat rare in our profession.
What are your goals in your new position? I hope to continue building a positive professional reputation that inures to the benefit of my clients and adds to the success of my firm.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment is graduating law school with honors, sanity intact, and without student-loan debt.
What do you most enjoy about your work? What I enjoy most about my work is the collegiality of it. It’s fun to pick the brains of smart, interesting people.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Don’t make the mistake of thinking you know everything.
Franklin Sullivan has been named executive vice president of ABB’s electrification products division in the United States. He also assumes commercial leadership for the division across North America (Canada and Mexico). Sullivan joined Thomas & Betts in 2010 and most recently led its global sales and marketing activities as a senior vice president, based in Switzerland, for the past two years.
Claire Barnett has been promoted to associate principal at EnSafe. She previously served as senior engineer. Barnett joined EnSafe in 1997 and has more than 30 years’ experience in the environmental engineering industry.
Sharon Hammer, a financial adviser with Kelman-Lazarov, has earned the Certified Planning Professional designation. Hammer has been with Kelman-Lazarov for three years, and prior to that was with Merrill Lynch.
Bill O’Connor, an associate in Baker Donelson’s Memphis office, has earned a Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification from the International Information System Security Certification Consortium Inc. O’Connor is a member of Baker Donelson’s privacy and information security team, as well as the corporate finance and securities group.
The Chickasaw Council, Boy Scouts of America has announced three staff additions. Kevin Litt has joined as the director of field service, Maryann Edgington as development & marketing director, and Fred Lee as district director for the Northwest Mississippi District. In addition, Andy Hendricks, the former Northwest Mississippi District director, has been promoted to field director.
The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Memphis branch honored three Memphians during its 47th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Kennard Brown, executive vice chancellor and chief operations officer of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, received the Health Care Executive of the Year Award; Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong received the Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles Centurion Award, and Dr. LaSimba Gray, pastor of New Sardis Baptist Church, was the recipient of the Rainbow/PUSH Living Legacy Award.
Lori Kuhuski of Arlington has been named a 2016 Global Relay For Life Hero of Hope by the American Cancer Society. Heroes of Hope are cancer survivors or caregivers who have demonstrated a commitment to the mission of saving lives from the disease. Kuhuski is a 26-year stage III colon cancer survivor and an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society.