Fortaleza joins Method group

Che Fortaleza has joined Method Architecture, an architectural consultancy in Chattanooga, as project manager.

She is a more than 13-year veteran of design and project management in high-end residential, museum, office, educational, retail, restaurant and mult-use buildings.

She also is associate director for American Institute of Architects Tennessee, a statewide professional group with 1,300 members, including arcitects, associates and allied members.

She previously served with Tune Design Architecture and Interiors. She holds a degree in architecture and was educated in interior design at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines.

Thomas M. Bartoo opened Method Architecture earlier this year.

Porter joins accounting firm

Regina (Gina) J. Porter has joined Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain PC, an accounting and business consulting firm. She is in a staff position in the tax division in the firm’s Chattanooga office.

She is an accounting graduate of Jacksonville State University.

Collegedale gets Wolftever Gallery

Wolftever Creek Gallery LLC, an art gallery owned by local potters Erik and Christine Vetne, has celebrated its opening at 5417 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.

The gallery provides a venue primarily for artists from Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia.

“For local artists the gallery will be a consignment-based gallery,” the owners said. “With the growth of the Ooltewah/Collegedale area, it is expected that there will be a growth in the arts as well, and this venue is expected to meet some of that need.”

Karen Wilson joins law firm

Attorney Karen Keifer Wilson has joined the Chattanooga law firm of McKoon, Williams & Haun.

She most recently served as law clerk and senior staff attorney to William M. Barker, former chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

She is a 1999 graduate of the Washington & Lee University School of Law. After graduating, she worked for two years as law clerk to Herschel P. Franks, presiding judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section.

She also has two years of experience representing disabled people seeking Social Security disability benefits.

Steele of BCBS earns recognition

Gary Steele of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has won the 2008 Human Resources Professional Excellence Award from the Tennessee chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management.

He is a principal human resources business consultant for the government business unit of BlueCross and was honored for his contributions to the Tennessee chapter of SHRM, the human resources field and the Chattanooga area.

Banfield adds Blackwell to staff

Dr. Emily Blackwell has joined Banfield, The Pet Hospital inside the Petsmart at 5591 Highway 153.

She is a native of Chattanooga and is a graduate of Montreat College. She is a 2007 graduate of the University of Tennessee Veterinary School.

With the addition of Dr. Banfield, The Pet Hospital will be able to offer extended hours, a news release said. Effective Monday, it will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with dropoff hours beginning at 7 a.m. The hours for Wednesdays and Saturdays will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ex-Chattanoogan is law associate

Charles Traughber, a former Chattanooga resident, has become an associate in the Nashville office of the law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis.

Mr. Traughber earned his undergraduate degree at Tennessee State University and then received his law degree from the University of Tennessee.

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