William R. Short, a Certified Public Accountant in Gainesville has moved his practice to the Intowne Business Center at 621 Washington St.

Bill Short is the principal of the firm which prepares individual and corporate tax returns as well as general accounting services.

Short earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Georgia College and attained the CPA designation in 1981. He opened the regional accounting practice in 2001.

Habersham Bancorp has announced the promotion of Bonnie Bowling and Edward D. Ariail to new administrative positions.

Bowling has been promoted to executive vice president of Habersham Bancorp and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Habersham Bank.

"The board of directors is pleased to recognize Bonnie for her contributions to the continued success of our company," said David D. Stovall, president and CEO of Habersham Bancorp. "Her industry knowledge and experience are considerable, and she is a valued member of our executive management team."

Bowling has been with Habersham Bancorp since 1994. She has attended North Georgia College and the University of Georgia and has completed the GBA Banking School, ABA National Compliance School, ABA Graduate School of Compliance Management and the Financial Analysis and Credit Training School. Bonnie currently serves on the Board of Directors and is the past treasurer of No One Alone. She is an active member of the Dahlonega Lions Club and is a loan committee member for Appalachian Community Enterprises (ACE). Bowling resides in Dahlonega with her husband, Archie.

Ariail has been promoted to executive vice president of Habersham Bancorp. Ariail, who has been with the company since 1984, is currently president of Habersham Bank, corporate secretary of Habersham Bancorp and a member of the Habersham Bancorp Board of Directors.

"Eddy Ariail is a valued member of our board and executive management team as well as an asset to the community," Stovall said. "The Board of Directors is pleased to acknowledge his contributions to our success through this promotion. We feel very fortunate to have someone with Eddy’s tenure, knowledge and industry experience as a leader in our company."

Ariail, who is originally from Habersham County, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Piedmont College and a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Georgia. Ariail is also a graduate of the ABA Graduate School of Investments and Financial Management and the Leadership Georgia program.

Kimberly Ingram has been named director of the Athens-based Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Foundation. She also will manage the East Georgia Cancer Coalition project, "Quality of Life for Cancer Patients — Survivorship 2007."

Ingram, daughter of Paul and Lynne Ingram of Flowery Branch, holds a master’s degree in social work and is certified at the master’s level in non-profit management. She was selected to lead the foundation for her expertise in fundraising, program development and community empowerment.

Her background includes work with the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support where she coordinated psychosocial, nutritional and activity programs and community advocacy for cancer patients. The Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Foundation works with other regional community groups to help decrease the personal financial burdens, including copays, prescription medicines and home expenses, for the area’s cancer patients who need assistance.

Jim Pilgrim, a Gainesville native, has been named administrative assistant to state Rep. Carl Rogers, R-Gainesville. Pilgrim will manage Rogers’ office in Gainesville and will attend local events that occur when the General Assembly is in session.

Pilgrim will also be responsible for assisting the public with issues related to state government. He can be reached through Rogers’ office at 770-535-0994.

Hope Burroughs has been named staff accountant at J&J Foods, a locally owned group of three supermarkets with locations in Gainesville and Dahlonega.

Her responsibilities include preparing and analyzing weekly and monthly financial statements, communicating with vendors and upper management, managing the day-to-day accounting and inventory evaluation.

"I look forward to learning the grocery industry and thoroughly enjoy working with such a fine group of people," Burroughs said.

She currently lives in Cumming with her husband, Kevin, and three children.