The Longstreet Clinic has announced the appointment of Christa D. Anderson and Tammy E. Wilbanks to their staff.

Anderson is a family nurse practitioner in the department of family medicine. She received her bachelor's degree from North Georgia College & State University. She also earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Kennesaw State University.

Before joining the Oakwood office, Anderson practiced in various locations in the Gainesville area, including nearly four years with The Longstreet Clinic. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Wilbanks has joined the department of internal medicine as a certified nurse practitioner. She graduated from Brenau University in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in nursing and received her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Kennesaw State University in 2004. She has several years experience working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Northeast Georgia.

Wilbanks is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society. She also is founder and president of the Gainesville chapter of United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia.

Edmondson, Johnson join sales team at The Fockele Garden Co.
Austin Edmondson and John Johnson have joined The Fockele Garden Co. as sales directors.
Their primary responsibilities are in the expansion of commercial landscape customers.

Edmondson is a Gainesville High School graduate who later earned a degree from North Carolina State University. He joined The Fockele Garden Co. after 42 years at Georgia Chair Co., where he was half-owner of the company for the past 10 years.

Edmondson is the chairman of the United Way's Lexis de Tocqueville Society where he is responsible for recruiting new members. He is also a past president of the Kiwanis Club.

Johnson, a 1989 University of Georgia graduate with a degree in landscape architecture, previously was design coordinator for Jack Nicklaus Golf Design, where he led in the development of projects such as the Great Waters course at Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee.

He also operated his own land design company, Johnson Land Design, and worked in the real estate industry for 14 years.

Chavez named administrative assistant at Avian Technology
Doris Chavez has joined the Avian Technology as an administrative assistant. In her new role, she will assist the sales department with invoicing, customer satisfaction, tracking and shipment and orders verification.

Chavez previously worked with a poultry firm in equipment sales for eight years and was a mortgage loan originator for the past 10 years. She graduated from the Gwinnett Business College in accounting, and is a graduate of Buford High School.

She and her husband, Alfonso, have two daughters.

Burns retires from state DOT
The Georgia Department of Transportation has announced the retirement of Alvin Burns on April 1, after 25 years of service.

Burns began his employment in 1983 as a maintenance worker. He retires as mechanic foreman for the Northeast Georgia District Vehicle Repair Unit. He and his crew were responsible for the maintenance on all DOT vehicles including heavy equipment.

"Alvin was an excellent employee," said Russell McMurry, Georgia DOT district engineer "He always worked diligently and was an asset to our department and to the people of Georgia. We will miss his friendship, dedication to safety and work ethic."

Alvin and his wife, Sheena live in Clarkesville with their two children, Joshua and Tabitha.