Gainco makes trio of management appointments
Gainco Inc., a developer and manufacturer of equipment for the meat and poultry processing industry, has announced three new senior-level appointments in marketing and sales.
James A. "Jim" Petersen has been appointed director of marketing and business development. Petersen will be responsible for managing Gainco's domestic and international marketing, as well as new markets and new product opportunities. Previously, Petersen served as sales director for Gainco.
Before joining the company in 2000, he held sales and managerial positions at Bettcher Industries as well as several food processing companies, including Lykes Brothers and Sunnyland.
Jim Hipple has joined Gainco as director of sales. Hipple will direct all domestic and international sales, including the company's field sales organization. Hipple has more than 20 years of sales and managerial experience in the poultry industry.
Before joining Gainco, he served as divisional and regional sales manager at Meyn America and Prime Equipment Group. He holds a degree in agricultural mechanization technology from the University of Georgia.
Brian E. Porter is the company's manager of sales engineering. He previously served as manager of customer project development at Gainco and Weigh Systems South, prior to that company's acquisition by Gainco. He was responsible for managing all aspects of domestic and international projects. Porter has served on Gainco's new product development team since 2003.
Nettles named to new role at Habersham Mortgage
Jessica Nettles, a banking officer with Habersham Bank, has recently assumed new responsibilities with Habersham Mortgage, the mortgage lending division of the company.
In addition to her current role as lender and branch manager of the Cumming office, Nettles also will assist customers with financing mortgages.
A resident of Flowery Branch, Nettles received an associate's degree from Gainesville State College and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. She began her career with Habersham Bank in September 2005 as a centralized loan processor. She participated in the Banker Development Program in April 2006.
Nettles and her husband, Nathan, have been married for four years. She enjoys participating in community activities and has most recently been involved with Relay for Life.
Paxton to chair police academy's advisory board
Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton has been elected chairman of the Advisory Board for the Georgia Public Safety Center Regional Police Academy in Athens. Paxton has served as a volunteer on the board for several years, including two years as vice chairman.
The 19-member board assists the academy in its overall operation, curriculum selection, training topics and also serves as a liaison with the Georgia Public Service Training Center in Forsyth.
The academy was one of the first regional police academies in the state and held its initial class in 1971.
Podiatry practice to open in Flowery Branch
Dr. Jeannette Velázquez will open Bare Foot Care Specialist, a podiatry practice at 3485 Atlanta Highway in Flowery Branch, on June 23.
Velázquez is a graduate of Barry University School of Graduate Medical Science with a degree in podiatric medicine and surgery. She also graduated from Universidad de Puerto Rico with a bachelor's degree in biology.
She completed her residency at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northport, N.Y., Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Saint Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, N.Y.
The office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Contact: 770-531-9222.