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Newsmakers in business, Nov. 2
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The Times wants to know about promotions, new management hires and other personnel news in your business. We'll publish the information each Sunday on the Business page. Send information, including a photograph and contact information, to Harris Blackwood at hblackwood@gainesvilletimes.com. You also may use regular mail at Newsmakers, The Times, P.O. Box 838, Gainesville, GA 30503.

Patterson earns medical practice fellowship
Pam M. Patterson, administrator of The Longstreet Clinic's Center for Pediatrics, has become a fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives.

To achieve fellowship, Patterson first earned the Certified Medical Practice Executive designation by passing rigorous essay and objective examinations that assess knowledge of the broad scope of medical practice management.

ACMPE has conferred board certification on almost 3,500 professionals since its establishment in 1956. Today, ACMPE membership comprises more than 5,600 individuals who have attained CMPE or fellow status or who seek certification.

Patterson began her career with the Northeast Georgia Pediatric Group in 1978. In 1995, the practice merged with other practices to form The Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville. She has served on the Georgia Pediatric Practice Manager's Association steering committee for several years and is currently chairwoman of the committee. She is a member of the Medical Group Management Association, both national and state; immediate past president of the Lake Lanier Chapter MGMA; and serves on the Lanier Technical College Advisory Committee for Healthcare Management Technology.

Patterson and her husband, Tony, live in Flowery Branch.

Walters, Sheffield join Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia
Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia has announced the addition of two new employees.

LeAnne Gilleland Walters has been named vice president of commercial banking. Prior to joining Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia, Walters was employed by SunTrust, where she served as assistant branch manager of the E.E. Butler Parkway location. Prior to the merger with SunTrust, she was with Gainesville Bank & Trust, where she served as branch manager of the main office and also worked in the corporate banking division. She was also employed by Regions Bank in Gainesville as a credit analyst.

Walters is a 2001 graduate of North Georgia College and State University where she obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. She currently serves on the board of trustees of Gainesville State College as well as the board of directors of the Hall County Humane Society. She is also an active member of the Gainesville Junior League and the Greater Hall Chamber Ambassadors.

She is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Hall County, Citizens Government Academy and Citizens Police Academy. A native of Hall County, Walters currently resides in Gainesville.

Tascha Sheffield is a customer service representative. Prior to joining Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia, Sheffield was employed at The Hall Community Bank of Gainesville. Her nine-year banking career has been primarily focused on personal banking. She is involved with the American Heart Association and March of Dimes in Hall County, and she attends Christian Hill Church. She resides with her fiance, David, and her two children, Jada and Kenzie, in North Hall.

Randolph named outstanding instructor at Lanier Tech
Kimberly Randolph has been named Outstanding Instructor of the Year for Lanier Technical College.
Randolph, who has been on the college faculty for 16 years, teaches clinical laboratory technology at the Oakwood Campus.

She holds a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University and a master's degree from Georgia State University.

"Kim embodies the excellent educator who motivates students to succeed through passion and caring," said Linda Barrow, vice president of academic affairs at Lanier Tech.

Randolph was cited for her passion for teaching, innovative instructional methods, and involvement in college and community activities.

Abdelhai joins The Longstreet Clinic's hospitalist program
The Longstreet Clinic has announced that Eltigani M. Abdelhai M.D. has joined Northeast Georgia Inpatient Services' hospitalist program.

Abdelhai earned his medical degree from Khartoum University in Sudan and completed his internal medicine residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Abdelhai comes to The Longstreet Clinic from Sound Inpatient Physicians in Tacoma, Wash.
Inpatient physicians, or "hospitalists," focus on caring for hospitalized patients by dedicating their practice to the hospital.

Northeast Georgia Inpatient Services currently employs 18 physicians and three nurse practitioners who treat patients at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.