businessbriefs
• Patrick Michael of Weichert, Realtors – Advantage Plus recently completed the required training courses to earn certified Staging Advocate Designation from Real Estate Staging Association.
By completing his designation, Michael furthered his real estate staging knowledge and can use new strategies to help his clients get the best prices for their properties.
• Ashley Piburn recently joined the Weichert, Realtors — Advantage Plus team in Knoxville. Piburn is a former educator who recently entered the industry to pursue her dream of selling real estate and helping others find the perfect home to meet their needs. Her knowledge of the Knoxville area, along with her passion for building relationships and helping others, provide Piburn with the foundation needed to deliver exceptional service to her clients.
• Pellissippi State Community College recently named Kellie Toon, director of Pellissippi Academic Center for Excellence and associate professor, as new vice president for Academic Affairs. Toon was one of five finalists for the position, which last year was held by interim vice president Kathy Byrd, who retired in June after 29 years with PSCC.
• Lanny Cope, who has served as president of Cope Architecture since founding the firm in 1983, is assuming the role as president emeritus and will focus on maintaining the high standards of attention to client’s needs that have defined the firm and his career.
Cayce Smith will succeed Cope as president of the firm. She has played a significant role in the firm for more than eight years and has served as executive vice president since 2017.
Peter Ludman and Jim Hinton, principal architects who have played major roles in project success on many signature projects for more than 15 years, will continue the high level of project design and delivery. Hinton will serve as the firm’s vice president and Ludman has been named director of design.
