Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce has announced two new hires. Laura Kate Whitney joined as programs manager in the Membership Development Department. Prior to joining, Whitney was an independent event producer and designer. Lindsey Pakkala has joined as programs manager in the chamber’s Business Development/Innovation Department. Previously, Pakkala worked as an event coordinator.

Battalion Chief James T. Ghi has joined the Charleston Fire Department as training division director. Ghi, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a Navy reservist, served on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom and has 30 years of firefighting experience.

Lissa Myers has opened In the Bag LLC, a custom handbag store at 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd. in Mount Pleasant.

Jason Myers, Chris Young and Cam Icenhour have opened Island Lending Group LLC at 1517 Palm Blvd., Suite C, Isle of Palms. The company will offer construction lending, residential mortgages and some commercial loans.

Buffy Gillespie, owner of Core Essentials, has launched her second Pilates studio at 129 Center St. in Summerville.

Now at 38 Broad St. in Charleston, Strategic Marketing International has expanded its corporate headquarters to meet growing demand for marketing consulting and advertising services. 

Eskimo Advertising has announced the opening of a new branch at 13 Dunecrest Lane on Isle of Palms.

Women’s clothing boutique Caché is opening at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Their location is on Belk Drive, next to Talbots Petites.

Belina Cannon, formerly with Keller Williams Real Estate, has launched QueenBee Cleaning Services, providing interior construction cleanup, move outs, for-sale home staging and residential housekeeping services in Charleston.

Kirk Royster has launched Grand Champ MMA, a mixed martial arts studio located on Wappoo Road in West Ashley, opening in May. The Mount Pleasant and Summerville studios will open in 2009.

Mary Helen McCoy Fine Antiques opened for business in March at 120 King St. in Charleston.

Russell Jones has joined Glasspro as an auto glass technician. Jones has more than 25 years of experience in the glass industry.

The Advanced Technology Institute announced the promotion of Mary Saady to program administrator supporting the Advanced Maritime Technology business unit. Saady provides program management support for the National Shipbuilding Research Program.

First National Bank announced the following new employees and promotions: Allison Spivey has joined as a teller at the East Bay Street office. Spivey previously served as a receptionist at Grimball and Cabaniss LLC. Sherry Funk has been promoted to branch supervisor for the East Bay Street office. She most recently served as the lead teller for that branch and has been with First National for more than two years. Stacey Alexander has been promoted to lead teller for the Mount Pleasant office. She most recently served as teller for that branch and has been with First National for six months.

Brian Canady has been promoted to senior vice president and regional retail sales manager at Community First Bank, where he has worked for five years. Previously he served as vice president of retail banking at Bank of America.

Tidelands Bank announced Jerry D. Davis Jr. has joined as a Summerville city executive. Davis has more than 25 years of banking experience.

Chef Frank Lee has become executive chef at the Old Village Post House in Mount Pleasant. Lee will continue as executive chef of Slightly North of Broad and vice president of culinary development for Maverick Southern Kitchens.

Cynthia Alitzer has joined AuPairCare as a local community coordinator for the live-in childcare program. She will be providing service and support to local host families in the Charleston area.

Palmetto Behavioral Health has named Tricia Hamilton executive director of Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health, its residential treatment facility located in Florence for children between the ages of 7 and 21. Hamilton previously served as a placement specialist with the S.C. Youth Advocate Program.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare announced Ashley W. Redmond has joined the hospital as manager of the Ryan White HIV Care Management Program. Redmond most recently served as a case manager supervisor with Lowcountry AIDS Services.

GEL Engineering LLC has announced the following three employees have become principals. Jim Holtzclaw, a certified industrial hygienist, has been with the firm since 1989. Tom Hutto, a professional geologist, joined the firm in 1987. John McLure, a professional engineer, joined GEL in 1990.

Christopher James Suttell has joined Kestrel Horizons LLC as a hydrogeologist. He is a registered professional geologist with more than nine years experience in environmental consulting. Suttell’s primary area of expertise is in environmental assessment, remediation and management.

LS3P Associates Ltd. has hired four individuals. Tanya Alberts joins as an executive assistant within the corporate division. Previously, she worked for Pearlstine Distributors in Charleston as a communications director. Stephen Ramos is the newest architectural intern of the Manifest Studio. Previously, he worked as a designer for Michael Graves and Associates in Princeton, N.J. Deloris Pugh joined as the new payroll administrator. Pugh has worked for 21 years in the payroll and accounting field. John Works will be associated with risk management efforts in coordination with the chief operating officer and director of risk management.

Kimber McFadden has joined Beach Residential, the residential brokerage division of The Beach Co., as a broker. McFadden has nearly 20 years of real estate sales and marketing experience, including director of sales for KB Home and vice president of sales for The I’On Group.

Laura Smith has joined Landmark South Real Estate Services commercial division. She has previous experience in real estate sales and development.

Charles Blanchard Construction Corp. has hired Regan Blanchard as director of business development. Blanchard has more than 15 years experience in the construction industry, and was previously affiliated with Piggly Wiggly Carolina Corp.

Jon Neiditz and Amanda Witt have joined the information management practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.

Saundra Barrett has joined Chernoff Newman as an interactive designer, after seven months of contract employment with the firm. Prior to her employment with Chernoff Newman, Barrett worked as a freelance Web designer and manager for Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate.

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