Lorton Retires from Carilion; Halliwill New CFO

Don Lorton

After more than four decades of service to Carilion Clinic and Virginia health care, Donald E. Lorton  is retiring.  After three years with Pulaski Community Hospital, Lorton began his career with Carilion in 1972 when he became the Assistant Controller. He has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 1986. In 1993 he was named Executive Vice President.

After accepting Lorton’s retirement, the Carilion Clinic Board of Directors appointed Donald B. Halliwill as Chief Financial Officer. A southwest Virginia native, Halliwill has a 20-year history in health care, serving in many capacities since joining Carilion in 1997, including Director of Finance for the New River Valley Region, Chief Executive Officer for Carilion New River Valley Medical Center and Chief Financial Officer for the organization’s hospital division.

Lorton’s leadership maintained the organization’s strong and stable financial position through the years, despite severe economic downturns and a rapidly evolving health care environment.  In addition, he was instrumental in the development of Carilion’s physician group, information technology infrastructure and athletic clubs. In recent years, he led Carilion’s development of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) with Aetna.

 “Don’s role in maintaining the financial health of our organization cannot be overstated,” said Carilion Clinic President and CEO Nancy Howell Agee. “His stewardship over Carilion’s resources allowed us to make life-changing investments in southwest Virginia’s health care and the results will be felt for many years to come.  Moreover, his vision and strategic thinking along with his deep concern for the health of our region sets him apart.  We will miss his steady guidance.”

“Don Lorton has proven himself over and over again to be a man for all seasons,” said Laurens Sartoris, President of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. “Not only has he always demonstrated the best characteristics of a top flight financial manager, but it’s always been combined with common sense, a vision of the future, broad-based strategic thinking and lots of quiet wit and charm. It’s been a true pleasure to know and work with Don.”

“I have been blessed to work with and for many outstanding people throughout my career,” Lorton said.  “With their trust and support there has been a long list of opportunities afforded me.  It is rewarding to think that I may have contributed to Carilion’s success and the betterment of healthcare across Virginia.  Carilion is well positioned for healthcare reform and executing on its mission of improving the health of the communities it serves.  My wife Wanda and I, along with our children and grandchildren will be relying on that commitment.”

     

Dual Winners in VTK Tech Transfer Challenge

NanoSpin's team won for a cooling system.

The VT KnowledgeWorks Fifth Annual Entrepreneurship Challenge’s Tech Transfer Challenge had two winners this year: Keraesthetics and NanoSpin.  The winning teams will receive $100,000 worth of mentorship and business support services over a two-year period, including assistance in developing the overall business strategy as well as the presentations and plan documents needed for investor discussions and product launch.  
 

Maria Rahmany of Karaesthetics

Mark Van Dyke and Maria Rahmany of Keraesthetics, develop soft tissue bulking products using keratin   The company’s lead product, KeraFil, can be used for facial aesthetic applications such as facial line and wrinkle reduction, as well as a therapeutic treatment for vocal cord restoration and tissue reconstruction.
biomaterials.

NanoSpin is a cooling system for computers and electronic devices that uses a liquid dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles to dissipate waste heat. NanoSpin team members include Suvojit Ghosh, Ravi Kappiyoor, Souvik Pal, Chris Prohoda, Mehran Tehrani, and Ishwar K. Puri.

The Tech Transfer Challenge provides an opportunity for Virginia Tech faculty, staff, students and/or alumni proposing to establish a new venture in Blacksburg, a chance to accelerate their innovative technology transfer from the university to the private sector. Other teams that competed in the Tech Transfer Challenge were Laser Light Energy Applications in Wood Products Production, NanoMed, LLC, and VT Transportation Technologies.

Stephen Epstein, PureAir

The winning concept in the Student Business Concept Competition was PureAir: Emergency Asthma and COPD Inhalers.  Stephen Epstein won $10,000 in scholarships plus summer workspace at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. PureAir is designing the world’s smallest profile emergency inhaler, which can work within minutes and can be a lifesaving device to the over 28 million Americans with asthma. Campus Tech, the Card Isle, Combined Sand Metal Printing, NanoSpin, and ViGLi also competed for the grand prize.

The winning student team will also advance to the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge and compete for the $25,000 grand prize on August 22, 2013, at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia. 

The Global Student Challenge is part of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week, which offers university students, faculty, and business professionals from all over the world a chance to collaborate, form partnerships and build their global networks.

Advance Auto Shuffles, Eliminates Executive Chairs

Advance CEO Darren Jackson

Roanoke-based Advance Auto Parts, an automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, batteries, accessories, and maintenance items, has announced several organizational changes.

George Sherman will become president, leading Advance Commercial Sales, Field Operations, Store Operations Support, Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain and Ecommerce Teams.

Sherman served as Senior VVP, Best Buy Services, which included leading the Geek Squad.  He will report to CEO Darren Jackson and will be stationed in Roanoke.

Charles Tyson, who currently serves as senior VP Merchandising and Marketing, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Merchandising, Marketing and Supply Chain. Jim Durkin, who serves as President, Autopart International (AI), will assume the new role of senior VP Commercial Business. Mr. Durkin will be responsible for the Company’s Commercial Sales Team, Commercial Marketing and AI.  

Tammy Finley, who most recently served as vice president, Employment Counsel and Government Affairs, has been promoted to the role of Senior Vice President, Human Resources. 

“I am thrilled to welcome George to the Advance Team and I am excited about the promotions of Charles, Jim and Tammy.  Advance’s future success lies in our ability to empower and enable our team to drive outcomes and grow sales,” says Jackson. “In order to allow our leaders to better inspire their teams, serve their customers and grow our business, we needed to simplify our business alignment and clarify roles so we can work together to build on our capabilities, accelerate our Commercial growth and improve our profitability.”

 

Jackson will continue to operate as the company’s chief executive officer and will focus on strategic and leadership development.  Additionally, the role of chief operating officer, which is held by Kevin Freeland, has been eliminated.  The role of Senior Vice President, Commercial Sales and Marketing, which is currently held by Donna Broome, has also been eliminated.  M

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