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This feature is a question-and-answer session with a Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 241st installment visiting with Stan Norris, assistant tournament director for the Smoky Mountain Championship presented by Food City.

Tell me about the Smoky Mountain Championship. I am part of an event management company that specializes in running professional golf tournaments and events across the country and specifically one in Blount County at Green Meadow Country Club. We strive to operate high quality events with a positive financial and charitable impact for the communities that we serve.

How did you get started? I got started as an intern with one of our tournaments in Knoxville in 2014 and 2016 and was hired by the PGA Tour but paired with our group in a training program on how to run professional golf tournaments from 2017-2020 and then was officially hired by our company in July 2020.

Describe your clients. Our client is any business who is looking to build relationships with clients or prospects outside of the office, reward employees, or who want to promote their brand in the area through our professional golf tournament.

What are three things you wish you knew when you started? How detailed you have to be to run a successful event, how different each day is working in this business, and how much time goes into finding the right people to partner with for our events.

Edfinancial Services announced a series of strategic leadership appointments that reflect the company’s sustained growth to reinforce its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and long-term stability across all business divisions.

As part of this transition, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Tony Hollin has appointed John Farinella (pictured) as President of Edfinancial Services. Farinella previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and brings more than three decades of leadership experience within the student loan servicing industry. “John’s deep understanding of our industry, combined with his steady leadership and genuine care for people, has been instrumental in shaping Edfinancial’s success,” said Hollin. “I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the organization into its next chapter.”

Farinella joined Edfinancial in 1993 after serving in multiple leadership roles at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Over the past 30+ years, he has played a critical role in building Edfinancial’s operational strength and culture of service. As President, Farinella will continue to work with Hollin, ensuring continuity in leadership and strategic alignment. “Edfinancial has never stopped evolving,” said Farinella. “From operational excellence to the responsible integration of new technologies like artificial intelligence, we remain focused on becoming stronger and more efficient every day. I’m honored to help lead the company forward.”

While transitioning the President title, Hollin will remain CEO, continuing to guide the company’s overall strategic direction and focusing on innovation and growth across all three divisions of the company: Edfinancial, Edamerica, and Medfinancial.

With Farinella’s appointment, Marc Bitsko has been named Chief Operating Officer. Bitsko joined Edfinancial in 2022 as Director of Operations and was later promoted to Vice President. He brings more than 25 years of industry experience, including over two decades at PHEAA, where he oversaw federal contract management and large-scale operations. “My journey reminds me that growth is never a solo achievement,” said Bitsko. “I’m grateful for the leaders and teams who shaped my career, and I look forward to empowering others as we continue driving Edfinancial’s success.”

Additionally, Elena Lubimtsev, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations, has been appointed President of Medfinancial, one of the company’s fastest-growing

divisions. Lubimtsev has been with Edfinancial since 2000 and has led the development and expansion of Medfinancial for more than a decade. She will continue serving as Government Relations Officer, representing the company with industry partners and government stakeholders. “Edfinancial has never been just a place of employment for me,” said Lubimtsev. “We built this company together, and I am honored to lead Medfinancial into its next phase of growth.”

Edfinancial also announced the promotion of Nickie Jernigan to Senior Vice President of Edamerica

Operations. Nickie brings extensive experience in operational leadership, technology, and client service. Since joining Edfinancial, she has led loan origination teams, launched a systems and solutions department focused on agile development, and overseen contact center operations and workforce management across multiple divisions. “Nickie’s consistency, integrity, and commitment to excellence make her an outstanding leader for Edamerica,” said Farinella. “She truly cares about our employees and our clients, and I can always count on her to do the right things.”

Edfinancial also announced several additional leadership promotions:

• Beau Hollin has been promoted to Vice President of Innovations & Productivity, where he will focus on leveraging technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency and productivity across all divisions.
• Sherrie Burke has been promoted to Vice President of Compliance, recognizing her leadership in regulatory oversight and her instrumental role in the successful launch of Edfinancial’s newest servicing contract.
• Tori Watson has been promoted to Vice President, Regional Director for Edamerica, following exceptional regional growth and sustained client success.

“These leadership changes position Edfinancial to remain competitive, resilient, and forward-thinking,” said Hollin. “Together, this team reflects the values of excellence, innovation, and service that define who we are.”

Edfinancial Services has experienced significant growth over the past three years, and these appointments ensure the organization is well-prepared to meet future challenges with confidence and strength.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for January 12, 2026.

Please complete this form if you are interested in traveling to Nashville February 17–19 for the Blount Chamber’s annual advocacy visit to the General Assembly and elected officials. You will received further information as the trip nears.

Performance Food Group is pleased to announce that Laura Burchfield has been promoted to VP of National Accounts for PFS Corporate effective 12/28/2025. She will report to Shaun Kastner, Corporate VP of National Accounts & Business Development.

Laura joined RFS in January 2008 as a National Account Manager/Customer Service Supervisor in Louisville, TN. In 2015, she was promoted to a Corporate National Account Manager and managed 4 concepts for 29 OpCos with over 1B in sales. With Laura’s leadership, she achieved a 22% increase in targeted exclusive brand conversions. In this role, she won numerous awards from our vendors for her outstanding leadership and customer service.

Laura is on the External Partnership Committee for Women of PFG and is a member of WFF. She is very engaged in her community as demonstrated by the many boards she is on (Blount Memorial Hospital Foundation, First United Methodist Church, 100+ Women Who Care of Sevier County). Additionally, she still finds time to volunteer for many other community events. Please join us in congratulating Laura on her promotion and supporting her in her new role

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for January 5, 2026.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for December 29, 2025.

UT Federal Credit Union (UTFCU) shared the spirit of the season with residents of the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans’ Home through a series of festive events and thoughtful contributions. Coordinated by UTFCU’s Kindness Committee, these efforts created meaningful moments of joy and connection for retired veterans and their families throughout November and December.

UTFCU first partnered with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) to provide tickets for the veterans to attend ETCH’s annual Fantasy of Trees event on November 26. Residents enjoyed the dazzling holiday displays and décor, with UTFCU staff volunteers assisting as wheelchair pushers to ensure a comfortable and inclusive experience for attendees.

On December 12, UTFCU volunteers rejoined the veterans’ home to host a festive holiday party. Staff members helped decorate the space, distributed goodie bags, assisted with bingo, and spent time visiting with residents. Adding to the celebration, UTFCU Director of Member Solutions Ron Arms served as DJ and bingo caller, creating a lively and engaging afternoon.

“It was an honor to support our veterans, and spending time listening to their stories filled with courage, resilience, and lots of laughs was a gift I’ll always cherish,” said Kindness Committee Chair, Sarah Messer. “I am so grateful for our amazing team whose hard work and heart made this special day possible. We can’t wait to go back next year!”

In addition to these events, departments and branches across UTFCU each sponsored a resident of the veterans’ home for the holidays, supporting a total of 20 veterans. Teams shopped for personalized gifts based on individual Christmas wish lists, ensuring each resident will have something meaningful to open on Christmas Day.

The Tennessee State Veterans’ Homes have served veterans across the state since 1991, providing skilled nursing care and individualized accommodations that promote comfort, dignity, and respect. UTFCU is proud to support Ben Atchley’s activity programming, which plays an essential role in promoting socialization and engagement among residents.

UT Federal Credit Union remains committed to building lasting relationships and supporting organizations that serve the community, particularly those who have given so much in service to others.

Click to view the online version of the Blount Partnership weekly newsletter for December 22, 2025.