The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer has named Tracey Burke as the organization’s controller, replacing Sharleen Turner who is retiring from her longtime position.
Ms. Burke will officially join the foundation staff on Nov. 6. Ms.Turner will continue with the foundation during a transition period, working closely with Ms. Burke at the foundation’s new headquarters in downtown Chattanooga.
Ms. Burke is leaving her position as chief financial officer at the regional law firm of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC based in Chattanooga, where she has worked for 19 years overseeing all financial functions. She is a certified public accountant and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Georgia College and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee.
Previously, Ms. Burke was controller and assistant secretary at Synthetic Industries, Inc. in Chickamauga, where she worked from 1984-1996, then controller at Northshore Communications, Inc. in Chattanooga from 1996-98.
Ms. Burke, a resident of nearby Dalton, also has extensive experience in community service, which will serve her well at the foundation, officials said. She serves as treasurer of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Dalton and formerly was treasurer for the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia from 2009-15.
“I wouldn’t call this a career move but rather a personal move,” Ms. Burke said. “I have a terrific job at the firm. This will just be something different for me. I want to do something special and you can’t do any better in that regard than working with the Austin Hatcher Foundation. I am so impressed with everything they do.”
“Tracey’s qualifications as a longtime controller and CFO are impeccable, which is going to make her invaluable to our efforts as we continue to grow our organization and expand our services to young cancer patients and their families,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn. Sharleen Turner has done a fantastic job during her years with us. We are grateful for her service – and also grateful that she has agreed to stay on and help Tracey get established.”