Former Whitfield County EMS director John Hitchens has joined the Greater Chattanooga Area Chapter of the American Red Cross as program services director, and former Dalton resident Claudia Moore is leading the chapter’s marketing and public relations effort.

Hitchens is responsible for disaster services, Service to the Armed Forces (SAF), and health and safety. He served as the EMS director in Whitfield County for 21 years, building the Emergency Medical Services department from the ground up. He also served on the board of directors for the Dalton Whitfield American Red Cross for seven years, including as vice chair and chairman.

A former Army medical corpsman with service in Vietnam and a paramedic, Hitchens is a graduate of Covenant College and Central Michigan University, where he earned a master’s in health care administration.

Moore, a graduate of Wichita State University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School executive education program, recently relocated from Kansas City, Mo., where she owned a consulting practice assisting nonprofits with their branding, public relations and marketing efforts. Her background includes various assignments at Sprint managing the telecom company’s long distance advertising, branding, revenue enhancement and channel development programs.

Prior to that she supervised Wal-Mart’s national advertising and served as advertising manager for The Krystal Co.

Mary Frank Madera joins the Red Cross as director of development with a background in managing corporate giving programs for the United Way in Chattanooga as well as leading the Cookeville, Tenn., and Guntersville, Ala., United Way offices as executive director.

A graduate of Tennessee Technological University, her experience includes development work with the Cheekwood Museum of Art, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Arts Council of Marion County.

Red Cross officials said the moves are designed to enhance the chapter’s delivery of services and build its presence in the community.

“We are fortunate to have the talent and experience of these three consummate professionals. Their backgrounds will complement the team already in place and enhance our ability to accomplish our mission,” said Barbara Alexander, executive director.

The Greater Chattanooga Area Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. For more information, call (423) 265-3455 or visit www.chattanoogaredcross.org.