The Simple Greek, a Pittsburgh-based “fast casual” Greek food franchise chain, has signed a lease for a new location inside the new Publix-anchored Midtown Center near the corner of Old Shell Road and North Florida Street. This is the concept’s first Mobile location. Amber Hightower Dedeaux with Vallas Realty represented the landlord. Charlie Sutherland of Capital Growth Real Estate worked for the tenant.

   • Comprehensive Pain & Rehabilitation (CPR) recently announced its move to a newly built office space located in Fairhope from its former site in Daphne. This new office will offer a procedure and recovery suite for interventional spine procedures, labs and exam rooms as well as expanded onsite patient parking. The total facility footprint encompasses nearly 5,500 square feet.  

   CPR is a multidisciplinary medical practice that offers diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain using an integrated program of interventional pain medicine, behavioral medicine and functional rehabilitation. The practice includes a team of physicians who are board certified and fellowship trained in anesthesiology, pain medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation. CPR has clinic locations in Fairhope, Mobile, Pascagoula and Biloxi.  

   • According to Lee Dale Younce with JLL, national cell phone retailer Verizon Wireless recently leased some 1,200 square feet of store space situated within the University Square shopping center, at 5821 Old Shell Road in Mobile. Plans are in place to open doors in late summer according to Younce, who managed both sides of the transaction.

   • A 28,000-square-foot shopping center site is currently under construction in Baldwin County and will reportedly be called Daphne Commons, according to Buff Teague with JLL, who is handling leasing work alongside Chip Lavigne, project owner and developer. Lavigne will announce incoming tenants in the near future.

    The site — designed to accommodate both restaurants and retail — will be built near The Infirmary Health Eastern Shore Center at 7101 U.S. Highway 90 in Daphne. 

   • Per Stacy Ryals with Hosteeva Realty, a new, nearly 100-unit apartment complex will be built on roughly five acres of property near East 20th Avenue in Gulf Shores. The site was acquired for $775,000 by local area speculators who will be developing the property. Timelines for initial construction and/or completion were unknown as of press time.     

CSU selects new president

    Orange Beach-based Columbia Southern University (CSU) has promoted COO Ken Styron into the role of university president effective May 1. The university’s board of trustees nominating committee voted the appointment to replace CSU’s current president, Robert Mayes Jr.

   In his new role, Styron will focus on policies, procedures, execution of strategy and day-to-day operations. The ceremony for Styron’s inauguration will take place in conjunction with CSU’s 2018 commencement ceremony on Friday, Oct. 19, an event that will also honor the university’s 25th anniversary.

   During his tenure with CSU, Styron has worked at levels of increasing responsibility including his current role of COO, chief of staff, chief information officer, vice president of instructional design and technology, and director of information technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information science from the University of South Alabama and a master’s from CSU.

   “During my time at CSU, I have seen this university grow from a small, public safety college in Orange Beach … to an international university that’s helped thousands of adult learners. I am committed to continuing this mission,” Styron said.

   Styron will be CSU’s third president following the university’s co-founder Robert G. Mayes (1993-2005) and the university’s current president and co-founder Robert Mayes Jr., who took office in September 2005. Upon Styron’s transition, Mayes will continue in his role of CEO of Columbia Southern Education Group, CSU’s parent company.    

   Recognized and accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, CSU currently offers online associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business administration, criminal justice, fire administration and occupational safety and health. More information about programs can be found on the school’s website. 

UWSWA taps Chenoweth

   United Way of Southwest Alabama (UWSWA) recently announced Jill Chenoweth as the new president and CEO of the local nonprofit headquartered in downtown Mobile at 218 St. Francis St. Chenoweth has served as UWSWA vice president of resource development since October 2017.

   “I am excited and honored to be starting this new chapter as president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Alabama,” Chenoweth said. “I look forward to continuing my work with the southwest Alabama community to raise much-needed funds for UWSWA partner agencies, which provide programs and services to the citizens of Southwest Alabama.”

   Chenoweth has held several leadership positions in local nonprofit organizations and academic institutions in the area, per a news release. Prior to her work for UWSWA, she was director of development for St. Mary’s Home, a residential treatment program for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

   “After a rigorous process, we believe Ms. Chenoweth has the experience and skills necessary to lead United Way of Southwest Alabama,” Charles Hyland, director of Mobile Area Water & Sewer System and 2017 chairman of the UWSWA board, said. “Her ability to lead a team, work effectively with our partners and supporters, drive measurable impact and build strategically are some of the skills that will serve her well in her new position.”

   Chenoweth graduated from Spring Hill College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She has also participated in and provided leadership to numerous board committees locally. Currently, she serves as a member of Mobile United, the Junior League of Mobile and The South Alabama Coalition of Nonprofits.

   Created in 1926 as a Community Chest, UWSWA serves Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, and Washington counties. Goals of the nonprofit include strengthening communities by focusing on uniting and mobilizing resources that support education, financial stability, health and access to basic life essentials. UWSWA has raised and invested over $256 million in local area communities to help to facilitate positive community progress.