REGIONALREPORT Western
ASHEVILLE — Mission Hospital hired Jill Hoggard Green as chief operating officer. A registered nurse with more than 31 years of health-care experience, she will start Oct. 1. She had been regional COO for PeaceHealth, which operates nine hospitals in Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
MORGANTON — Norwegian furniture maker Ekornes ASA plans to open a $1 million factory here by 2012, creating up to 58 jobs, which will make it eligible for $100,000 in state incentives.
BREVARD — Brevard College named the Rev. David C. Joyce, president of Ripon College in Wisconsin since 2003, its 13th president. He will replace interim President Charles Teague Jan. 1.
ETOWAH — Kiln Drying Systems & Components launched a $1.4 million expansion that will double its workforce to 38. The company specializes in lumber-drying systems. The average wage for the new jobs will be $50,000.
ASHEVILLE — Blue Ridge Parkway officials are considering adding an overlook that would provide a view of Asheville. Officials didn’t release an estimate of how much it would cost or when a decision would be made.
CHEROKEE — Visitors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park fell 17.6% in June compared with the same time last year. However, traffic entering the park here was down by only 1.7%.