- BSA Health System announced a round of recent promotions. Katrina Tokar, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, was named new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Courtney Haschke was promoted to Bio-Medical Engineering Manager. Jeremy Hendrick was named Safety Manager. Mark Romero was promoted to PBX Manager. Kiersten Adams was named Front Office Manager at BSA Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic. Marylou Cordova, RN, was promoted to Manager of Quality Improvement and Infection Prevention. K’Lynne Reed, RN, MSN was promoted to Manager of Renal/Family Medicine. Brian Everett joined the BSA team as Project Manager in the Facilities Services Department.
- Power Church plans expansion at land located at 27th and Osage. A building campaign is underway to finance the building of a larger church.
- Jacy Jenks started a nonprofit consulting firm, The Nonprofit Connection. Jenks has more than 20 years of fundraising experience and wants to connect nonprofits with expert services.
- BSA Advanced Wound Care opened a second location at 1500 Wallace Blvd., the former location of Harrington Cancer Center. The care center is part of the new BSA Medical Office Building.
- After 42 years, BSA Health System President and CEO Bob Williams has announced his plans to retire, effective March 31, 2022. Williams will continue to serve BSA in a consultative role through the end of the year while a national search for his successor takes place.
- Andrea Vance has joined Leslie Massey Farmers Insurance as an agency producer. Vance was a property manager in both residential and commercial property for 18 years.
- Amarillo College announced that its Communications and Marketing Department emerged from the Ninth Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards with five national collegiate marketing accolades—two at the topmost Gold level. AC received Gold awards for:
Total Digital Marketing Program
Social Media Content Campaign
The College captured three Silver awards for:
Digital Video: Under 2 minutes
Digital Publication
Outstanding Work in Blog - High Plains Food Bank received a $250,000 donation from AIG Foundation to continue the food bank’s mission throughout the Texas Panhandle. According to a news release from the food bank, the $250,000 donation from the AIG Foundation comes from the $2 million contribution the foundation made to Feeding America.
- The Amarillo South Rotary presented the 2021 Amarillo South Rotary County Deputy of the Year Award to Deputy Jonathan Gates.
- Sarah Walter joined Estacar Companies as the payroll specialist. Walter has more than a decade of experience in payroll and bookkeeping services.
- The Amarillo College Board of Regents announced the acquisition of property located at 7161 I-40 West. The College plans to use the property in the next 3 to 5 years to relocate some of its technical education programs currently being delivered on the East Campus.
- Joseph “Joe” Rogers was reappointed CEO of Panhandle Independent Living Center. He previously served as a member of the Amarillo Commission on People with Disabilities.
- American Land Title announced Cleta Johnson joined the team as an escrow officer. Johnson has more than 15 years of experience.
- Amarillo Symphony announced Larry Lang as its new executive director. Lang is set to begin his duties as the symphony’s executive director in March. Lang was previously the executive director of the Flagstaff Symphony.
- Suzanne Wheeler, the managing director of Mariner Wealth Advisors, was named No. 22 in Texas in Forbes’ list of Top Women Wealth Advisors—Best In State.
- Gizem Levent joined the faculty of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo as an assistant professor of epidemiology. Levent began her duties on Jan. 3.
- Animal Management and Welfare announced a partnership with Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, which will provide veterinary students with educational resources and hands-on care of shelter animals. The partnership includes a clinical rotation development program at the AAMW facility.
- Dr. Anitha Subburaj was named to a new McFather Professorship of Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics in the WTAMU College of Engineering. The position is meant to inspire underrepresented students in STEM fields.
- West Texas A&M University’s online undergraduate program was named best in Texas and No. 24 in the country, according to newly released 2022 rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
- 1910 PR, the student-run public relations firm at West Texas A&M University, announced its executive leadership team for the spring 2022 semester. Hannah Valencia, a senior communication studies major, will serve as executive director. Adam Jiwa, a master’s student in the Department of Communication, will serve as assistant director. Claudia Hicks, a senior communication studies-strategic communication major, will also serve as assistant director.
- Education Credit Union and West Texas A&M University announced the conversion of the existing ECU branch at 2100 Fourth Ave. in Canyon into a student-led Buff $mart Branch after construction is complete on the new ECU Branch at 1900 FM 2590 in Canyon. The full-service retail branch will provide the same financial services to ECU members that all branches offer, but outside of a few management-level ECU staffers, all other employees will be WT students.
- Education Credit Union’s President and CEO Eric Jenkins announced that ECU received a Bauer Financial 5-Star Sustained Superiority rating for 2022, and has been named a Best of Bauer Credit Union. ECU has earned and maintained Bauer’s 5-star rating for 30 consecutive years.
- FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) School Spirit Card Program has given back more than $32,000 to participating Texas Panhandle schools. The program has given more than $82,000 since its inception in 2019.
- Brown & Fortunato announced that Allison L. Davis, shareholder and director in the firm, earned board certification in labor and employment law. Beth Anne Jackson, shareholder and member of the firm’s Health Care Group, earned board certification in health law. Davis is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment and Litigation teams. Jackson has more than 21 years of experience representing health care, corporate and nonprofit entities.
- Xcel Energy delivered high-efficiency LED light bulbs and faucet aerators for distribution through food pantries and social service agencies in the company’s Texas service area. The efficiency improvements will help customers reduce utility bills.
- City of Amarillo Vital Statistics Team received the Exemplary Five Star Award for 2021 from the State of Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services defines the Five Star Award as the acknowledgement of Vital Statistics Partners that understand the importance of vital statistics and its impact on the citizens of Texas. This award honors Partners who go above and beyond the duties of birth and death registration by attending training and keeping up with the latest legislation and trends.
- Turn Center has named Amy Lovell as its Executive Director. Lovell assumed responsibilities in December 2021, succeeding Connie Wootton.
- Lovelady, Christy + Associates, PLLC (LCA) and Terra Accounting and Consulting, PLLC have merged to form LPT CPAs + Advisors, PLLC. The merger brings together a firm led by Samuel B. Lovelady and Terry Pruiett with Johnny Terra.
- Stephen Crandall, head of WTAMU’s Department of Art, Theater and Dance was named the artistic director of the TEXAS Musical.
- Amarillo National Bank announced a round of recent promotions. Cody Bivens was promoted to Senior Vice President and Commercial Lender. Tracy Patrick is now Senior Vice President and Mortgage Lender. Jessica Beghtel was promoted to Vice President, Mortgage Loans. Brenda Davis advanced to Vice President, Personal Investments. Robin Lannou was promoted to Vice President. Heather Price, a fixture in Mortgage Loans, is now Vice President. Erik Schrader has been with ANB since 1997, now serving as Vice President. Laura Bryant and Lilia Childers were promoted to Assistant Vice President.
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