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Business news: Northwest Texas Healthcare System welcomes new HR director

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Business news: Northwest Texas Healthcare System welcomes new HR director

NWTHS announces new Human Resources Director

Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS), a 495-bed facility with over 2,000 employees serving the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and neighboring states, is excited to welcome Cheryl Jones as Human Resources Director.

Jones brings a wealth of leadership experience, with a focus on transforming workplace culture, optimizing productivity, and executing strategies that align with corporate objectives across complex organizations, according to a NWTHS release.

She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Abilene Christian University and her Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University. Jones is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the No Limits, No Excuses Partnership, a Gates Foundation initiative at the Amarillo Area Foundation.

WTEC to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week with $7,500 pitch event, workshops

A chance to win critical startup funding is on the line at the kickoff of the WT Enterprise Center’s celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

WTEC and America’s SBDC at WTAMU, both departments of West Texas A&M University’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, will host eight events from Nov. 18 to 22 at their Amarillo facility, 2300 N. Western St. in Amarillo. Qualifed business owners can compete in a private Nov. 18 pitch event, where the top three finalists will be awarded a share of $7,500. The event is sponsored by WTEC, SBDC, Amarillo National Bank and City Federal Credit Union. The three finalists will present their pitches to the public for the week-ending “Harvesting Success” event at 5 p.m. Nov. 22.

“Early-stage startups often struggle to secure funding,” said Zaida Cordova, WTEC community manager. “This event offers entrepreneurs a direct opportunity to compete for a share of $7,500, which can be used to fund growth and invest in their business.”

To qualify to make a pitch, business owners must be 18 years or older, make less than $75,000 in annual revenue, have been in business for less than two years prior to Nov. 15, and be located in one of the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Entrepreneurs will not be alone while preparing for the pitch event as both departments will offer no-cost assistance to entrepreneurs who wish to enter.

The week also will include several other presentations, all open to the public:

  • Nov. 18:
    • 6 to 8 p.m.: Learn about Blueprint, a strategic program that helps new entrepreneurs and startups outline and visualize their business model, concepts and plans for success.
  • Nov. 20:
    • 9 to 10:15 a.m.: “Supply Chain Insights: Strategies and Resources,” featuring panelists Dusty Delano from the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center; Jana Hoggatt, director of procurement at Bell Flight; Luke Austin, vice president of procurement at Austin Hose; and Kristi Russell, executive assistant at Midwest Machine. Each will share strategies to support supply chain processes and cut through delays.
    • 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: “Navigating Co-Packing Partnerships,” featuring panelists Delano; Brian Enevoldsen, managing director of the WTEC; Derek Skipworth, founder of Skip’s Mix; and Tami Potts, founder of Skip’s Salsa.
    • 3 to 5 p.m.: “Crafting Effective Prompts for ChatGPT and Beyond,” featuring Enevoldsen and Synapse AI Solutions co founders Parker Settle and Orry Skellton.
  • Nov. 21:
    • 8:30 to 11 a.m.: “Expand with GO TEXAN,” featuring Texas Department of Agriculture field representative Brianna McLaughlin and representatives from Creek House Honey Farm, Hot Ruby and Bar Z Winery. The GO TEXAN program helps businesses reach new markets and attract customers who are passionate about supporting Texas-made products.
    • 6 to 8 p.m.: “Unlocking AI for Your Side Hustle: From Idea to Income,” featuring Logan Higuera, founder of OpenOcean.
  • Nov. 22:
    • 5 to 8 p.m.: “Harvesting Success,” featuring a local vendor market in partnership with Ogallala Commons, including foods and produce from local producers, food trucks, live music and farm-to-table curated Thanksgiving boxes. The evening also will include the three finalists from the Nov. 18 pitch event.

“This week is an opportunity to focus on the small businesses who build successful communities, Enevoldsen said. “We want to invite the public to come join us for a week of great events and great food.”

For more information and to RSVP for events, visit WTEnterpriseCenter.com/GEW2024, or call 806-651-8500.

Amarillo Angels welcomes new co-executive director

The Board of Directors of Amarillo Angels has announced new Co-Executive Director, Sarena Carpenter, will join the team in leading the organization’s mission to walk alongside children, youth, and families in the foster care community.

Amarillo Angels said after an extensive search, Carpenter was selected for her experience, vision, and unwavering dedication to community service. With 18 years in management and organizational development, Carpenter brings a blend of expertise and passion for nonprofit work. Her dedication to community engagement aligns with Amarillo Angels’ core values of hope, community, empowerment, curiosity, and transformation to uplift families experiencing foster care in the top 41 counties of Texas.

“We are excited to welcome Sarena and are confident that her leadership will enhance our efforts to bring meaningful support to more families and children in foster care,” said the Amarillo Angels Board of Directors in a statement. “With Sarena and Co-Executive Director Gwen’s guidance, we look forward to expanding our impact and creating lasting transformation for those we serve.”

To learn more about their programs including Amarillo Angels’ Love Box and Dare to the Dream mentoring program and their events, or to connect with Carpenter, reach out to Amarillo Angels, located at 112 SW 8th Ave., Ste. 610, visithttps://www.amarilloangels.org/ or follow them on social media.

Physicians Surgical Hospitals ranked among Best Places to Work in Healthcare

Modern Healthcare has announced rankings for health care organizations recognized as Best Places to Work in Healthcare, with Physicians Surgical Hospitals returning to the list for the 11th year, ranking No. 32 among the top in the country.

“Each one of our team members goes home every day having made a difference in their work and that is a great accomplishment! I am not only honored but humbled to work with a stellar team like Physicians Surgical Hospitals. A persons place of employment has a great impact on their quality of life and we are proud to be recognized by team members for an eleventh time as a Best Place to Work,” said Bryan Bateman, CEO.

Physicians Surgical Hospitals joins five other entities from Ardent Health Services, the hospital’s parent company based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Modern Healthcare’s rankings are based on a confidential employee survey and in-depth questionnaire assessing overall satisfaction, work-life balance, communication, policies and practices, work environment and culture.

Physicians Surgical Hospitals, L.L.C. includes two surgical hospitals, Panhandle Surgical Hospital and Quail Creek Surgical Hospital, a physical therapy center, Quail Creek Physical Therapy and an imaging center, Advanced Imaging Center of Amarillo. For more information, visit physurg.com.

Amarillo College claims 5 prestigious national digital marketing awards

Amarillo College’s Communications and Marketing Department captured five national marketing awards from a leading authority on outstanding achievements in digital marketing for education.

The prestigious accolades come courtesy of the 12th Annual Education Digital Marketing (EDM) Awards, and AC captured Gold awards in the categories of Digital Publication — Teaching for Transformation magazine, Social Media Content Campaign — Bright Future, and Total Digital Marketing Program — Bright Future. The College additionally claimed a Silver award for Blogs — AC News Blog, and a Merit award for Digital Publication — First Responders Academy Case for Support.

AC emerged from a pool of distinguished colleges, universities and secondary schools from across the country that combined to submit more than 1,000 entries. “To be informed and assured that the digital marketing efforts of our talented and creative team are among those setting the bar nationally is not only gratifying for our department, but it’s extremely advantageous for our College, too,” said Kevin Ball, AC’s vice president of communications and marketing. “I believe the College is poised to excel as the digital world continues to evolve because we are always willing to explore the boundaries of what is possible.”

Meat science student named WT Intern of the Year

CANYON — A meat science major who tackled major projects for the country’s largest sausage company is West Texas A&M University’s Intern of the Year for 2024.

Helene Keiser, a junior animal science major from Gothenburg, Nebraska, was honored for her work at Johnsonville during a Nov. 13 reception in the lobby of WT’s Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building on the Canyon campus. As Intern of the Year, Keiser will receive a $1,000 scholarship and will be submitted for the national Cooperative Education & Internship Association Academic Intern of the Year award.

“Selecting WT’s Intern of the Year is always a challenge, but a welcome one,” said Shelby Ford, assistant director of WT’s Office of Career and Professional Development. “Helene stood out because of her ability to integrate community service into her internship and how she was able to capitalize on the connections she made during her time at Johnsonville to further her undergraduate research work.”

Keiser is a member of the national-champion WT Meat Science Quiz Bowl team and the Meat Judging team, which has won two major competitions this season. Keiser, who worked in Johnsonville’s sourcing department, was one of 20 interns from around the country employed over the summer at the Wisconsin-based company. During her internship, Keiser helped restart Johnsonville’s annual Brat Fry, held for the first time in five years, and organized two office fundraisers to cover the event’s overhead costs, ultimately helping Johnsonville raise more than $6,500 for Feeding America–Eastern Wisconsin. She also developed her own presentation, “Beef 101,” in which she educated more than 70 coworkers about the beef processing industry and how it differs from the pork industry, with which they were more familiar.

Among the 17 other WT students who were nominated for Intern of the Year are Katrina Henderson, a senior computer science major from Amarillo, who interned for Sandia National Laboratories; Sydney Larkin, a junior communication major from Pampa, who interned for Bell Textron; Luis Martinez, a senior general business major from Pampa, who interned for American Quarter Horse Association; M’Kenna McFadden, a senior animal science major from Lubbock, who interned for Cactus Feeders; Luke Parrott, a senior electrical engineering major from Canyon, who interned for Xcel Energy; Calvin Pham, a senior finance major from Amarillo, who interned for Raytheon; and Cesar Rivero-Figueroa, a senior mechanical engineering major from Amarillo, who interned for Altura Engineering and Design.

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