Newsmakers:” Looney named BDO partner

BANKING & FINANCE

Beth Looney, previously an assurance director in BDO USA’s Fort Worth office, has been named a partner, the company said. Looney will lead audit and accounting services for financial services clients.

“Beth is an excellent choice for the BDO partnership,” said Ron Martin, Southwest region assurance managing partner at BDO USA LLP. “Her experience helping clients implement new accounting standards and navigate the regulatory environment has made her a trusted adviser in Fort Worth.”

Looney has 16 years of experience. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Hedge Fund Association, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and Texas Wall Street Women. She earned both her MBA and her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington.

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ENERGY

Basic Energy Services Inc. has appointed David Schorlemer as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Schorlemer succeeds Alan Krenek, who retired as senior vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary.

GOVERNMENT

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Feyi Obamehinti of Keller to the Texas Diabetes Council for a term set to expire on Feb. 1, 2023. The council addresses issues affecting people with diabetes in Texas and advises the Legislature on legislation affecting people with diabetes and health professionals who offer treatment and education.

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Obamehinti is the managing director for Ravir LLC, an educational consulting and technical firm. She is a former educator and has volunteered as a mentor with the Dallas Independent School District and her local community center. She is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum, Women Impacting Public Policy Education Foundation and National Small Business Association Leadership. Obamehinti received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at Arlington, master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from Peru State College in Nebraska and a doctorate in education from Texas A&M University.

Abbott has appointed Roger Nober and Virginia Prodan to the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission for a terms set to expire on Feb. 1, 2021. The commission ensures that resources are available to students, educators and the public regarding the Holocaust and other genocides, as well as compiling lists of volunteers, survivors, liberators, scholars and clergy for educational program opportunities. The commission also coordinates events around the state.

Nober of Fort Worth is an executive vice president at BNSF Railway Co. He was previously appointed by President George W. Bush as chairman of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. He is a member of the Jewish Federation of Tarrant County, The Warm Place of Tarrant County, American Association of Railroads Policy Committee and the Northwestern University Transportation Center Advisory Council. He is a former member of the Texas 2030 Commission and former board member of Cook Children’s Medical Center. Nober received a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

HEALTH CARE

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Chris Yorkreturns to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Grapevine as president after four years serving at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Waxahachie.

York joined Baylor Scott & White in 2007. He was chief operating officer for Baylor Grapevine from 2011 to 2014.

York earned an MBA with a focus in health care administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

HONORS & AWARDS

HUB International was recently ranked the No. 1 independent property/casualty agency in the United States by the Insurance Journal. HUB, based in Chicago, has a major presence in Fort Worth, following the agency’s acquisition of The Rigg Group in 2007. According to the Insurance Journal, HUB International posted property/casualty revenues of $1.4 billion in 2017.

The Fort Worth Independent School District 2016-17 Annual Report won the Award of Excellence from the National School Public Relations Association. This is the highest award given in each of the various categories. The entries come from public and private schools and educational organizations across the country, as well as from private businesses that partner with schools.

Money Matters with Ken Moraif in Fort Worth has been named to the 2018 edition of the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers. The list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the United States.

This is the fifth annual FT 300 list, produced independently by the Financial Times in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the FT that provides business intelligence on the asset management industry.

RIA firms applied for consideration, having met a minimum set of criteria. Applicants were then graded on six factors: assets under management (AUM), AUM growth rate, years in existence, advanced industry credentials of the firm’s advisers, online accessibility and compliance records.

LAW

Anneke Cronje has joined Winstead’s Business Litigation Practice Group as an associate in the Fort Worth office. Cronje received her law degree, cum laude, from Baylor University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in international politics from Pennsylvania State University in 2010. She most recently practiced with Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP.

MEDIA

Gary Schneider, president and general manager at CBS 11 and TXA 21, has announced that Laurie Passman has been promoted to vice president and news director at KTVT-TV (CBS 11).

Passman has been the station’s assistant news director since August 2015. She succeeds Andrea Parquet-Taylor, who was promoted in July to vice president and station manager of KTVT and KTXA.

Prior to joining KTVT, Passman was assistant news director at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. She also previously was news director at KOB-TV in Albuquerque. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico School of Communication and Journalism.

RETAIL

GameStop Corp. has appointed Carrie Teffner to its board of directors. Teffner has 30 years of financial leadership and experience in the consumer products and retail industries and will serve on the audit committee. She has been executive vice president and chief financial officer of Crocs since 2015.

GameStop announced in June that Dawn Henry, a merchandising veteran from Walmart Stores Inc., will join the company as vice president of its ThinkGeek division.

The Grapevine-based retailer has also named Kris Ventura as vice president of Collectibles Merchandising for its GameStop video game business. Ventura has more than 28 years of experience in retail merchandising, product development, branding and sourcing, as well as in securing exclusive products and IP franchise and licensing agreements for several major retailers, including Michaels Stores, The Bombay Co. and Bloomingdale’s Department Stores.

Send newsmakers to Robert Francis at rfrancis@bizpress.net.