Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations SKM Communication Strategies LLC promoted Jaime Hopkins to senior account executive. Hopkins has more than seven years of communications and marketing experience in industries including energy, government and commercial real estate. Since joining SKM in 2012, Hopkins has helped to execute strategic communications efforts both regionally and nationally for clients such as TransCanada Corp., Peloton Land Solutions Inc., Studios 121 and Riley Exploration Group. Jennifer Riddle is the new digital strategist at Balcom Agency. Riddle has more than 15 years of digital media experience in industries such as transportation, oil and gas, consumer products and hospitality. After beginning her career at a start-up ad agency, she served at TM Advertising, Carat North America and Integer Group. She has worked with regional and national clients, including Jack Daniel’s, RadioShack, Greyhound and Bell Helicopter. At Balcom, Riddle will develop and streamline digital strategies for clients, including Justin Boots, USMD Health System and United Way of Tarrant County.
Aviation United Rotorcraft, an Air Methods Division, added two key members to its Decatur team, Bob Youngreen and Everett Horst. Youngreen joins as account manager in the global sales and marketing department, and Horst as director of Decatur operations. A 30-year industry veteran, Youngreen started as a technician for Rocky Mountain Helicopters, working in utility and logging operations around the western United States. In the late 1980s, he transitioned to supporting Rocky Mountain’s emergency medical services fleet, eventually serving as director of maintenance and vice president of business development. Prior to joining United Rotorcraft, Youngreen served as aftermarket sales manager for MD Helicopters Inc. and as the director of maintenance for Omniflight Helicopters Inc. In his new role, he will focus on airborne law enforcement, search and rescue, corporate and utility. Horst has worked in the aviation industry for more than 30 years. He began his career in aviation working for Addison Avionics as avionic supervisor, later working for San Francisco Emergency Nurses Association as completions manager. He co-founded two companies – Premier Aviation (1989) and Heritage Aviation (2001) – where he served as vice president.
Construction & Engineering Charley Mock joined Freese and Nichols’ energy division as an account director in the Fort Worth office. Mock has 22 years of experience specializing in business development for energy, environmental, engineering and construction management firms and organizations. He will play a key role in the management and operation of large, complex infrastructure projects for energy facilities, and water resource development and environmental protection programs. Dallas-based construction company Skiles Group hired Keyan Zandy as the director of operations, a new position. Zandy is an industry-recognized leader in Lean Construction and has spoken both nationally and internationally on various lean topics. He previously served as program committee chairman of Lean Construction Institute’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter. Zandy was a project manager at Linbeck Group before joining Skiles Group. His work includes projects for Universal Health Services, Cook Children’s Health Care System and The Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth.
Honors & Awards Laura Mattingly, an instructor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center for the past five years, is the recipient of the 2014 Rising Star Award from the Physician Assistant Education Association. In 2012, Mattingly received the University President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, and in 2014, she was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award by the PA program’s graduating class. Peggy Harum, a dietitian at Renal Ventures Management LLC, received the 2013-2014 Outstanding Service Award from the Renal Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Harum received the award for her service in the advancement of renal nutrition, including her editorial contributions to multiple journals and publications, efforts on behalf of numerous renal organizations and her longstanding membership in AND. The American Institute of Architects Fort Worth recently presented seven awards to Fort Worth architects to recognize excellence in design. Receiving merit awards were the Erma Lowe Hall at Texas Christian University’s School of Classic & Contemporary Dance and Silo in Nashville, Tenn. The TCU project was designed by Bennett Benner Partners Architects + Planners while the Nashville restaurant was designed by Ibanez Architecture, Gregory S. Ibanez, principal. The architectural team at Bart Shaw received citation awards for its G Model tent/table and for its Paintball building as well as the team at Norman Ward for improvements to a home in Overton Ridge. Bart Shaw also received studio awards for Memory Fairmount Park and Sewn, a Triangle Fire Memorial Design. Texas Oncology-Fort Worth 8th Ave. has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology by the American College of Radiology, becoming the first ACR-accredited facility in Tarrant County and one of only three in North Texas. This Old House named Aquasana to its fourth annual “The TOH Top 100,” a list of the 100 new home products of the year. Aquasana, which makes drinking water filters, has its executive and marketing teams in Austin and its sales and operations facility in Haltom City.
Law Bourland, Wall & Wenzel PC welcomes its newest associate attorney, Sadie Harrison-Fincher. Her practice focuses on business planning, business transactions and real estate law for business and individuals. She was admitted into the State Bar of Texas in 2003.
Nonprofit Organizations Ludi Navarro joined Camp Fire First Texas as the vice president of the Group Services Division. She has 20 years of experience in education and nonprofit management, supporting children as a program director, elementary bilingual teacher and elementary school administrator. She will oversee the management and program direction for nine after-school programs in Tarrant and Parker counties and two summer day camps.
Radio & Television CBS 11 added Gilma Avalos and Lisa Villegas as the on-air team for the CBS 11 News Saturday Morning (8-9 a.m.) and CBS 11 News Sunday Morning (7-8 a.m.). News anchor Avalos was most recently a reporter for WTVJ-TV in Miami. Prior to that, she was an anchor/reporter for News 12 in the Bronx, N.Y. Meteorologist Villegas joined CBS 11 from KRGV-TV in Weslaco, Texas, where she was the weekday morning and noon meteorologist. Prior to that, she was the weekend morning and evening meteorologist at KLFY-TV in Lafayette, La.
Real Estate Visions Realty & Investments welcomes J. Paul Sligar as senior sales associate. Sligar, a Realtor, has been in the real estate industry for more than 25 years and has worked in residential brokerage with Keller Williams, new home sales with David Weekley Homes and in the REO market as owner of JPS Investments.
Send newsmakers to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net
The T re-elects Mahaffey as board chairman The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) re-elected Scott Mahaffey, president and CEO of Cohn & Gregory Inc., as chairman of its board for 2015. Andre McEwing, manager of supplier diversity for Tarrant County College District, was re-elected vice chair; and Carter Burdette, attorney and former Fort Worth City Council member, was re-elected secretary. Other returning board members are Jeff Davis, chairman, Fort Worth Division of Republic Title and former Fort Worth City Council member; Dennis Dunkins Sr., retired Fort Worth school administrator and former Fort Worth Parks Board member; Jeff King, head of the Fort Worth office of the Northern Trust Co.; Ken Newell, a developer and owner of Newell Companies; and Neftali Ortiz, Lockheed Martin engineer and former chairman of Fort Worth’s Zoning Commission. The T also introduced new board member Jon Michael Franks, who was appointed by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. Franks is an attorney with the Wynne Law Firm’s Grapevine office.