Five former officials at Verizon Communications who collaborated on numerous public policy efforts for more than a decade have created Public Policy Solutions, a consulting firm that offers strategic public policy, public affairs and public relations services to businesses and organizations both locally and nationally.
The founders of Public Policy Solutions have more than 150 years of combined experience in working with federal and state policy makers, community and educational leaders, corporate officials, nonprofit organizations and the news media. With offices in Colleyville and Austin, the firm offers services including lobbying, procurement, coalition building, community relations, media strategies, social media placement and monitoring, philanthropy, crisis communications and external communications.
The company’s managing partners are: Steve Banta, former group president for Verizon Communications; Joe King, a leader in nonprofit management, marketing, government affairs and fundraising; Bill Kula, a public relations, media relations and crisis communications executive; Richard B. Lawson, an Austin-based government relations executive in Texas for state and federal legislative advocacy; and David O. Russell, an experienced public relations executive nationally recognized in advocacy communications.
“Because Public Policy Solutions partners have operated nationally and in Texas for more than 30 years, we have an extensive network of relationships with local, state and federal leaders that help achieve business goals for existing groups and new entities moving into the economically vibrant region,” said Banta.
Bible Translation
Shawn Ring has been appointed chief information officer of Seed Company, a Wycliffe Bible Translators affiliate. Ring has more than 20 years of leadership experience in ministry, technology and business. He will lead the information management team and be responsible for establishing the company’s technical vision. Most recently, Ring was executive pastor for Gateway Church in Dallas, where he led teams that created technology-based ministries. Previously, Ring was president and chief technology officer of Assemble Communications. In 1996, he co-founded Integrity Online, a filtered Internet service provider. Ring has started, counseled and overseen businesses and ministries in a dozen countries.
Boards & Organizations
The National Association of Home Builders named Matt Motes, a member of Decker Jones’ Construction Section, to serve on the Legal Action Committee. The committee determines what builders will be financially supported in litigation. Motes joins lawyers from across the United States and will serve through 2017.
The officers and board for 2016 of the Greater Fort Worth Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America are: President Liz Confiliano, Moncrief Cancer Institute and Innovador LLC; Vice President Claire Bloxom Armstrong, PAVLOV Agency; Vice President of Programs Lisa Albert, Justin Brands Inc.; Treasurer Beth Lamb, Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth; Treasurer-elect Brian Murnahan, Murnahan Public Relations; Secretary Jill Anderson, ACH Child & Family Services; and Past President Michelle Clark, Texas Christian University. Directors are Julie O’Neil, Texas Christian University; Kay Barkin, MHMR of Tarrant County; and Laura Van Hoosier, Blue Zones Project at Texas Health Resources. Assembly delegates are Carol Murray, Blue Zones Project Fort Worth/Healthways; and Gigi Westerman, The S&G Group.
Distribution
TTI Inc. promoted Scott Slack to the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer. Slack succeeds Nick Kypreos, who retired after 31 years with TTI. Slack will assume direct responsibility for managing TTI’s financial services for North America, Europe and Asia.
Health Care
Life Care Center of Haltom hired new executive director, Randy West. West joins Life Care Center from PruittHealth in Savannah, Georgia, where he was administrator for two years. Prior to that, he was administrator for Laurel Bay Health Care in Macon, Georgia. He has 21 years of experience in senior care and began his career as a respiratory therapist.
Honors & Awards
Brothers Bill Renfro, CEO emeritus, and Jack Renfro, COO emeritus, of the 75-year-old family business Renfro Foods, were inducted into the Specialty Food Association’s Hall of Fame on Jan. 18. The event took place during the annual Winter Fancy Food Show’s Hall of Fame Ceremony and Leadership Awards in San Francisco. They were inducted along with 46 other food industry pioneers who helped build the specialty food industry. The brothers grew up in the business that was founded in 1940 by their parents, George and Arthurine Renfro. As CEO, Bill managed sales, accounting, purchasing and corporate strategy. Jack, as COO, handled manufacturing, maintenance, shipping and receiving and oversaw the company’s strategic plant expansions. Both, after a half-century of running the company, now consult and advise.
Lena Pope’s Marty Leonard Community Chapel received the 25-Year Award from the American Institute of Architects Fort Worth. The award recognizes architectural design of enduring significance and is presented to a project that has stood the test of time for 25 to 35 years. The building of the chapel was influenced by its namesake, Marty Leonard, a long-time leading advocate and supporter of Lena Pope, a nonprofit that provides mental health, substance abuse treatment and family support services. The chapel was built to serve the youth and families of Lena Pope and opened in 1990. It also provides a setting for weddings, renewals of vows, church services and other ceremonies. The Marty Leonard Chapel was designed by award-winning architect E. Fay Jones (1921 – 2004).
Law
Monica Narvaez has been promoted to shareholder at The Underwood Law Firm PC. Narvaez focuses her practice on providing labor and employment advice to employers of all sizes. She also regularly advises health care providers in regulatory matters before state and federal agencies. Before joining Underwood, Narvaez defended state and county agencies as well as universities as an assistant Ohio attorney general and as a policy attorney for the state of Ohio. She also has a high level of experience as a human resource and labor relations director.
Adam Fulkerson, a member of Decker Jones’ Business & Corporate Section, has been promoted to senior associate. Fulkerson practices primarily corporate and tax law, advising clients in forming companies, creating partnerships, buying and selling companies, and creating succession plans.
Motorsports
Paul Monroe, a former vice president of marketing and communications for the Dallas Mavericks, joined Texas Motor Speedway as its director of marketing. Monroe has two decades of marketing experience, including a combined 17 years between the Mavericks and Feld Entertainment Inc., the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment that includes the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney On Ice. At TMS, Monroe will be responsible for all marketing aspects, creative work for campaigns, social media and race week content and presentation of “Big Hoss,” the world’s largest HD TV screen, for the motorsports venue. Most recently, he was vice president of marketing for the Janimation Production Studio in Dallas and was an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University after his tenure with the Mavericks.
Performing Arts
Stage West appointed Dana Schultes as executive producer. This position had previously been shared by Schultes and two other producers after the death of Stage West founder Jerry Russell in September 2013. Mark Shum, who was originally brought in to organize and strengthen the company’s financial functions, becomes managing director and will continue to oversee the company’s finances. The third former co-producer, Jim Covault, will continue to focus on artistic direction of the company until his announced retirement in September. Schultes had her start with Stage West in 1997 while a student at Texas Wesleyan University. Her first job at Stage West was a small role in the Sam Shepard play Simpatico; over the next seven years, she worked as actress, stage manager, assistant stage manager, stagehand, sound designer and volunteer. In 2004 she became the development director. She has appeared in or directed 38 productions with the company.
Real Estate
Trademark Property Co. hired Phil Pearson as senior vice president of leasing. A 30-year industry veteran, Pearson has extensive experience in leasing and asset management of institutional quality shopping centers and mixed-use properties, including lifestyle, high-end free-standing locations, malls, power and community centers throughout the country. Previously he was the head of retail asset management for Lincoln Property Co. and led national leasing for RREEF/Deutsche Bank for 10 years. Pearson is a licensed Texas real estate broker and is designated by the International Council of Shopping Centers as a certified leasing specialist. He served as Texas ICSC operations chairman for three years and is a member of the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors.
Send newsmakers to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net
5 former Verizon execs
launch public policy, PR firm
Five former officials at Verizon Communications who collaborated on numerous public policy efforts for more than a decade have created Public Policy Solutions, a consulting firm that offers strategic public policy, public affairs and public relations services to businesses and organizations both locally and nationally.
The founders of Public Policy Solutions have more than 150 years of combined experience in working with federal and state policy makers, community and educational leaders, corporate officials, nonprofit organizations and the news media. With offices in Colleyville and Austin, the firm offers services including lobbying, procurement, coalition building, community relations, media strategies, social media placement and monitoring, philanthropy, crisis communications and external communications.
The company’s managing partners are: Steve Banta, former group president for Verizon Communications; Joe King, a leader in nonprofit management, marketing, government affairs and fundraising; Bill Kula, a public relations, media relations and crisis communications executive; Richard B. Lawson, an Austin-based government relations executive in Texas for state and federal legislative advocacy; and David O. Russell, an experienced public relations executive nationally recognized in advocacy communications.
“Because Public Policy Solutions partners have operated nationally and in Texas for more than 30 years, we have an extensive network of relationships with local, state and federal leaders that help achieve business goals for existing groups and new entities moving into the economically vibrant region,” said Banta.