Boards & Organizations Thomas G. Plaskett retired from the board of RadioShack Corp. after nearly three decades of service. Plaskett had served on the board since 1986 and was a member of the audit and compliance and corporate governance committees. The company will begin a search for a new independent director to fill his board seat. The board of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) re-elected Scott Mahaffey, president and CEO of Cohn & Gregory Inc., as chairman for 2014. Andre’ McEwing, manager of supplier diversity for the Tarrant County College District, was elected vice chairman, and Carter Burdette, an attorney and former Fort Worth City Council member, was elected secretary. Other returning board members are Sylvia Cervantes, Jeff Davis, Dennis Dunkins, Jeff King, Ken Newell and Neftali Ortiz. Tony Johnson, The T’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, will serve as interim president and executive director during the board’s search to replace Dick Ruddell who retired on Oct. 4.
Honors & Awards Legendary Texas oil and gas executive T. Boone Pickens, who chairs the hedge fund BP Capital Management, was the top pick in the annual CEO Sentiment Survey conducted by Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business. The survey asks area business leaders to gauge their feelings on the local economy and business climate, and seeks their choice for CEO of the Year. In addition to Pickens, the top 10 CEOs of the Year, as determined by survey responses, were: Joel Allison of Baylor Scott & White Health; Norm Bagwell of Bank of Texas; Mike Berry of Hillwood; Doug Hawthorne of Texas Health Resources; Ray Hunt of Hunt Consolidated Inc.; John McWhorter of Baylor University Medical Center; Randall Stephenson of AT&T; Kip Tindell of The Container Store; and Kelcy Warren of Energy Transfer Partners. Doug Renfro, president of Renfro Foods, was named Food Sales Association honorary director in recognition of his hours of service, leadership and ongoing commitment to FSA and its scholarship program. Renfro previously served as chairman of FSA. University of Texas at Arlington Professor Daniel Armstrong, the Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry, is No. 16 on a recent list of the most influential people in analytical sciences published by The Analytical Scientist magazine. Armstrong has written more than 550 publications, including 29 book chapters and one book, and has 23 U.S. patents. His development of new methods for separating chemical mixtures in solution or as gas has led to advances in realms of science essential to pharmaceutical drug development and disease identification and treatment. Fifteen Fort Worth Independent School District teachers have been chosen as the 2013-2014 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. Each teacher will hold the title of Chair for Teaching Excellence for one year and receive a $5,000 honorarium. The teachers will be recognized at a luncheon on Dec. 4 in Fort Worth. The honorees, their citation and the related sponsors are: Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math, Araceli Tenario Williamson, Springdale Elementary School; Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Science, Julianne Barrett, Learning Network 1 Specialist; Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts, Erin R. Blythe, Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences; Bayard H. Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts, Eric M. Mullins, Western Hills High School and Benbrook Middle School; Target Chair for Teaching Excellence in Library Science, Lindsey Hammonds, Trimble Technical High School; Devon Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Science, Andrew Brinker, R.L. Pascal High School; Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth Chair for Teaching Excellence in Humanities, Clyde Berry, Carter-Riverside High School; Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health & Physical Education, Donna Warner, South Hills High School; RadioShack Chair for Teaching Excellence in Acquisition of Language, Ian Connally, Paschal High School; Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career and Technology Education, Shannon Oden, Trimble Technical High School; Freese and Nichols Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Mathematics, Ryan Peterson, Benbrook Middle School; XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education, Jennifer L. Terry, Bruce Shulkey Elementary School; Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education, Tiya Major, Boulevard Heights; Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English, Michael Tyler Mimms, Arlington Heights High School; Outreach Communications Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading, Tamara Thomas, Morningside Elementary School. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle has been designated a Level III Stroke Center by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The designation is for two years. The city of Arlington recently was recognized for its use of natural gas vehicles by the Texas Railroad Commission, which presented a $20,805 ceremonial check to Mayor Robert Cluck. The city uses six vehicles that operate on natural gas, including three Honda Civics designed to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Thanks to the Railroad Commission grant, the city was able to add these vehicles to its fleet. City officials expect to save $1,000-$2,000 per year through the switch to natural gas. In addition to operating its own fleet of CNG vehicles, the city contracts with refuse hauler Republic Waste Services, which currently operates 39 natural gas trash trucks. Texas Parks and Wildlife’s game warden force has become only the fourth state conservation law enforcement agency to be accredited by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Boat Operations and Training Program. The accreditation is based on U.S. Coast Guard-recognized national standards for the training, qualification, credentialing and typing of maritime law enforcement and emergency first responders. The other state law enforcement agencies with such national accreditation are the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Massachusetts Environmental Police and Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Mouser Electronics Inc. received the NorthFace ScoreBoard Customer Service Excellence Award from Omega Management Group Corp. in recognition of Mouser’s global customer service and support. The Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded NBC 5/KXAS-TV and Telemundo 39/KXTX-TV a total of 33 Lone Star Emmy Awards during its 11th annual awards gala Nov. 9. The Lone Star Chapter represents 19 television markets in Texas. Telemundo 39 won 18 Emmys for 2013, more than any other Spanish-language station in Texas. Recognitions include: Newscast-Morning/Daytime-Larger Markets, “Tornadoes in North Texas,” Alfredo Sanchez, Lupe Martinez, Everardo Huerta, Omar Parrilla, Fernando Mejia, Yezmin Thomas; Spot News, “Tragedy on the Bush Turnpike,” Sanchez, Norma Garcia, Juany Bazan, Thomas, Erick Iglesias; Historical/Cultural-News Single Story, “I Don’t Speak Spanish,” Nancy Leal; General Assignment Report, “Tras el Tornado” and Continuing Coverage, “Secuelas de la Explosion,” Iglesias; News Special, “Santa Muerte,” Garcia, Mejia, Huerta, Juan Pinzon, Jose Flores; Feature News Report/Light Feature, “Madres Gays,” Leal and Pinzon; Continuing Coverage, “Habemus Papam,” Flores, Garcia and Mejia; On Camera Talent Anchor-Sports, Ramon Diaz; Breaking News, “Oklahoma Devastation,” Mejia and Noe Cumplido; Specialty Assignment Report-News Series, “Mexican Elections Coverage,” Garcia, Thomas and Sanchez; Video Journalist, Mejia; News Producer, “Another Day in Newsland,” Sanchez; On-Camera Talent-Anchor-Weather, Nestor Flecha; Human Interest-News Single Story, “El Duelo de Inmigrante,” Thomas; Newscast-Evening-Larger Markets, “The Drug Cartel in Southlake,” Flores, Pinzon, Garcia, Huerta, Daniel Colon, Bazan; Arts/Entertainment-Program Feature/Segment, “Que Pasa Metrolex,” Adriana Lopez and Huerta; On Camera Talent-Anchor-News, “On the Set, On the Field,” Garcia. NBC 5 won 15 Emmys. The NBC 5 Investigates team, which received a national Edward R. Murrow Award earlier this year, earned six Emmys alone. Recognitions include: Newscast-Morning/Daytime-Larger Markets, “NBC 5 Today: Tornado Aftermath,” Dawn Hensley; General Assignment Report-No Time Limit, “Abusing the Badge,” Scott Friedman, Peter Hull; Breaking News, “Casino Bus Crash,” Mike Wortham; Investigative Report-Series, “Driven to Distraction,” Friedman, Eva Parks, Hull, Shane Allen; Education/Schools-News Single Story/Series/Feature, “Teaching Security,” Friedman, Hull; Education/Schools-News Single Story/Series/Feature, “The $90,000,000 Test,” Friedman, Hull; Health/Science News Series, “Missed Opportunities,” Friedman, Hull; Military News Single Story/Feature, “Hasan Gets Paid,” Friedman, Hull, Parks; Politics/Government News Series, “You’re Gonna Wait,” Friedman, Hull, Parks; Sports News Feature, “Hold the Rope,” Noah Bullard, Pat Doney; On-Camera Talent-Anchor-Sports, “5 Minutes of Sports Funk,” Newy Scruggs; On-Camera Talent-Reporter-Live, “Journey-lism,” Ray Villeda; On-Camera Talent-Reporter-Live, “What I Can Tell You…,” Ben Russell; On-Camera Talent-Reporter-Consumer/Medical, Deanna Dewberry; Feature News Report-Serious Feature, “Get Out Alive!” Dewberry, Jose Sanchez and Karin Matz.
Law Kyle B. Fonville, who graduated No. 1 in his 2013 class at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, joined Decker, Jones, McMackin, McClane, Hall & Bates PC. Fonville’s practice focuses on commercial and complex litigation, including business and contract disputes, and construction matters. He also is a member of the firm’s appellate practice group. Fonville interned for the 2nd District Court of Appeals for Fort Worth in 2011, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division in 2012. He received a bachelor’s degree from Harding University and was recently admitted to the State Bar of Texas. Daniel Baucum is a new partner at Cantey Hanger LLP. Baucum’s practice areas are business transactions and tax planning involving limited liability companies, partnerships, S corporations and C corporations. He also counsels clients in the purchase and sale of their business, cross-border transactions, private equity fund transactions, and Internal Revenue Service and Texas Comptroller audits, appeals and litigation. Baucum teaches business and tax law at the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University, where he received his law degree. For nearly 10 years he practiced in Washington, D.C., as a special assistant in the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office and as director of the IRS practice for Coopers & Lybrand LLP. During that time, he taught in the Graduate Tax Law Program at Georgetown University’s Law Center. Baucum is co-chairman of the Texas Bar Tax Section’s Leadership Academy and is a member of its council. He is an officer of the tax section of the Dallas Bar Association and a committee member of the American Bar Association Tax Section. He also serves as corporate secretary and director of the Texas Federal Tax Institute. He received his undergraduate degree in business administration from SMU and a master of laws in taxation degree from the New York University School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1979 and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Real Estate Kelley Ahrens and Austin Barrett have joined the Healthcare Services Group at CBRE Group Inc. in Dallas. They will provide transaction and consulting services to institutional and private investors as well as health care systems, practice groups and physicians. Combined, Ahrens and Barrett bring more than 20 years of commercial real estate knowledge and background to their role in North Texas. Ahrens returns to Texas after most recently working for CBRE as Phoenix’s health care representative. She formed health care real estate teams for some of the major real estate investment trusts and provided tenant representation to several physician groups and area health systems, including John C. Lincoln and Dignity Health. Prior to that, she worked in an acquisitions role in California. Ahrens was named Impact Player in Medical Brokerage in AZ Business Leaders 2013-2014 and is an active participant in RealShare Medical series, BOMA International (Medical) and Insight. Barrett spent more than five years exclusively providing medical tenant representation and buyer services to physician groups across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Since 2008, he has represented several hundred local physicians and completed more than 200,000 square feet of leases as a medical tenant representative.
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