Longview police sergeant earns state honor
Sgt. Drew Allison of the Longview Police Department recently received the State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Professional Achievement.
The award presented by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional initiative and create lasting, positive impacts within the law enforcement profession.
Allison was selected for his role in establishing the Longview Police Department as a regional training hub for ALERRT active shooter response.
“Through his leadership and commitment, training has been made accessible to over 50 agencies across Northeast Texas, including law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel,” the law enforcement commission said in a statement. “His efforts have resulted in the successful delivery of over 60 end-user courses and 16 train-the-trainer classes, directly impacting more than 1,500 first responders.”
Senior associate joins Coghlan Crowson
The law firm Coghlan Crowson in Longview has added Senior Associate Attorney Jackie Carr.
Carr, a native of Austin, is in her ninth year of law practice, having earned her law degree from the SMU Dedman School of Law in 2016, magna cum laude. Her primary areas of practice include civil litigation, bankruptcies and transactional matters involving real estate, construction, and oil and gas.
Coghlan Crowson represents clients throughout Texas in oil, gas, and mineral law, complex transactional and litigation matters, and probate and estate planning.
Domino’s franchise owner receives recognition
Brian Bailey, a local Domino’s franchise owner, was recently awarded Domino’s Gold Franny Award for operational excellence.
About 750 franchise owners in the United States received the award, which is the most prestigious bestowed on a Domino’s franchise owner.
The award is based on factors including operational audit scores, community involvement, store safety and security and team member morale.
“I cannot think of a more deserving individual to receive a Gold Franny Award than Brian,” said Debbie Sweeney, Domino’s senior vice president of franchise relations and system engagement. “He is incredibly hard-working, and his involvement in the community and motivation to be the best of the best make him an incredible asset to Domino’s.”
Bailey began working at Domino’s in 1985 as a delivery driver. He worked his way up and purchased his first store in 1988.
Bailey is now the largest Domino’s franchisee in America, owning 158 stores across five states.
Longview World of Wonders director earns certification
Sara McKinley, executive director of Longview World of Wonders, has earned the Certified Fundraising Executive designation from CFRE International.
She is one of 7,700 people, including 594 in Texas, who have earned the designation.
People granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International, which include tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated fundraising achievement. They have also passed an exam testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold accountability standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.
CFRE recipients are awarded certification for a three-year period. To maintain certification status, they must demonstrate ongoing fundraising employment and fundraising results and continue with their professional education.
“While it’s a personal milestone, it also reflects the work we’re doing at Longview World of Wonders to grow sustainably, strengthen donor relationships, and invest in our East Texas community as we continue to build on our foundation in the downtown Longview Cultural Arts District.” she said.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension makes promotion
Brittany Martin has assumed the role of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service regional program leader for family and community health and 4-H youth development programs in the East Region.
Martin began serving the 44 counties of AgriLife Extension’s District 4, headquartered in Dallas, and District 5, headquartered in Overton, on May 19.
As regional program leader, she will guide AgriLife Extension agents in planning, implementing and evaluating successful community health and 4-H youth development programs, introducing new programming and expanding their skills through professional development opportunities, said Courtney Dodd, AgriLife Extension associate director for health, families and youth programs.
Martin joined AgriLife Extension in 2013 and has served as an AgriLife Extension assistant for the Better Living for Texans program and as a family and community health agent in Dallas and Collin counties.
Austin Bank announces three promotions
Jeff Austin III, Austin Bank chairman of the board, recently announced promotions of employees approved at the June board meeting at the Austin Bank corporate office in Jacksonville.
Jason Petersen was named chief credit officer. A current member of the executive committee and senior executive vice president, Petersen will move from the role of chief lending officer. He will now oversee the central loan department; credit analysts; loan operations; special assets; underwriting and HMDA.
Petersen has spent his entire 37-year banking career with Austin Bank, starting as a bookkeeper while in college. During his tenure, he worked in various departments of the bank and served as a member of the executive committee since 2018.
Jeff King was promoted to senior executive vice president and chief lending officer. King currently serves as executive vice president and regional president for Smith County. In his new role, he will oversee the bank’s regional presidents and loan production.
King began his banking career in 1994 at Bancorp South in Mississippi where he worked in operations, internal audit, loan review, lending and as a branch manager. Joining Austin Bank in 2001, he worked as a commercial lender and location president for the Tyler Med Center and West Loop offices until 2006. He returned to Austin Bank in 2009 as a commercial lender at First State Bank’s Noonday office, later becoming location president in Frankston.
Greg Adcock was named executive vice president and regional president for Smith County. Adcock joined Austin Bank in February 2019 as a senior vice president and market president for the Tyler area. He has over 25 years of progressive banking and professional experience.
Austin Bank has headquarters in Jacksonville and has 40 Texas locations in 28 cities and 14 counties.
UT Tyler Tyler gets cancer research grant
The University of Texas at Tyler has received a $441,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund a project led by Dr. Santosh Aryal, Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy associate professor. Aryal, in collaboration with Dr. Farah Deba, Fisch College of Pharmacy assistant professor, will use the funding to develop cancer targeting nanotechnology.
Dr. Neeraj Saini from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston will serve as a clinical consultant for this project.
“At UT Tyler, we’re committed to advancing research that can save lives,” said Dr. Pamella Ochoa, Fisch College of Pharmacy interim dean. “This NIH grant not only affirms the excellence of our faculty but also highlights our continued role in driving scientific innovation that can benefit East Texas and beyond.”
Aryal and Deba’s research focuses on the possibility of using immune system cells to target cancer. Immune system cells naturally release particles to target cells that are cancerous or otherwise defective. These particles can be reengineered to administer drugs to specific areas and minimize their spread throughout the whole body, leading to improved treatment outcomes, reduced side effects and enhanced quality of life for patients.
UT Tyler earns nursing school achievement
The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing achieved a 96% pass rate on the nursing licensure exam for 2024, ranking above the national average of 91.16% and the state average of 92.76%.
Nursing graduates are required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or the NCLEX-RN, to become a registered nurse in the United States. The NCLEX assesses physiological integrity, psychosocial integrity, health promotion and maintenance, and safe and effective care environment.
“A 96% pass rate means our graduates are entering the field ready to make a difference,” said Dr. Barbara K. Haas, School of Nursing dean. “We’re proud to help launch nurses who are confident, competent and compassionate.”
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