10 named 2022 Citizens on the Move
The following are the 2022 Citizens on the Move Awards recipients, sponsored by Physicians Surgical Hospitals LLC. Readers can find for more information about the Citizens on the Move and the 2022 Man and Woman of the Year in an upcoming edition of Amarillo Magazine.
Jay Barrett
Principal of AmTech Career Academy, the new, state-of-the-art school under Amarillo ISD that has garnered national attention for innovation. A longtime academic administrator, Barrett said educating students in the Texas Panhandle has been his passion for 38 years.
Kevin Carter
Kevin Carter is the President of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation. He has worked with the city to bring several upcoming businesses and business expansions to the area over the past year. This includes the CVMR Rare Earth Processing Plant, Producer Owned Beef, Jax Transport and more.
Desmon Dunn
Desmon Dunn is the Basic Science Administrator at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy. He is always willing to step up and help in any needs out there that come to his attention. Dunn has volunteered with Bethel Baptist Church and with Park Clean. He has served on the board of the Panhandle Cancer Cure Foundation and Election Protection.
David Elizalde
Advocate against drunk driving. David, who lost his daughter in a drunk driving accident, has been working to turn his personal tragedy into action. He speaks out at various events and participates with his organization Andrea’s Project, a partnership with other agencies to raise awareness on driving safety and saving lives.
Michelle Gonzalez
Ardent Health Services. Gonzalez has more than 20 years of managed care experience. She is responsible for the managed care operations in the Texas Region including BSA Health System (Amarillo), Seton Medical Center (Central Texas), and the UT Health System (Tyler). She also shared her passion for helping animals, volunteering with the Big Mutts Rescue.
Melodie Graves
Melodie Graves is the Associate Director of Advising at Amarillo College. She was recently named the next leader of the Amarillo Branch of the NAACP. Graves has also been actively involved in the community, serving on various boards, helping with the Amarillo Juneteenth Celebration, North Heights Advisory Association and many others.
Jimmy Lackey
President and CEO of Kids Inc. The longtime leader of the organization has been spearheading the Homefield Advantage Capital Campaign to benefit the creation of the Rockrose Sports Complex. Through his efforts, the community has rallied to raise 60 percent of its goal in the first year for the multi-sport facility. This facility will benefit generations to come. Kids Inc provides year-round sporting activities for children in the area.
Glenda Moore
Founded by Glenda Moore, who left her career with AISD in 2020, KHUB has provided humanitarian aid to thousands of Ukrainians for ten years and in 2022, provided evacuations from the war zones of Ukraine for over 2,000 people, coal to 30 households, food, clothes, medicine to 31 families, generators and heating equipment or utility payments for 26 households, medical supplies from BSA and NWTH to Ukraine in 33 shipment, fuel and vehicle maintenance and served over 2,500 people this year in the war zones of Ukraine. KHUB lists no prices and asks only for people to donate funds to help with humanitarian assistance. Moore spearheads as the executive Director over eighty plus volunteers and community members.
Alicia Raffkind
Volunteer at Downtown Women’s Center for 10 years. Serving on the Board of Directors for six years and President for two terms. Fundraising and Co-Chairman of the DWC luncheon in 2016 and 2022, along with her husband George Raffkind. President of DWC Ladies Auxiliary and volunteers and The Uptown Shoppe. A member of First Christian Church Thursday Bible Study since 2014. Alicia is also on The Amarillo College Foundation Board starting 2022-2023. Alicia’s main goal is to serve, love and mentor ladies who have addiction issues; it’s a humbling way to give back to the community.
Loretta Tebeest
Loretta Tebeest is the founder of the nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals in Texas and New Mexico. Tebeest works endless hours to rescue dogs from the streets and off the euthanasia lists in high kill shelters. She makes sure the dogs get vet care and then finds them the perfect forever homes. She also helps anyone with needs for their personal pets as well. She helps in any way she possibly can in the community in the surrounding areas.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 10 named 2022 Citizens on the Move
