Amarillo area business news and developments for Feb. 12, 2023

Northwest Texas Healthcare System announces Behavioral Health CEO

Northwest Texas Healthcare System has announced Steven Bond, PhD, LPC, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northwest Texas Healthcare System Behavioral Health, located at 1501 Coulter St. in Amarillo.

Dr. Bond has been a leader in behavioral health and psychiatric care settings for more than 20 years.

“I am excited to be a part of the community and continue my message of advocacy for mental health,” said Dr. Bond. “I look forward to working with this talented and compassionate team and delivering favorable outcomes for the patients in our care.”

Dr. Bond is a member of the American Psychological Association, Mid Texas Counseling Association, Texas Counseling Association, EMDRIA and American Association of Suicidology. He received his Doctorate from Trident University and his Master’s from Texas A&M Central Texas.

Cattlemen's Beef Board elects new officers at 2023 winter meetings, including Amarillo resident

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – Cattle producers Jimmy Taylor, Andy Bishop and Ryan Moorhouse are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2023.

Taylor, Bishop and Moorhouse were elected by their fellow Beef Board members during their Winter Meetings, held during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Taylor, the 2022 vice chair, will now serve as the CBB’s chair, while Bishop will transition from his role as the 2022 secretary-treasurer to become the 2023 vice chair. Moorhouse is the newest member of the officer team, taking on Bishop’s former responsibilities as secretary-treasurer.

Chair Jimmy Taylor and his wife Tracy run a commercial Angus herd near Cheyenne, Oklahoma consisting of approximately 600 females on 12,000 acres. Their ranching efforts have earned them the 2011 Certified Angus Beef Commitment to Excellence Award and the 2013 Oklahoma Angus Association Commercial Breeder of the Year. The use of artificial insemination, proper nutrition, genomics and other new technologies play a large role in obtaining the operation’s goal: to create a good eating experience for the consumer. Taylor has also served on several local and state boards.

Vice Chair Andy Bishop and his wife Meagan are raising their four children on their registered Angus seed stock operation, Fairfield Farm, near Cox’s Creek, Kentucky. Bishop began his career teaching agriculture to students and eventually moved into the field of agriculture lending in 2007. Bishop is the former chair of the Kentucky Beef Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference. Bishop also served as a member of the Long Range Planning Task Force and as president of the NCBA Young Producers Council and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Young Producers group.

Moorhouse grew up on his family ranch, a cow/calf and stocker operation in North Central Texas. After graduating from Texas A&M University, he went to work for Continental Grain Cattle Feeding (now Five Rivers). He is currently the general manager for Hartley Feeders, a Five Rivers Cattle Feeding operation. Moorhouse also operates his own stocker operation back home on part of the family ranch. Moorhouse and his wife, Colette, have two sons and reside in Amarillo.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to have experienced producer leaders like Jimmy, Andy and Ryan to guide the CBB throughout the next year,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “These gentlemen understand the challenges and opportunities currently facing the beef industry, and each has a unique perspective to share. I’m confident their leadership will help the CBB and the Beef Checkoff achieve new levels of success in 2023.”

To learn more about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.

Texas veterinarian to lead NCBA Cattle Health Committee

WASHINGTON – On Jan. 17, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the appointment of Texas veterinarian Tom Portillo, D.V.M, as chair of the Cattle Health and Well Being Committee.

“Dr. Portillo is a distinguished veterinarian and has shown a deep-rooted commitment to the cattle industry,” said NCBA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Kathy Simmons, staff liaison to the committee. “Dr. Portillo’s experience will be extremely valuable as NCBA advocates for greater disease preparedness efforts and other policies that protect the cattle industry and our way of life.”

Dr. Portillo has been an NCBA member for 21 years and held numerous leadership positions. He served as vice chair of the Cattle Health and Well Being Committee and held positions on the NCBA Antimicrobial Resistance Policy Advisory Group, NCBA Research Council, NCBA Bi-National Committee, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Portillo is also a member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Board of Directors, serving on their Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Dr. Portillo is a past president and past board member of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants. He was also feedlot coordinator for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners in 2014 and 2018 and feedlot session coordinator in 2019 for the Western Veterinary Conference.

Policy committee leaders serve a two-year term expiring at the end of 2024. To learn more about NCBA’s grassroots policy process, visit ncba.org/policy.

Grant funding available to eligible volunteer fire departments for recruitment

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M Forest Service is offering new Volunteer Recruitment Resources grants designed to help Texas volunteer fire departments strengthen their workforce and enhance community fire protection.

Available through the Rural VFD Assistance Program, eligible volunteer fire departments can apply for reimbursement of 100 percent of the actual cost for recruitment resources up to $3,000.

Resources such as banners, mailouts, billboards and other promotional items qualify for reimbursement but must convey a call to action for the recruitment of volunteers. Up to $300,000 of federal Volunteer Fire Assistance Funds are available for this pilot project, and grants are provided on a first-come, first-served basis to volunteer fire departments that meet the following federal eligibility requirements:

• The department must serve a rural area or rural community with a population of 10,000 people or less.

• The department must be certified by the Texas Division of Emergency Management as having adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

• The department must not be debarred, suspended or declared ineligible by any federal department or agency.

• The department must be comprised of at least 80 percent volunteer personnel.

To apply for Volunteer Recruitment Resources grant funding, visit http://TexasFD.com/RuralVFDAssistanceProgram. Information of adopting NIMS can be found online at https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/NIMSAdoption/.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for Feb. 12, 2023