J. Rich Sparks named Xcel Energy key account manager for large customer needs in Texas and New Mexico

J. Rich Sparks of Amarillo has been named a key account manager working with Xcel Energy’s large commercial and industrial customers in the company’s Texas and New Mexico service area.

“J. Rich brings an analytical and customer-focused background to his new position that will be critical in maintaining a close working relationship with our commercial and industrial customers,” said Justin Smiley, director for Xcel Energy’s Texas-New Mexico Business Customer Relations group in a news release. “These customers are creating jobs and opportunities across the region, and we are excited about the team we’ve brought together to help drive this growth.”

Sparks is a native of Big Spring, and he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from West Texas A&M University. He served as director of operations at the First United Bank Center at WTAMU and in 2015 joined the WTAMU Foundation as an officer. Sparks began his service with Xcel Energy in 2019 with the Texas-New Mexico Government and Regulatory Affairs department, where he focused on rate filings and policy matters within the Texas jurisdiction.

The RANGE receives grant for broadband initiative

The RANGE has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the Amarillo Area Foundation as part of the “Panhandle Connected” development initiative, a partnership with Region 16 and other entities designed to improve connectivity throughout the Texas Panhandle.

Most city residents have access to broadband infrastructure, but as much as 70 percent of rural landscape lacks the same access — a potential barrier to the efficiency and economic benefits of connectivity, a release notes. Because of its deep relationships within the agriculture community, The RANGE is helping Region 16 produce a needs assessment to bring high-speed internet not only to schools but also to the businesses, farms and ranches in rural counties of the Texas Panhandle.

According to beef and dairy scientist Matt Garner, Ph.D., executive director of The RANGE, rural broadband access isn’t about entertainment. “This is about the future. We’re not trying to build this infrastructure so farmers can watch Netflix. We’re looking at deploying the most innovative precision agricultural technologies and practices, which can increase efficiencies,” he says. “Connectivity allows enormous savings from the use of precision technologies. It reduces pesticide use by up to 80 percent, uses 40 percent less water, and helps save more than 20 percent on fuel.”

BSA Health System opens state-of-the-art Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy

BSA Health System and BSA Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic leaders announced the opening of the BSA Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at BSA Hospital. Located on the first floor, this state-of-the-art facility specializes in diagnosing and treating digestive system disorders. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 9.

Featuring 12 pre- and post-procedure bays along with three procedure rooms, including an advanced therapeutic endoscopy suite, the center is staffed by a team of experienced, highly skilled professionals at BSA. This team includes gastroenterologists, advanced endoscopists, a pancreaticobiliary surgeon, interventional radiologists, medical and surgical oncologists, GI pathologists and nurses.

“This investment in our gastroenterology program is a testament to BSA’s commitment to providing quality care for patients in need of gastrointestinal screening procedures, diagnostic exams and therapeutic interventions,” said BSA chief medical officer Jon Bush, MD. “We now have a sophisticated space to meet the increasing demand for our services with an advanced level of care, innovation and efficiency for our region.”

Advanced endoscopic procedures performed at the center include endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for managing benign or malignant pancreaticobiliary disorders, cholangioscopy/pancreatoscopy for direct visualization of the bile duct and pancreatic duct, endoscopic ultrasound for staging and sampling of gastrointestinal tumors and pancreaticobiliary interventions, colonoscopy with endoscopic mucosal resection or submucosal dissection for removing large colon polyps, and EMR and radiofrequency ablation for treating dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus.BSA Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic’s physicians are highly trained in providing comprehensive adult general and sub-specialty care for new and chronic illnesses. To make a patient referral, call 806-358-0200.

Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle receives $12,000 grant from Texas Bar Foundation to support pro bono legal services

Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle has been awarded a grant of $12,000 from the Texas Bar Foundation. This funding will support the provision of pro bono legal services to legal immigrants and refugees in Amarillo and the upper 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle who are unable to afford attorney's fees.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $27 million in grants to law-related programs, according to a news release. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

"This grant from the Texas Bar Foundation will significantly strengthen our ability to provide essential legal assistance to those in need within our community," said Jeff Gulde, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle. "We are grateful for their continued support of our mission to serve the vulnerable and underserved populations in our region."

The grant period will run from May 2024 through April 2025.

For more information or to inquire about eligibility and appointments, please contact Jovita McGee at Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle: 806-376-4571.

Canyon Independent School District celebrates Career Signing Day

Canyon Independent School District (CISD) held its annual Career Signing Day, in partnership with Panhandle Workforce Solutions and the Education Credit Union Foundation, on May 7. The event was held at the Conference Center located at Happy State Bank Stadium.

This event commemorates a milestone moment for students as they sign their Career Signing Day Certificates, symbolizing their dedication to pursuing careers across various fields, including business, cosmetology, culinary arts, health science, agriculture, automotive technology, law enforcement, and military service. Marc Hamil, Director of Secondary Programs at Canyon ISD, emphasized, "CISD is committed to preparing our students for success beyond the classroom. Career Signing Day celebrates their hard work and determination, aligning with our mission of empowering lifelong success."

Paul Engler’s memory honored with formation of 4 new professorships at WT

CANYON — Four new professorships have been established at West Texas A&M University to honor the legacy of the late Dr. Paul Engler.

Engler, the self-made entrepreneur who revolutionized the cattle-feeding industry, died May 3.Services were set for May 8 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4100 S. Coulter St. in Amarillo.

“Dr. Paul Engler singlehandedly transformed the cattle industry in the Texas Panhandle and America, and, likewise, he transformed WT,” said President Walter V. Wendler. “Paul’s historic gift of $80 million was his way of investing his money in an idea he could see whether anyone else could see it or not. And the rest, as they say, is history. He propelled WT into a bold future by supporting the people, programs and places of WT."

The professorships reflect Engler’s “combination of work ethic, business acumen and resolve that captures the entrepreneurial spirit of the West Texas,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Bridget Guerrero has been named the Paul Engler Professor of Agriculture. Dr. Carolyn Bouma has been named the Paul Engler Professor of Microbiology. Dr. Dave Howe has been named the Paul Engler Professor of Entrepreneurship. And Dr. Carl Zhang has been named the Paul Engler Professor of Business Innovation.

Engler's historic gift helped make possible the construction of the Agricultural Sciences Complex on Russell Long Boulevard, continuing WT’s expansion in the northeast area of campus. Since then, the Veterinary Education, Research and Outreach and Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory facilities have been constructed, soon to be joined by the new Texas A&M University AgriLife Research and Extension Center. Meanwhile, the Natural Sciences Building expanded in its recently renovated home on the southeast corner of campus.

The Engler name is already attached to eight professorships at WT: the Paul Engler Professorship of Animal Science, currently vacant; the Paul Engler Professorship of Beef Cattle Feedlot Management, currently held by Dr. John Richeson; the Paul Engler Professorship of Natural Sciences, currently held by Dr. David Khan; the Engler Professorship of Computer Information Systems, currently held by Dr. Abdullat; the Engler Professorship of Economics, currently held by Dr. Terry; the Engler Professorship of Management, currently held by Dr.Kelly McCauley; the Paul Engler Professorship of Business, currently held by Dr. De’Arno De’Armond; and the Virginia Engler Professorship of Business, currently held by Dr. Jillian Yarbrough.

A pioneer of the Texas cattle-feeding industry, Engler has received numerous honors and recognition throughout his career, which include induction into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame and the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.

City of Amarillo's bid process goes digital: Bonfire software begins June 3

Vendors submitting a bid to the City of Amarillo will soon be able to complete the submission process in a matter of minutes thanks to a new online bid system. Beginning June 3, the city will implement Bonfire – new bid system software in the city's Purchasing Department that will improve the bid process for city projects.

The average submission time for a bid to the city will be eight minutes.

“Bonfire replaces the city's Public Purchase platform and will significantly streamline the entire bidding process,” said city Purchasing Agent Michael Lindley.

Among the conveniences of Bonfire are:

• Faster and easier bid submissions: Submit bids electronically without paperwork.

• Increased participation: The user-friendly platform encourages more vendors to participate in city projects.

• Fewer disqualifications: Bonfire's clear guidelines will help reduce disqualifications by 65 percent.

No registration fees are required to use Bonfire. Solicitations posted prior to June 3 will follow the current bidding process. Additional information – including how to register and a five-minute training video - is available at: amarillo.gov/departments/purchasing

For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager David Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.

New name, same mission: WT’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences continues to provide experts in critical field

CANYON — One of West Texas A&M University’s more acclaimed departments now has a new name that better encapsulates the broad range of studies it offers.

WT’s former Department of Communication Disorders is now the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The new name signifies the work done by the faculty and staff of the highly regarded department, said Dr. Brenda Cross, department head and clinical assistant professor.

“Professionals in our field are the experts in speech, language, swallowing and hearing disorders,” Cross said. “Our new name is a better reflection of the science that underpins everything we do in our field. Speech-language pathology and audiology are healthcare professionals, and we emphasize models of care balancing evidence, research and innovation with clinical observations.”

The department dates back at least 25 years, and a previous program was in place in the 1970s. The department was named Best Speech-Language Pathology Program in 2018 and 2021 SpeechPathologyGraduatePrograms.org. The WT Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences includes eight faculty members and about 75 undergraduate and graduate students.

The department’s mission includes preparing students for careers in speech-language pathology, fulfilling the need for those experts in the Texas Panhandle, the state and the nation. Faculty members are clinicians as well as instructors who engage in research and teach students the art of clinical practice.

Technical Solutions leverages latest technology to optimize customers' networks

Technical Solutions has unveiled new technology which will help optimize customer networks. One of the central challenges facing every small to mid-sized business (SMB) is how to keep their technology infrastructure running smoothly as they continue to grow.

As organizations scale, networks typically go through a growth curve in terms of complexity. Technical Solutions has made an investment into one of the latest change management and inventory asset software technologies in order to ensure that their customer networks remain at peak performance as they ascend through these new phases of business, a news release says.

Gene Wells, President of Technical Solutions stated, “Businesses can only grow as fast as their network can perform. Technical Solutions thoroughly monitors our customers’ infrastructure, hardware and software assets, and any changes that may occur because of employee interaction with their network. We know immediately who at a company administered a change and how it contributed to the overall functionality of the rest of its IT systems, in real-time."

Technical Solution’s local dispatch center delivers round-the clock service to ensure system reliability, offering service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information on Technical Solutions, call (806) 352-1309 or visit www.askts.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for May 12, 2024