• First State Bank announced Brandon Fisher, who has served as chief lending officer since 2016, was promoted to director. Beyond the bank, he serves as treasurer and deacon at First Baptist Church of Orange, and vice chairman of the Lamar State College Orange Foundation Board. His past involvement includes the United Way Board, Southeast Texas Young Professionals Board, Beaumont Children’s Museum Board, Rotary, Lions Club, Leadership Beaumont, and a spot in Beaumont’s “40 Under 40.”
• Madison Piatak, safety advisor for ExxonMobil, is the secretary of the Sabine Neches Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). Her new position will include managing schedules, correspondence, records, and meetings to ensure smooth operations of the chapter.
• Kyle Scott joined Lamar University as the executive director of Entrepreneurship. Before coming to LU, Scott was an assistant professor of Entrepreneurship at Sam Houston State University and served on the Harris Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Rice University in 2017 and a Ph.D. in Political Science in 2005. In 2022, he was a candidate for Harris County treasurer.
• Gabrielle Pennington was promoted to director of Member Services at ABC Southeast Texas Chapter. Since January, she has worked as director of Operations and Events/Programs, and before that was Community Outreach and School-to-Work coordinator.
• Leanna Odom was appointed vice president of Finance and Operations/CFO at Lamar State College Orange (LSCO). She joined LSCO in April 2023 as vice president of Business Services, a Texas State University System shared services position, and quickly became a valued part of the LSCO leadership team. Odom is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in Accounting and Finance in 1995. She went on to earn a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in leadership from Lamar University in 2020, and a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M-Commerce in 2024.
• Sadie Atha was selected as the new marketing director at Beaumont Manufacturing and Distribution. Prior to this, she was marketing director and marketing manager at the Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Houston-Victoria.
• Jessica Gil was named director of Operations and Events/Programs at ABC Southeast Texas Chapter. Since February 2023, Gil has served as Education Foundation director. She also worked as a project manager for six years with Safety Services Co.
• Ashlyn Clark is a new real estate agent at JLA Realty. Prior to her new position, Clark was a housing compliance specialist with the Housing Authority of the City of Beaumont for four years. She also worked as an assistant property manager for Crystal Creek and Timber Creek Apartments.
• Carlecia Roberts, M.Ed., is the new dean of Instruction at Port Arthur ISD. Before taking the position, she was assistant principal of Instruction and a campus testing coordinator at the Abraham Lincoln Fine Arts Academy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorder Sciences and Services in 2014 from Stephen F. Austin State University. Roberts earned her Master of Education from SFA in 2018.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Beaumont District Engineer Martin Gonzalez announced his resignation, effective Aug. 31. He has worked more than 20 years with TxDOT, including five years leading the Beaumont office.
• Krystal Villarreal Muller was named interim chief executive officer, announced the Port Arthur Economic Development Corp. (PAEDC). She previously served as deputy director for the PAEDC and brings more than 17 years of economic development experience to the group.
• Cody Wulf recently started a new position as an assistant quality manager at G&G Enterprises. He graduated from Lamar University in May with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and a minor in Business. Before joining G&G, Wulf served as a project management intern for a year at Bo-Mac Contractors, Ltd. and as a summer intern with Turner Industries in 2023.
• Shannon Mires is the new director of Sales for the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). With over 20 years of experience in hospitality — including leadership roles with a national hotel chain — Mires brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the CVB. Since joining the Beaumont CVB in April 2023, he has played a key role in driving conventions and meetings to the city. He is a Beaumont native and military veteran.
• Allison Wright is the new business development specialist at Prestige Custom Builders LLC. Prior to her new position, she was an agent with Farmers Insurance for seven years and spent four years as purchasing director at Lamar State College Port Arthur. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2006.
• West Orange-Stark High School alumn Jared K. Dupree started his new job as a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. He graduated from the 178th Recruit School in Austin on Aug. 8 and completed a seven-month DPS Trooper Training in the A-2025 Class. Dupree was assigned to the Baytown office.
• Dora Garcia is the new human resources analyst for the City of Port Arthur. Originally from Odessa, Texas, and now a longtime Golden Triangle resident, Garcia brings a decade of HR experience, specializing in employee relations, safety, and onboarding.
• Suhail Kanwar is the new director of Public Services and city engineer for the City of Port Arthur. In his role, Kanwar will oversee the departments of Public Works, Utility Operations, and Engineering. He has held a number of senior professional and leadership roles in the areas of public works, engineering, and administration in both the private and public sectors.
• Laynee Buckels was named the new deputy director for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Previously, Buckels worked for Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (District 14) beginning in March 2021, first as a staff and press assistant. She also worked as press secretary, communications director, and deputy chief of staff.
