• Thomas Cryer recently retired as store manager from Brookshire Brothers in Kountze after 45 years with the retail grocer. “I want to say how very blessed I have been to have worked with so many fine people. During my 45 years, I have learned so much from a lot of you. You really do not realize how quickly time goes. I will take away a lot of things from this company, but the main thing I’ll leave with are the friendships I’ve made along the way,” Cryer said.
• Last month, the Texas Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) presented Logan Archer the Empowerment Award for Excellence in Promotion of Self-Advocacy. When Archer was younger, he participated in many livestock shows at the South Texas State Fair and is currently a member of the Young Men’s Business League and part of the Southeast Texas State Fair Livestock Committee.
• Lisa Cliett, a partner of High & Tight Roofing in Lumberton, was honored as Ambassador of the Year at the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce’s 122nd Annual Meeting on Oct. 7. She handles business development and networking for the company.
• Meagan Bowman, Beaumont Area Process Safety lead, received the Texas Chemistry Council (TCC) Outstanding Service Award at the TCC Annual Industry Luncheon on Oct. 9, announced ExxonMobil Beaumont. Bowman was one of only two individuals statewide honored in 2025 with the award, which recognizes leadership, dedication, and contributions to the TCC Process Safety Committee.
• Todd Hamel, M.D., FACOEM, FAAFP, is the new regional medical director of the Health and Safety Council (HASC), based at the Golden Triangle Occupational Health Center in Port Arthur. Hamel has an occupational medicine background, having served as North American medical director for Dow Chemical and corporate medical director for Quanta Services Inc. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (FACOEM), the highest honor in the field.
• Paul Howell, College of Business instructor at Lamar University, obtained a new certification in Humanities, Social, Behavioral, and Education Sciences (RCR) from CITI Program, which provides online content in research, ethics, and compliance.
• The 2025-26 officers for the Women in Construction Student Association at Lamar University are: senior Lorena Jaquis, president; senior Kadence Garlington, vice president, senior Kylie Moyer, public relations; senior Dahize Camacho, treasurer; junior Emily Viator, secretary; junior Kaylee West, event coordinator; and junior Tyla Jackson, parliamentarian
• CASA of the Sabine Neches Region announced Tassie Ferrill has returned as the new recruitment and development specialist. Ferrill, a former volunteer advocate and staff member, stepped away in 2019. “We’re overjoyed to have her passion and experience back on board,” CASA said. She will assist with volunteer recruitment, facilitate pre-service training, and develop ongoing continuing education for volunteers and staff. Also, Lori McGee has transitioned from director of Advocate Services to senior advocate supervisor for Hardin and Tyler counties.
• Ashley Gonzalez is the new safety, vendor and government relations manager at Cat5 Resources. She brings more than 10 years of leadership in emergency communications and disaster preparedness, with experience supporting FEMA, DHS, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Gonzalez has played key roles in national events such as the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup, ensuring critical communications for first responders nationwide.
• Dr. Amber R. Clark has been promoted to chief of staff at the Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT). The Beaumont native joined LIT in 2019 as office manager and was promoted to director of administration in 2021.
• October marked 20 years with the Sabine Pilots Association (SPA) for deckhand Anthony Gallegos. He has assisted in countless vessel movements over the years, ensuring the safe navigation of the Sabine-Neches Waterway.
• Ben Theriac, account manager at ARK Marketing, will serve as ambassador for the “SETX Men Wear Pink” campaign this year. “This cause is personal to me. Next month, my mom will celebrate 16 years as a breast cancer survivor — a milestone made possible through God’s hand in her life and the incredible medical advances in this field,” Theriac said. The fundraiser helps local breast cancer patients with transportation, meals, overnight stays, screenings and more, while supporting the American Cancer Society’s national research and prevention programs.
• Indorama Ventures: Indovinya–Port Neches Operations officials announced Jason Patterson and Sophie Gutierrez were selected to join the Leadership Southeast Texas Class of 2026.
• Michelle Harris is the new director for Special Programs, announced Lumberton ISD. Harris previously served as assistant director of Special Programs. She has 29 years of experience, including 12 years as a general education teacher, 12 years as an educational diagnostician, and four years as assistant director. Certified as a diagnostician (SBEC, RPED), Harris recently earned a National Certified Educational Diagnostician (NCED) credential.
• Leigh Ann Schroeder is the new director of the BBB Education Foundation at BBB Serving Southeast Texas. With more than 30 years of experience in public relations, nonprofit leadership, event management, and campaign strategy, Schroeder will lead the foundation’s educational initiatives, community programs, and scholarship efforts.
• Sour Lake Chevrolet–Truckville announced two new staff members and one promotion. Tiffany Van Horn replaced Bree Alfaro as receptionist, and Lauren Locicero is the new service department cashier. Nataly DeLaTorre was promoted to customer service manager.
• Katlyn Anderson Ellis, business development director at DuGood Credit Union, attended the America’s Credit Union Marketing Certification School last month in Seattle, Washington.
• David “Gary” Parsley, CPChem Port Arthur plant manager, received the Gerald R. Ehrman Award for Leadership in Safety Management from the Texas Chemistry Council.
• Alicia DeLoera-Ramirez has joined the Better Business Bureau Southeast Texas as the new community engagement specialist. With more than 25 years of sales experience, she also serves as vice president of the iRule Dance Foundation and a board member for the Shorkey Center Marketing Team.
• Jordan Williams announced he has left KBMT 12News to join the Office of Advancement at Lamar University in Beaumont. He will help develop new funding avenues to ensure continued access to higher education.
• Antonio Mitchell, deputy fire chief for the city of Port Arthur, completed the two-year Certified Fire Executive Program through the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy.
• Katherine McAtee was promoted to program manager at the McFaddin-Ward House Museum. McAtee has served as assistant curator/registrar at the museum since January 2024 and will take on her new role developing and overseeing all public programs.
• Kristen Dobbs-Stovall is the new dean of Student Services at Lamar State College Orange. She previously served as dean of Business and STEM at Kilgore College, division chair of Business, Technology and Public Service at Trinity Valley Community College, and adjunct professor at The University of Texas at Tyler.
• Lachelle Edwards is the new director of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board. She made the announcement Oct. 21 on social media. Prior to joining Lamar, Edwards served as public affairs and communications manager for the Port of Port Arthur and spent more than 10 years as an educator in Port Arthur ISD. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Lamar and a master’s degree in education in curriculum and instruction from Houston Christian University.
• Code Red Safety of Beaumont announced three new employees: Gabrielle Pennington, account manager; Baleigh Linscomb, customer service representative; and Joe Lynch, CDL driver.
• Alyssa Rodriguez started a new position as commercial coordinator for Downstream, Midstream and Chemicals – Supply and Trading at Chevron.
• After four years with the Texas Chemistry Council (TCC) and Texas Chemistry Alliance (TCA), Caroline Espinosa announced her move to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) as director of the Office of Strategic Communications, where she’ll lead communications and government relations for the agency.
• After 31 years of service, Deana Blackmon, assistant director of Chronic Disease at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Orange, is retiring. She has worked at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas for the past 11 years.
