• Three faculty members retired from Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) last month: Minus Hargrave, instrumentation instructor, after 39 years of service; Edgar Neely, instrumentation instructor, after 25 years of service; and Brian Parrack, process operator instructor, after 10 years of service.
• Cameron Laday has been named human resources manager at Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont. Previously, she served as a human resources assistant for the Diocese of Beaumont. Laday earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in human resources management and services in 2020.
• Cheryl A. Wisenbaker, director of safety for United Rentals USA and Canada, retired after nearly 16 years with the company.
• The Orange City Council appointed Russell Bottley to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. The board assists the city by making recommendations on the expenditure of hotel occupancy tax revenue to encourage tourism. Bottley serves as a community liaison, assistant football coach and head girls track coach at West Orange-Cove CISD. He also serves on the United Way of Orange County Board of Directors, Orange County Disaster Rebuild, the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce Bassmaster Committee and Krewe de Onyx.
• Dr. Ashley Dockens, associate provost for academic innovation and digital learning at Lamar University, has been named one of the Top 50 Voices to Follow in Higher Education for 2026. According to Vevox, the distinction honors educators, academic leaders and innovators advancing meaningful progress in higher education. Dockens, an audiologist, holds both an Au.D. and a Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders.
• CEO Robin McCutcheon recently retired from Samaritan Counseling and Wellness Center. She founded the organization in 2018 following Hurricane Harvey.
• Robbie Rhinehart was honored as the 2026 Mother of the Year by the Nederland Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau on May 7 at the Homer Nagel Safety Complex.
• Matt Campanella has been named vice president of business development at Apache Industrial. He brings more than 12 years of experience in industrial services and safety, most recently serving as a sales director for an industrial safety company. In his new role, Campanella will focus on strengthening customer relationships, supporting team members and driving growth.
• Sabine Federal Credit Union recognized employee service anniversaries for Tina Nimitz, 32 years; Jennifer Dommert, 28 years; Derek McWilliams, Kristen Arrington and Alyssa Reza, four years each; and Jeremy Jannise, three years.
• Beaumont ISD named Sharon Carrington of Dishman Elementary School as Elementary Teacher of the Year and Keisha Kirkwood of the Career and Technical Education Center as Secondary Teacher of the Year during the district’s Celebration of Excellence Teacher of the Year Gala on May 1 at the Beaumont Civic Center.
• Amy Crocker Dale recently completed the Family Nurse Practitioner Program while working as a nurse practitioner student at Sour Lake Health & Medical.
• Hailey Rouly, a human resources specialist at LIT, announced she has been accepted into the graduate program at Louisiana State University, where she will pursue a Master of Science degree in leadership and human resource development. Rouly earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in advertising communications from Lamar University in May 2023.
• L’Tawnya Boullard recently retired from the City of Orange, where she served as an account clerk.
• Port Arthur Fire Department Battalion Chief Mercer Nessour became the first member of the department to complete the Texas Fire Chiefs Association Battalion Chiefs Academy.
• Three Lamar University students have been named recipients of the David J. Beck Fellowship, which recognizes academic achievement and supports advanced undergraduate research and creative study. This year’s recipients are Sneha Jobby of Missouri City, Homero Tijerina of Port Arthur and Isabella Tran of Nederland. All three are pursuing science-focused degrees with an emphasis on research and health care careers.
• Lamar University physics student Alysa Patteson will travel to Italy this summer after being selected for the 2026 U.S. Department of Energy-Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare Summer Students Exchange Program. Patteson, a senior from Nederland, was one of 11 undergraduate students selected nationwide.
• H.B. Neild announced Trisha Gonzales as its new controller. Previously, she served as associate director of finance at AT&T and billing and accounts payable manager at MRC and Total Safety. Gonzales, a native of Lubbock, holds degrees in education and accounting from Lamar University.
• Beaumont attorney Michael Lindsay received his 50-year reunion diploma from Baylor Law School Dean Jeremy Counseller. Lindsay has practiced law in Southeast Texas for 50 years.
• CPChem President and CEO Steve Prusak received the AGILE Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The award recognizes individuals whose contributions, innovation and creativity have significantly impacted the chemical industry and global community.
• Kristi Abshier and LaKethia Guidry recently retired from Southeast Texas Cooperative.
• Jennifer Foreman has been named secondary emergent bilingual instruction specialist in the Multilingual/Migrant Department at Port Arthur ISD.
• Beaumont native Barbara Lynn was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame last month in Memphis, Tennessee. She wrote the No. 1 hit “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” in 1962.
• After 23 years in local news media, Ginny Sweeny has joined TotalEnergies Port Arthur as a communications and public relations specialist. She will work alongside former television reporter Jillian Fertig. Previously, Sweeny served as news director for KBMT/KJAC 12News in Beaumont.
• The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast named Von Brown chief operating officer. Brown brings more than 35 years of nonprofit and military experience, including leadership roles with the Wounded Warrior Project and service as a U.S. Army first sergeant.
• Eastex Credit Union announced Shannon McDaniel as its new Bank Secrecy Act/Compliance officer. She will focus on protecting members, supporting compliance efforts and helping safeguard account and personal information.
• Kristen Wagstaff is the newest court-appointed special advocate with CASA of the Sabine Neches Region. She was sworn in by Judge John Lockwood at the Hardin County Courthouse.
• Dawanna Jones, MPA, M.Ed., a community engagement and social performance specialist with Bechtel Corp., recently completed the Project Management Certificate Program at the University of Texas at Austin. She also earned Jira Essentials and Loom Fundamentals certifications.
• Kristin Dronet has been named business development manager at Apache Industrial in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Previously, she worked for Five-S Group for three years.
• Maddison Bouget, external communications specialist for Port Arthur LNG, graduated from the Leadership Southeast Texas Class of 2026. The 33rd adult leadership class celebrated its graduation at the ABC Southeast Texas Training Center in Nederland after completing a year focused on regional awareness, personal growth, collaboration, communication and service.
• Broussard’s announced Mandre Zachary as lead porter. He joined the funeral home in 2022.
• Jefferson County Chief Deputy Donta Miller recently completed the Bill Blackwood Leadership Command College.
• The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast announced Carmen Watkins has been selected as chief executive officer.
