United Way of Tarrant County Promotes Crystal Sands
United Way of Tarrant County announced it promoted Crystal Sands to chief development officer, effective immediately. Sands provides leadership, strategic vision and direction to the organization and manages all development activities. She oversees workplace campaign, major gifts, donor communication and volunteer management to help support fundraising objectives and maximize community impact for the most vulnerable populations in Tarrant County.
Child Care Associates Awards: Jerietha McDonald; Best Place for Kids!
Social entrepreneur Jerietha McDonald and the Best Place for Kids! initiative won Child Care Associates' 2020 North Texas Early Childhood Leadership Awards. McDonald is founder and CEO of the Arlington DFW Child Care Association, and she won for her leadership in the family child care space. Best Place won the organization award.
JTaylor’s Arielle Schmeck Wins AICPA Award
The American Institute of CPAs Standing Ovation Recognition Program has selected Arielle Schmeck, CPA/ABV, a senior manager in the consulting services division at JTaylor, as one of its 22 outstanding young CPAs for 2020. She was honored in the area of valuations. The AICPA program recognizes forensic accounting and valuation services professionals from across the country who are age 40 or under, have earned the CFF and/or ABV credential, and have worked to advance the profession. Schmeck joined JTaylor in 2016 and provides consulting and valuation services, with an emphasis in the healthcare industry. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy.
Fort Worth’s Hill School Appoints 11 New Team Members
Hill School, a Fort Worth college preparatory, full-service school for K-12 students who learn differently, has appointed 11 new team members:
Jimmy Cessna, college and career counselor and registrar. A graduate of Missouri Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in sports management, Cessna assists Hill School students with planning for their future after graduation, and also maintains student records of grades, attendance and other facts.
Rachel Coleman, American Sign Language Instructor. Coleman, a 2016 graduate of Hill School, teaches American sign language. She earned an associate degree from Tarrant County College and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in education.
Andrew Errico, middle school history instructor/basketball and golf coach: Errico, a Hill School graduate, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Payne University. At Hill School, he teaches middle school history, and also coaches middle school basketball and golf.
Karen Knight, school counselor. Knight holds a B.A. in marketing, a B.A. in Spanish, and an M.A. in elementary education from Texas Christian University, as well as an M.A. in counseling psychology from Tarleton State University. As Hill School’s counselor, she aids students in academic achievement and social/emotional development. Prior to joining Hill School, Knight worked as a pediatric and adolescent therapist.
Brian LaFavor, upper school history instructor: LaFavor, an ordained minister, joins Hill School as an upper school history teacher. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia International University and a master's in divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Jennifer Longoria, fourth Grade Instructor. With a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Arlington and previous teaching experience at Burleson Independent School District, Longoria joins Hill School as a fourth-grade teacher.
Joanna Perez, middle school English instructor. Perez earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Texas at Arlington and brings 23 years of teaching experience into the classroom as a middle school English teacher at Hill School.
Callie Jo Williams, engagement and communications specialist. With a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from Texas Christian University and previous experience working at a Fort Worth-based advertising agency, Williams develops and executes marketing and communications strategies to help share the Hill School story with the greater Fort Worth community.
District Barbershop Grand Prize Winner in Rangers, Comerica Contest
Fort Worth’s small business District Barbershop was selected as the grand prize winner of the Rally Back contest. Owned by Edward and Amy Ramirez, District Barbershop has three locations, one of which opened this year. The Rally Back contest was designed to help minority and women-owned businesses overcome the struggles that have accompanied the COVID-19 Pandemic. District Barbershop won advertising and marketing support during the Rangers 2021 season. Marketing promotion includes posts on @Rangers social channels, promotional radio spots during the 2021 season, and an ad in a Rangers 2021 program. They also received four tickets to a 2021 Rangers game at Globe Life Field, as well as a private suite night provided by Comerica Bank. Robinson LaRue Consulting Co, LLC and Precious Petals were honored as runner-up finalists. Both businesses were honored with recognition in a @Rangers social post, and also received four tickets to a 2021 Rangers game at Globe Life Field.
The American Heart Association has named Emile Blaine new executive director of the Tarrant County Division. Blaine will lead the local team in advancing the work of the American Heart Association and creating a culture of health in Tarrant County through the forging of new partnerships and driving greater community impact through systemic, evidence-based health strategies. Blaine has more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit organizations including leadership roles with local chapters of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Diabetes Association and YMCA. In Blaine’s new role, she is responsible for advancing the mission of the American Heart Association locally by leading strategic priorities for community health and development efforts, including a focus on nutrition security, hypertension management and ending tobacco use.
Caregiver Inc. Chief Financial Officer: David F. Smith
Caregiver Inc., a leading provider of long-term care services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has hired David F. Smith, III as chief financial officer. Smith, a senior finance and operating executive with a record of growing revenue for large and middle-market companies, will be responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all of the company’s financial-related activities. “We’re pleased to welcome David to the Caregiver executive leadership team. He is a high-energy person who prides himself on teamwork, leadership, excellence, integrity, and direct, open and honest communication – all of which align with the core values of Caregiver,” said Mark Lashley, chief executive officer, Caregiver. Smith brings more than 25 years of experience across a range of finance and operating leadership roles, including president and CEO of a large, private-equity backed healthcare company. He has expertise in helping companies better execute value-creating strategies developed over a career that includes experience in public accounting, management consulting, and private equity investment management. He joins Caregiver at a time when it is experiencing significant growth. In August, the company announced its seventeenth acquisition since 2015 and the expansion into a fifth state. Caregiver has operations in Texas, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and now, Georgia. The company employs approximately 4,200 employees and serves more than 3,500 individuals.
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