East Texas Business

Keith Perry, president of Sears Methodist Retirement System, announced Charles A. Shelton was named executive director of Meadow Lake Retirement Community south of Tyler.

Shelton has more than 20 years of experience as a retirement housing executive, including years with Sears. He retired from Sears in 1999, but was called back to the company to become executive director of its two communities in Amarillo.

Meadow Lake will be a continuing care community on 92 acres near Loop 49 and Old Jacksonville Highway. The first phase is scheduled to be available for occupancy in 2009.

East Texas Medical Center announced Dr. Caroline McRae-Vogler, pediatrician, joined the ETMC Fifth Street Clinic.

Dr. McRae-Vogler is board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics and received her medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Also, Dr. Sharon Evers joined ETMC Business Health in Tyler.

Board certified in occupational medicine, Dr. Evers received her medical degree from The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio.

ETMC also named Art Chance vice president of operations over the ETMC Regional Healthcare System Regional Trauma System, which includes the Level I trauma program for ETMC Tyler and the Air 1 emergency helicopter.

Chance joined ETMC in early 2007 and is responsible for overseeing several other departments.

And Todd Sigmon was promoted to vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute, which includes the ETMC Breast Care Center. He joined ETMC in 2007 and was the administrative director over cancer.

Sigmon will also be responsible for leadership of several other departments.

Exceptional Home Care announced the hiring of two licensed vocational nurses, LaCarol J. Henderson and Gwen Boykin.

Ms. Henderson graduated in 2003 from the University of Arkansas in Hope and resides in Longview. Ms. Boykin graduated in 1967 from Panola Junior College in Carthage and resides in Tatum.

Exceptional Home Care provides pediatric home health care to medically dependent children living at home in 63 North Central and East Texas counties.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Tylerite Billy Higginbotham, professor and Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M University, was named a regents fellow by the TAMU Board of Regents at the board’s fall meeting on Dec. 6.

The Regents Fellow Service Award was established in 1997 to recognize exceptional service by professionals in the A&M system agencies. Higginbotham has been headquartered at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Overton for 27 years. He specializes in educational programming in wildlife and fisheries management and development of natural resources school enrichment educational modules for grades K-12.

The Cataract Center of East Texas announced Emmitte Hall, center administrator, completed his master’s degree in health administration from the University of Phoenix.

Hall also has a bachelor of science degree in nursing and associates degrees in arts and nursing. He began his career in health care as a paramedic in Tyler. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital announced that it ranked in the 99th percentile in the nation for delivery of quality patient care, according to rankings of 827 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals compiled by Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation.

The hospital said UDSMR is the most widely used system for documenting the severity of patient disability and outcomes of medical rehabilitation.

Vince Griffin, assistant chief of police/patrol division in Nacogdoches, was one of seven members appointed to the Texas Commission on Licensing and Regulation’s Towing and Storage Advisory Board.

Griffin has 20 years of experience in law enforcement and oversees the tow truck rotation operations. His term on the advisory board will expire in 2011.

Debra Christian, a Tyler resident and independent distributor for Waiora, a direct-selling nutrition company, was promoted to the Gold level, Waiora announced.

Gold level achievement is considered to be a testament to the recipient’s commitment to rediscover their health and their dreams, the company said.

Soundsource DJ Service.com of Longview was honored as “One of the Professionals You Must Have for 2008” by Texas Wedding Guide Magazine.

The bridal magazine published an article about Brian Dawson and Katherine McCommon, owners of the company, in its January-February 2008 issues. Soundsource serves the Longview-Tyler-Shreveport area.

PLANNER

Jan. 29-31, 2008

A Circle of Ten Inc. will have workshop sessions that the organization said will link leadership, community organizing, program development and grant writing. Each class is limited to 10-15 people. Call 903-541-0013 for more information.

CONVENTIONS

These conventions are scheduled in the Tyler area, according to the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau information. Listed in order are the dates, organizations having the conventions, hotels/motels serving as headquarters and total room nights.