Greg Junek: Sunday Briefing

Leadership Tyler hopes to help executives new to the area quickly learn about the local history, economy, governments, quality of life and other issues to get them on the road to achieving success here. Last month it launched its Executive Orientation Series, a fairly new offering to help those in business become acclimated to the area.

Dr. Mike Metke, president of Tyler Junior College, and his wife, Donna, are participants in the 2008 series. So are Dr. John Robbins, senior pastor at Marvin United Methodist Church, and his wife, Susan; and Steve Wiggs, president and chief executive officer of Arp State Bank, and his wife, Tricia.

Others participating are Price Arredondo, director of Hispanic business services for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce; Susan Guthrie, communications director for the city of Tyler; and Stephen Taylor, senior vice president for Central Title Co.

The program explores the issues, challenges and opportunities of Tyler and Smith County. Topics are selected to help participants understand the environment in which they do business, and each session is conducted in a location appropriate to the session's topic.

The series began on March 20 with a session on local history in the home of Dr. Mark and Ginger Saunders. Oncor Electric Delivery sponsored the session, which include a talk by Henry Bell III, a fifth-generation Tylerite and chief operating officer for the chamber.

On April 3, the group discussed health care with a Bethesda Health Clinic panel that included Ray Thompson, executive vice president-chief operating officer and chief executive officer of Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler; Mike Thomas, vice president of East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System; and Dr. John P. English, medical director of Bethesda Health Clinic. Gordon Spine sponsored the session.

On Thursday the session will be on the local economy at the homes of Brad and Suzi Streit and David and Amy McCollugh and featuring speaker Tom Mullins, chairman and chief executive officer of the chamber and Tyler Economic Development Council. Remedy Intelligent Staffing will sponsor the meeting.

A session on governmental affairs will be April 24 at the home of Federal Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie and feature Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber and Smith County Judge Joel Baker.

The final meeting will be May 17 and will focus on quality of life. It will be at Cascades Country Club. Southside Bank will sponsor the session, which will feature speakers who will be announced later.

The series also provides the participants the opportunity to interact with a cross section of key local and regional leaders and decision makers as well as introducing participants to other executives and professional individuals and couples.

Leadership Tyler was established in 1986 for the purpose of identifying, motivating and developing future leadership in Tyler. Its graduates include more than 500 core program members. This is the seventh series in its executive orientation program.

Watson On Board

Matthew Watson of Matthew Watson Design in Tyler recently met with the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN Partner Program advisory board in Austin after being appointed to the board in January by Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples.

The 11 member board heard presentations from 17 businesses and awarded more than $600,000 for marketing and promotional programs, which is the total amount of the projects including TDA's portion and the approved applicant's portion.

Watson said he was amazed at the diversity of products involved in the program.

"It's so very refreshing to see so many small companies start with just an idea then put hard work and countless hours into making their companies into viable consumer products," he said. "It's such a pleasure to work with people with such a positive can-do attitude."

GOTEPP is a matching fund program established by the Texas Legislature that leverages the marketing dollars available to GO TEXAN members to increase consumer awareness and sales of Texas agricultural products through specific promotional activities. Board members are appointed by the Department of Agriculture based on their marketing and promotional expertise and knowledge of advertising, media, collateral material and packaging.

Forest Projects

The U.S. Forest Service has a new listing of quarterly projects available to the public, Forest Supervisor Fred Salinas said.

The listing outlines ongoing, completed and proposed projects for the 675,832-acre National Forests and Grasslands in the state.

"Each quarter of the fiscal year, our agency shares this information so those who are interested in or affected by the activities can become involved in the planning process and make comments or suggestions about certain activities," Salinas said.

The quarterly listing is available from the National Forests and Grasslands of Texas, 415 First St., Suite 110, Lufkin, 75901-3801, or by calling 936-639-8501. The report is also available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/forest-level.php?110813.

Business Editor Greg Junek may be reached at 903-596-6280, or by e-mail at business@tylerpaper.com.

Greg Junek
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