Cameron Nofi

From Staff Reports

Charles Butt Foundation selects Chapel Hill ISD for Harvard Institute

The Charles Butt Foundation has selected Bethany Moody, Principal of Chapel Hill ISD’s Kissam Intermediate as one of 30 principals from traditional and charter school districts across Texas to attend a weeklong summer institute at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts.

The foundation is a nonprofit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships,

The Raising School Leaders program is designed to inspire, challenge and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the state of Texas, and beyond. Following the Harvard institute, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders, work together to create change at the campus and district levels, and receive continuous support and professional development, according to the foundation.

“I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for this opportunity. I really enjoy the team and family I work with at Chapel Hill and view this as an opportunity to share strengths and find solutions for us from a dynamic group of people. I am grateful for those that have poured into me in the past and for this opportunity to grow,” said Moody.

“Great teachers, along with strong school and district leaders, represent the most significant influencers of academic achievement and supportive culture,” said Tim Miller, Director of Leadership Development at the Charles Butt Foundation. “Our alumni report that their Harvard experience is the best professional development they have ever experienced and that they return to their campuses energized, inspired, and empowered to make meaningful change that benefits all students.”

East Texas CPA group announces officers, awards

Tyler-based certified public accountant AJ Evans has been elected 2024-25 president of the Texas Society of CPAs East Texas Chapter.

Evans joined Prothro, Wilhelmi & Co. in January 2019 and serves the firm as an assurance manager.

Tyler-based certified public accountant Kevan Kirksey, officer at Henry & Peters, was named president-elect of the chapter.

Joining Evans and Kirksey on the 2024-25 TXCPA East Texas Board of Directors are:

Vice president: Mehgan Ibanez;

Secretary/treasurer: Ruben Rodriguez ;

Immediate past president: Heather Sanders;

Chapter director (2023-25): David Marks ;

Chapter director (2023-25): Kindle Midkiff;

Chapter director (2023-25): Amanda Montgomery ;

Chapter director (2024-26): Katie Clover;

Chapter director (2024-26): Kyle Pope; and

Chapter director (2024-26): Rebecca Van Nattan.

The following will serve on the TXCPA Leadership Council: AJ Evans; Mehgan Ibanez; Kathy Kapka; Kevan Kirksey; Ruben Rodriguez; Heather Sanders; Tom Seale; and Veronda Willis.

Amy Taylor, CPA, will serve on the TXCPA board.

The chapter also recognized five of its members with special awards for their dedication and continued service to the accounting profession:

Outstanding director: Mehgan Ibanez, CPA, Audit Partner at Axley & Rode, LLP;

Outstanding Committee Chair: AJ Evans, CPA, Assurance Manager at Prothro, Wilhelmi & Company;

Outstanding Member: David Marks, CPA, Senior Accounting Lecturer at the University of Texas at Tyler; and

Accounting Excellence Award Winners: Matthew Cartwright (UT Tyler) and Thomas Hightower (Stephen F. Austin State University).

UT Tyler ranks in Top 30 online MBA programs

The online Master of Business Administration programs within The University of Texas at Tyler Soules College of Business are ranked 29th nationwide by Fortune Magazine, as noted on the publication’s “Best Online MBA Programs in 2024” list. The university is one of only two UT System academic institutions among the top 30 ranks this year.

UT Tyler rose in the rankings from No. 46 last year.

“This recognition by Fortune Magazine is a testimony to the quality of our programs and our dedicated Soules College of Business faculty, who prepare the next generation of business leaders and professionals in the East Texas region and beyond,” said Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

An accredited member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Soules College of Business provides an affordable and flexible MBA degree that can be completed in just one year. AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Only 25% of business schools nationwide and 5% of business schools worldwide have received this distinction.

UT Tyler online MBA concentrations include marketing, cyber security, health care management as well as a generalist track, among others.

Goudarzi named president of national attorneys group

The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, which is composed of the top 16,500 lawyers in the nation, has named Brent Goudarzi as its 2024 president.

Goudarzi, the founding partner of Goudarzi & Young in Longview and Gilmer, brings a record of achievements to the role, having secured numerous historic verdicts and settlements in commercial motor vehicle cases, according to the law firm.

He has previously been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer, a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyer and a member of the American Academy of Trial Attorneys – Premier 100.

Goudarzi has served as president of the East Texas Trial Lawyers Association and now is president emeritus. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association for Justice and the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America.

Texas Bank and Trust sets photo contest reception

Texas Bank and Trust has scheduled its 42nd Anniversary Photography Reception and Awards Presentation from 2 to 3 p.m. June 30 at its main lobby, 300 E. Whaley St. in Longview

The awards ceremony is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.

Cash prizes will be awarded to winning photographers in four categories — Fine Art, Human Interest, Landscape/Nature and Spirit of Texas — in addition to the Chairman’s Award, the Vice Chairman’s Birthday Card Award, the President’s Award, the Christmas Card Award, the OMNIClub Birthday Card Award, the Stephen Lane Award of Excellence and Best of Show.

Winning photographs will appear in the Texas Bank and Trust 2025 Collector’s Calendar.

The juror for this year’s competition was Holly Forbes, a graphic designer and founder of Forbes&Butler Visual Communications.

The photographs will remain on display in the main bank lobby through July 11. Ballots for the People’s Choice Award will be available during the two-week exhibition period, and the award will be announced the following week.

For information, contact Lori Osborne at (903) 237-5583.

Kilgore Economic Development Corp. receives award

The Kilgore Economic Development Corp. has received the Texas Economic Development Council’s 2024 Workforce Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional workforce initiatives by Texas communities.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Brenda Kays, Kilgore College president, for her unwavering support and leadership, as well as thank my colleagues at the Longview Economic Development Corp. and the many supportive local businesses, without whom we could not make regional progress,” said Lisa Denton, KEDC executive director. “This journey has been marked by perseverance, dedication and collaboration.”

Kilgore received the award in the Population Less than 15,000 category.

Applications were reviewed based on innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives and secondary benefits.

The awards were presented earlier this month at the Texas Economic Development Council’s 2024 Mid-Year Conference in Conroe.

VeraBank names new VP, chief financial officer

Henderson-based VeraBank has promoted Cameron Nofi to executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Nofi who has been with the bank since 2021, most recently was senior vice president, director of finance where he had oversight and responsibility for the bank’s financial planning and analysis, asset-liability monitoring and reporting.

As CFO, Nofi will oversee the bank’s overall financial operations and assist with VeraBank’s long-term financial strategy.

“With Cameron’s exceptional performance as director of finance and his impressive background in finance, he is absolutely the right person to take on this important leadership role,” said VeraBank President and CEO Brad Tidwell. “I have the utmost confidence in his mastery of both our finances and the complexities of the financial services industry. That combined with his commitment to the bank’s growth and success across Texas communities makes him the ideal person for our CFO position.”

Before joining VeraBank, Nofi focused on accounting and finance for public and private community and regional banks.