UT Health East Texas Physicians welcomes Byung Ko, MD, to Tyler. (Contributed Photo)

From Staff Reports

Hutcheson joins Texas Bank and Trust

Elizabeth Hutcheson has joined the staff of Texas Bank and Trust Company as vice president, wealth and trust officer in the bank’s wealth management division in Tyler and Longview.

Hutcheson studied business management at The University of Texas at Tyler and is a Leadership Tyler Class 34 graduate. She currently serves as a volunteer for Christian Women’s Job Corp, Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County’s Bling-O fundraiser and Hospice of East Texas’ Hope Blooms fundraiser. She is also a Caldwell Arts Academy PTA member.

Texas Bank and Trust Company operates 21 full-service branches throughout East Texas and the DFW Metroplex.

Gustafson joins Lifespace Communities

Lifespace Communities welcomed David Gustafson on Monday as executive director at Meadow Lake in Tyler. Gustafson has extensive experience as a leader in senior living operations, with previous leadership roles at Aegis Living, Discovery Senior Living, and Watermark Retirement Communities.

“David’s leadership style is collaborative and supportive. Throughout his career, he has prioritized resident satisfaction and operational excellence,” said Abraham Mathew, vice president, regional operations. “David shares the Lifespace values and understands the importance of creating an environment where both residents and team members can thrive.”

Lifespace’s commitment to creating communities where people are empowered to live their aspirations resonated with Gustafson.

“Throughout my career, I have prioritized resident satisfaction and team collaboration, which aligns perfectly with Lifespace’s mission and values,” he said. “I enjoy working with diverse teams, developing innovative solutions to enhance the resident experience, and seeing the positive outcomes of our efforts. I am excited about the opportunity to drive meaningful impact and growth in this exceptional community.”

Gustafson earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of South Florida. He is also a Licensed Administrator for Assisted Living Facilities in Texas and a Licensed Dementia Care Practitioner.

Lifespace Communities, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization serving older adults. Founded in 1976, Lifespace Communities has grown to own and operate 16 continuing care retirement communities in seven states, serving more than 5,700 residents and employing more than 4,200 team members.

VerShaw celebrates 50 years at Trane

Jim VerShaw, a distinguished leader in the HVAC industry, is celebrating an impressive 50-year career with Trane Technologies. Since joining the company on Aug. 24, 1974, VerShaw has been instrumental in shaping advancements in both Commercial and Residential HVAC technologies.

Currently, VerShaw serves as the Chief Engineer, Residential HVAC, at Trane’s Tyler facility. His career at Trane is marked by a series of significant roles:

June 2007 – Present: Chief Engineer, Residential HVAC

October 2003 – June 2007: Director, Product Engineering, Residential HVAC

August 2001 – October 2003: Leader, Development Engineering, Residential HVAC

July 1995 – August 2001: Process Owner, Product Change and Development, Residential HVAC

August 1992 – July 1995: Manager, Design and Technology, Residential HVAC

January 1990 – August 1992: Manager, Furnace Systems Technology, Residential HVAC

October 1988 – January 1990: Program Manager, Furnace Development, Residential HVAC

October 1986 – October 1988: Manager, Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics, Trane Commercial

August 1974 – September 1986: Research Engineer, Senior Research Engineer, Senior Principal Engineer, Trane R&D

VerShaw’s contributions extend beyond his engineering roles. He has played a pivotal role in the development of safety standards for A2L refrigerants and is currently part of a Department of Energy working group focused on the safe use of A3 refrigerants in residential applications. His industry involvement includes membership on several influential committees:

ASHRAE Standard 62.2 Systems Subcommittee

EnergyStar HEAT Manufacturer Council

Former member of CSA Z21.47 subcommittee for furnace safety standards

Former member of ASHRAE TC 6.7

Former chair of the GAMA Furnace Division and Industrial Forced Air Division

VerShaw has also been recognized with the 2017 AHRI Richard C. Schulze Award for his outstanding contributions to the HVACR industry. His innovative spirit is reflected in his eight patents, which include:

4830600: Premixed furnace burner

5060722: Serpentine furnace heat exchanger

5271556: HVAC Controller

6257870: Gas furnace vari-speed inducer control

6377426: Gas furnace vari-speed inducer control

6585484: Pivotal and removable furnace door

8313303: Acoustical vibration dampener for a rotatable blade

8602733: Structural and acoustical vibration dampener for a rotatable blade

In recognition of his extraordinary career, Trane Technologies held a special celebration, featuring speeches from John Bailey, David Williams, Kirby Bicknell, and Jason LeRoy, along with pre-recorded messages from Ken Schoeneck and Scott Tew. Mayor Don Warren honored VerShaw by declaring Aug. 26 as “Jim VerShaw Day,” celebrating his profound impact on the HVAC industry and his contributions to the local community.

Visit Tyler awarded at TACVB conference

The destination marketing team of Visit Tyler took home three first-place awards at the Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureau (TACVB) Annual Conference last week in Austin.

The team was recognized in their budget category of $501,000 to $1,000,000 for Meetings and Event Promotion; Leisure Tourism Marketing Campaign; and Website Design and Effectiveness.

President Diann Bayes accepted the awards.

“I was so honored to have the hard work of our team be recognized by our peers at our annual conference,” she said. “Regarding the awards, we have streamlined our promotions for meetings and events, by making it easier for event planners to locate our venue opportunities. For our industry to see the importance of those efforts was gratifying.”

According to Bayes, Visit Tyler is fully funded by hotel tax dollars paid by visitors to the city in the form of the 7% hotel tax at accommodations. A portion of those designated funds are used for the Visit Tyler budget to promote the city to out-of-town guests.

“I’m also very proud of the Leisure Tourism Marketing award, as that was focused on our promotion of Totality Tyler, the total eclipse marketing we shared leading up to the April 2024 event,” she said. “With more than 50 area businesses participating in the eclipse, we recognize we would not have had the success we did without their help.”

In 2023, visitors spent more than $365 million at local attractions, restaurants, retail establishments, accommodations, and other tourism-related industries.

“In the Spring, Visit Tyler introduced a rebranding of the logo alongside a new website design,” Bayes said. “I was delighted to be recognized for Website Design and Effectiveness.”

The team at Visit Tyler and SPORTyler work diligently every day to increase visitation for our community, businesses, and families that rely on tourism dollars for their success and economic vitality.

“In addition, overnight visitors attended sporting events, music-related activities, as well as sought medical procedures, referred to as medical tourism, in which visitors received services not offered in their own communities,” Bayes said. “The travel and tourism industry in Tyler is made up of more than 3,300 jobs supporting families across Tyler.”

Visit Tyler is a division of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.

Henry Bell, chamber president said, “We are very proud of the work of our Visit Tyler staff for their outstanding accomplishments this year. It is very gratifying to have them recognized by the state organization.”

Visit Tyler is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Tyler.

UT Health welcomes Byung Ko

UT Health East Texas is expanding cardiology services in Tyler with the addition of board-certified cardiologist Byung Ko, MD.

Ko is a structural/interventional cardiologist specializing in valve disease, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and vein disease.

“My fascination with human physiology naturally led me to pursue a career in medicine. During my training, I discovered a particular aptitude for working in the operating room,” he said. “As many surgeries are now being replaced by minimally invasive procedures, I chose interventional cardiology over cardiac surgery.”

Ko said his goal is to provide the highest quality care by combining his expertise with the latest advancements in the field, ensuring his patients receive the best possible outcomes.

“Throughout my career, I have made it a priority to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based practices,” he said. “I strive to provide information to my patients in terms they can easily understand, and I make treatment decisions based on their preferences.”

Ko is welcoming patients at 2608 McDonald Road in Tyler. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 903-595-5514.