Amber Owen 

Cadence Bank announces Northeast Texas Division President

Cadence Bank announced that Amber Owen has been promoted to the position of Northeast Texas Division President (NETX). In this role, she will oversee eight branches across Texarkana, Longview, and Tyler, following the recent realignment of Cadence Bank’s division structure.

With more than 25 years of experience at Cadence Bank and its predecessor institutions, Owen has developed expertise in commercial lending, private banking, and both sales and credit analysis. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for working closely with both customers and teammates to foster win-win outcomes.

“It is key to understand a customer’s goals and needs, while also listening to input and ideas from my teammates,” said Owen. “Collaboration helps build solid financial solutions and lasting relationships.”

Owen holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Texas at Tyler. She furthered her education at the prestigious Barret School of Banking in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to her professional role, she is actively involved in the community, serving on the advisory council of the John Soules College of Business at UT Tyler and the UT Tyler Alumni Council. Owen is also a member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler.

Lt. Col. Louis Thomas honored for lifetime service

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is honoring Lt. Col. Louis Thomas for his decades of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to aviation and emergency response. With over 50 years of involvement, Lt. Col. Thomas has been a cornerstone of CAP’s mission, training members and shaping the next generation of leaders.

Thomas joined CAP in 1954 as a 16-year-old cadet in Detroit, Michigan. Though his initial membership was brief due to a family move, his passion for CAP never faded. Over the years, he rejoined various wings, including the Arizona Wing in 1962 and the National Capital Wing in 1972 and again in 1984.

In 2000, he and his wife Betty moved to Tyler where he became a vital member of the Tyler Composite Squadron.

Throughout his tenure, Thomas has served in nearly every key leadership role, including Squadron Commander, Deputy Commander of Seniors, Aerospace Education Officer, Emergency Services Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, Safety Officer, and Standards/Evaluation Officer. His longest-held role was as Emergency Services Officer, where he spent 22 years leading training and operations for real-world missions.

A skilled pilot and trainer, Thomas has served as a Certified Flight Instructor, Flight Release Officer, Mission Pilot, Transport Mission Pilot, Mission Observer, and Mission Scanner. He has also contributed to national defense exercises such as Falcon-Virgo and Roving Sands, which prepare military pilots for air defense operations. His professional achievements include earning all five CAP professional development levels, culminating in the prestigious Wilson Award and his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 1994. He holds a Master Rating in Operations, along with Senior Ratings in Standards/Evaluations, Emergency Services, and Safety.

Thomas’ exemplary service has earned him numerous CAP awards, including the Yeager, Loening, Garber, Wilson, Crisis Service Award, and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. Among his most distinguished honors is the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing over 50 years of safe flying — one of the highest honors in aviation. Thomas’ unwavering dedication has left a lasting impact on CAP and its members. His leadership, expertise, and mentorship will continue to inspire future generations.

Ortholonestar announces executive leadership changes

OrthoLoneStar has announced leadership promotions and additions at the executive, divisional, and MSO (Management Services Organization) levels.

In April 2023, Anthony Brooks, MBA, was named Chief Operating Officer of OrthoLoneStar (OLS). He has now been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the group. Brooks has been a pivotal addition to the OLS team and is committed to the organization’s success and continued growth. As CEO, he will oversee the executive management and daily operations of the OLS MSO, which supports six orthopedic practices within the state.

At the executive level, Linden Jackson, former Chief of Staff with OLS, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Since joining OLS in 2021, Jackson has initiated and managed numerous projects and departments, including Business Development, Human Resources, Marketing, and IT. As COO, she will support the company by overseeing various operational areas at all levels.

At the divisional level, Cindy Murray, PT, MBA, has been appointed CEO of the Carrell Clinic division, which serves Dallas and surrounding communities. Murray brings extensive leadership and operational experience in the healthcare sector, which she will apply as Carrell Clinic continues to grow and maintain its position as a leader in orthopedic care in the DFW market. She succeeds longtime leader Rick Weymier, who recently announced his retirement.

At the OLS MSO, Dawn Cowman has been named Director of Revenue Cycle. Cowman has more than 15 years of leadership experience in Revenue Cycle Management, with a career focused on improving operational efficiencies, building high-performing teams, and driving financial success. She reports to Chief Financial Officer Alicia Daniel. Additionally, Daleina Bulger has joined the OLS team as Credentialing Manager. Bulger brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare credentialing, quality, and operations. She reports to Jennifer Kinman, Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs.

OrthoLoneStar Administrative Leadership Team includes: Executive Leaders: Anthony Brooks, Chief Executive Officer; Alicia Daniel, Chief Financial Officer; Linden Jackson, Chief Operating Officer; and Jennifer Kinman, Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs; and Divisional Leaders: Joseph Mathews, Practice Administrator for Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine; Jeff Shaffer, Chief Operating Officer for Azalea Orthopedics; Cindy Murray, Chief Executive Officer for Carrell Clinic; Hardy Farris, Chief Executive Officer for Fondren Orthopedic Group; Tracy Jackson, Chief Executive Officer for Texas Orthopaedic Associates; and Tanner Sloan, Chief Operating Officer for Texas Orthopedics Sports & Rehabilitation Associates.

OrthoLoneStar provides orthopedic services to patients across Texas. It has 40 locations across Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and East Texas.

UT Health Henderson recognized for quality care improvements

HENDERSON — UT Health Henderson has recently been recognized for outstanding improvements in clinical operations, employee satisfaction and patient experience by its parent company, Ardent Health.

UT Health Henderson received the inaugural Momentum Award for its strong performance across all aspects of operations and care delivery. This award highlights the significant progress driving the hospital’s strong performance gains.

“Receiving the Momentum Award is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of the incredible team at UT Health Henderson,” said Jared Smith, CEO of UT Health Henderson. “Their commitment to improving every aspect of our operations and care is inspiring and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community with such an outstanding group of people.”

In 2024, UT Health Henderson also earned its fifth consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group, achieved extremely low staff turnover and recorded high employee engagement scores while caring for more community members than in previous years.

UT Health Henderson was selected from among other eligible Ardent entities, which include 30 hospitals and more than 200 sites of care across six states. UT Health East Texas and UT Health Henderson are operated by Ardent Health through a joint venture with The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center.