Daniel Westbrook 

Food bank announces engagement director

The East Texas Food Bank has hired Starla Bickerstaff as the new Director of Organizational Engagement.

Bickerstaff has extensive experience in East Texas in retail management, manufacturing marketing, advertising management, and healthcare marketing.

She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Texas at Tyler. She has worked as a volunteer with several groups including the American Heart Association Go Red for Women executive leadership team and For the Silent’s Women of Hope by serving on their fundraising team.

Bickerstaff is currently a member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Board and previously served as chair of the Membership Services/Contact Club Committee. She was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the chamber in 2023. She has also served on the board of the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce and the Winnie Berry Humane Society of Angelina County.

“We’re thrilled to have Starla join the East Texas Food Bank family,” said Tim Butler, chief development officer. “Her passion and heart for the East Texas community is a perfect fit for our team.”

A lifelong resident of East Texas, Bickerstaff is married with one child and has a strong passion for serving her community. She is eager to continue making a positive impact through her work with the East Texas Food Bank.

Established in 1988, the East Texas Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief nonprofit in East Texas covering 26 counties. ETFB provides over 31 million meals each year to 200 partner agencies and feeding programs. Our mission is to fight hunger and feed hope in East Texas. For more information, visit EastTexasfoodbank.org.

NET RMA appoints engineering director

The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) announced the newest personnel addition to the agency, and its first Director of Engineering, Deanne Simmons.

Simmons’ major responsibilities include directing and overseeing NET RMA’s engineering operations and helping to evaluate the viability of future projects that are presented to the agency for consideration. She will also assist in defining road strategies that optimize asset utilization while providing customers with the lowest possible cost, and developing a long-range plan for NET RMA, among other initiatives.

Simmons joins the agency with an impressive set of educational and professional experiences, including more than 30 years of service at TxDOT. Upon graduation from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1994, she started her TxDOT career in the Atlanta District’s Planning Office. Simmons obtained her professional engineering license in 2005 and became the Advance Planning Engineer in 2006.

In 2018, TxDOT appointed her as the Atlanta District’s Director of Transportation and Development. Starting in 2022, she worked with the TxDOT Director of Project Development, where she helped many divisions and all the districts on initiatives to improve the delivery of transportation projects across the state.

“We’re confident that Deanne’s expertise will enhance NET RMA’s capabilities and help the agency achieve its goals of moving transportation and infrastructure forward in the East Texas region,” said Gary Halbrooks, Chairman of the NET RMA. “Deanne has proven that she is a well-respected leader in transportation and infrastructure initiatives in Texas. She brings a ton of knowledge and in-depth understanding of the industry which will ultimately further the NET RMA and its reach.”

“I’m honored and humbled to be working with the employees of the NET RMA,” said Simmons. “I’m looking forward to utilizing my experience to continue to make an impact on transportation in the region.”

Simmons has been married to her husband, Lance, for 32 years, and they have two children, Parker and Alyssa.

The NET RMA is an independent government agency created to accelerate the development of transportation projects in Northeast Texas. The agency’s mission is in cooperation with its regional partners to provide solutions to expedite infrastructure and mobility projects that will improve the quality of life, enhance the regional economy and assure efficient mobility in the North East Texas Region.

The NET RMA is governed by a 21-member board of directors that represents each of the 14-member counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Kaufman, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood. Texas RMAs were made possible through an initiative passed by the State Legislature in 2001. The NET RMA was established in October 2004.

For more information, visit NETRMA.org.

UT Health welcomes NP to Rusk

RUSK — UT Health East Texas is expanding family medicine services in Rusk with the addition of Shana Brown, APRN, FNP-C.

“With over 35 years of experience in healthcare, I deeply understand the significance of health in our lives, influencing our physical, mental and emotional well-being,” Brown said. “I am passionate about empowering my patients to achieve optimal health outcomes through preventive care, medical intervention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.”

As a family nurse practitioner, Brown specializes in family practice, offering a holistic approach that considers all aspects of a patient’s health. She is passionate about advocating for patient-centered care, ensuring that individuals from youth to the elderly receive the highest quality of care.

“I am committed to treating my patients with the same respect, time and dedication I would extend to my own family,” she said. “Building trusting, lifelong relationships with my patients is my goal, as I genuinely care about their health and happiness. My mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of those I serve by providing compassionate and comprehensive healthcare.”

Brown is welcoming patients at 1325 N. Dickinson in Rusk. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 903-683-3600.

UT Health East Texas provides care to thousands of patients each year through an extensive regional network that includes nine hospitals, more than 90 clinics, the Olympic Plaza Tower, 13 regional rehabilitation facilities, two freestanding emergency centers, regional home health services, an EMS fleet of more than 60 ambulances and four helicopters, and a comprehensive eight-trauma center care network, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma facility.

As a partner with The University of Texas System, UT Health East Texas is uniquely positioned to provide patients with access to leading-edge research and clinical therapies while training and educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals.

Community Christian Fellowship announces new pastor

Upon the retirement of Pastor David Hickey after 27 years of service, Community Christian Fellowship has announced the appointment of Daniel Westbrook as successor. Westbrook is formerly Pastor at Rose Heights Church in Lindale. He is a graduate of Christ for the Nations (Theology), Dallas Baptist University (Communications) and Campbellsville University (MA Theology).

Westbrook previously attended Community Christian Fellowship where he was active in youth activities and later served as the Junior High Pastor at CCF. During that time, he was also affiliated with Youth With A Mission, working in support of international missionaries. Daniel and Sarah (Hickey) Westbrook, have 4 school-aged children — Evelyn, Noah, Jon, and Liam.

“We are very pleased to be able to introduce Daniel as our new pastor,” said Pastor Search Committee Chairman Terry Keane. “We believe his longtime relationship with both Community Christian Fellowship and the Lindale area will be of great value to our church. More important is his demonstrated passion for the Lord Jesus Christ and for serving Him in — and through — the local body.”

Community Christian Fellowship (CCF), 15704 State Highway 110 N, Garden Valley, serves the communities of Lindale, Van, Edgewood, Hideaway, Mineola and other surrounding areas. CCF celebrates deep ties to the rich heritage of the ministry with members working with the many neighboring ministries in the Garden Valley area. CCF desires to continue Reaching Up to know the Father’s heart, Reaching In to build Godly lives and healthy relationships, and Reaching Out to the local community and beyond with the hopeful message of Jesus. For questions about the ministry, please see CCFlindale.org or call the church office at 903-882-8501 or email at office@ccflindale.org.