Jerod Fritsch, Courtesy

Dr. Larry Pittman Goddard of Tyler, a certified fundraising executive, was recently named as a life honorary member of the Texas School Public Relations Association.

Goddard was named for his recognition as “Key Communicator” of Texas public school education. This highest honor is given to individuals who have significantly impacted Texas education. He helped create one of the first education foundations in 1987 in Texas.

As executive director of the Tyler ISD Foundation, Goddard was named Most Valuable Member of TSPRA, as well as receiving performance awards in competition with school district communications departments and other foundations.

Goddard has served as consultant for school districts, rural hospitals and two children-with-challenges’ camps. He helped create or reorganize education foundations in Comanche, Sulphur Springs and Brownsboro, and for Bacon Bash USA. He also created the Fund of Hope for funding substance abuse cures for indigent patients nationally.

Goddard was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to two terms on the One Star Foundation of Texas; served four terms as national governor for National Association of Nonprofit Organizations; and was East Texas Council of Government’s Citizen of the Year. He is ordained and has traveled to all seven continents. He writes in a blog often: http://larrygoddard.blogspot.com.

He and his family live in Tyler.

Top woman in grocery business

Rosemary Jones, executive vice president for Brookshire Grocery Co., has been selected as one of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery in the senior-level executive category. Honorees are selected for achievements during the past year and were featured in the publication’s June issue.

Jones joined BGC in 2016 after having worked closely with the company for 20 years as an attorney/partner in the Ramey & Flock firm. Recent accomplishments with Brookshire’s include the establishment of an emergency assistance program for employees that raised over $450,000 in its first year, an employee communication app, and new leadership training, wellness and employee recognition programs. Jones received BGC’s Louise Brookshire Spirit Award in 2018.

Jones served this past year on boards of directors for the Salvation Army and East Texas Food Bank and is also a member of the Rose City Society for Human Resources Management, the national Society for Human Resource Management, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the State Bar of Texas. She is board-certified in labor and employment law, as well as personal injury defense, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

“We are very proud of Rosemary for this well-deserved industry recognition,” said Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO for Brookshire Grocery Co. “Her expertise and leadership continue to make a tremendous impact on our mission to create and deliver exceptional experiences and value to our customers.”

Jones will be recognized at a national awards program in November.

Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Honored

Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber recently received the Tax Assessor Collector’s Association of Texas 2019 Distinguished Service Award.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by your fellow professionals,” Barber said.

The award is presented each year at the association’s annual conference in June. The award recognizes and honors a county tax assessor-collector who has performed the most outstanding services for the association over the years. The nominations come from the board of directors and/or committee chairs.

Barber has been the Smith County tax assessor-collector for more than 14 years.

He served as president of the association in 2010-11, and received the President’s Award in 2009. Each year, the president picks one or more people who have provided outstanding service to both the organization and the president.

Barber has the designations of professional county assessor-collector, county tax office professional and professional county collector.

Chapman receives her CPA license

Prothro, Wilhelmi and Co. is pleased to announce that Kindle Chapman, a staff member of the firm since 2017, is now a licensed certified public accountant.

She graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with her bachelor’s degree in business accounting and her Master’s of Accountancy.

Her areas of practice include audits of financial statements for local governments and not-for-profit organizations. She also performs internal and compliance audits for financial institutions and medical clinics. In addition, she provides tax preparation services for individuals, partnerships, corporations and trusts.

Henry & Peters new hires

Joel Ghrist joined as a senior associate in the Tyler office of Henry & Peters May 1. Ghrist earned his MBA from UT Tyler in 2011 and his bachelor’s in 2006.

Colton Eldridge joined as a staff associate in the Tyler office June 3. Eldridge earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in business finance and accounting from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, this past spring.

Ryan Gibbs joined Henry & Peters as a staff associate in the Longview office June 3. Gibbs is a May graduate of LeTourneau University with a BBA in accounting. He expects to graduate with his Master of Business Administration degree from LeTourneau in May of 2020.

Ana Barrios joined the Tyler office as administrative support on June 17.

Summer interns: Lincoln Fischer is a student at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and anticipates graduating with his bachelor’s in accounting next year.

Jerod Fritsch comes from the University of North Texas, where he will be graduating with his bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting in December.