News

Denison and Sherman Texas | March 26, 2018

Stacey Jones, Vice President of Business Retention & Expansion for the Sherman Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), and William Myers, VP of Business Retention & Expansion for Denison Development Alliance (DDA), have been awarded the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) effective March 25, 2018. The CEcD designation was awarded to Jones and Myers after passing a rigorous three-part, two-day examination, testing their knowledge, proficiency and judgment in the key areas of economic development.

In 2014, Jones accepted the position of Economic Development Coordinator at SEDCO and in 2016 was promoted to Vice President of Business Retention & Expansion. Jones has played an active role in the creation and implementation of the student workforce development programs led by the Texoma Regional Consortium. Her work with the existing industries includes the quarterly Plant Manager and Safety Leader Forums and assisting with job creation/capital expansion projects. Jones began her career in Economic Development at the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation in Oklahoma where she was the Vice President of Operations from 2000 to 2005. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler.

With 13 years of economic development experience, Myers has helped facilitate jobs, investment and award-winning developments though a wide array of projects including retail recruitment, manufacturing, downtown redevelopment, small business development, and mixed-use developments. Myers came to work for Denison Development Alliance in 2013 as VP of Business Development. He began his economic development career with the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation in Bridgeport, TX where he was the Executive Director from 2005 to 2013. He is a 1997 graduate of Texas Tech University with a BBA Finance degree, a 2007 graduate from the Economic Development Institute, and is currently serving a third term on the Texas Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors

The CEcD designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgment in the following key areas of economic development:

● business retention and expansion
● finance & credit analysis
● marketing and attraction
● strategic planning
● entrepreneurial & small business development
● managing economic development organizations
● neighborhood development strategies
● real estate development & reuse
● technology-led economic development
● workforce development strategies

As highly competent economic development professionals, Certified Economic Developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create leadership to build upon and maximize the economic development sector. Excellence in the economic development profession improves the well-being, quality of life and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities. There are currently over 1,100 active CEcDs in the United States.About IEDC

IEDC is the world’s largest professional organization for economic development practitioners. There are more than 5,000 members across the United States, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other nations. IEDC works to help economic developers do their jobs more effectively, and to raise the profile of the profession.

Texoma is fortunate indeed to have these two proficient and dedicated leaders working in the business retention and development areana for the Texoma area.  Congratulation to both Stacy and William for their accomplishments and thank you for making Texoma a better place to live, work, and play.

Pottsboro Texas | March 25, 2018

A fact that many people overlook about the Revolutionary War, is that there were many women who were instrumental in the outcome of that conflict.  They have not been forgotten.

At the upcoming meeting of the Preston Trail chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution on the evening of Thursday, April 5,  Marcy Carter-Lovick will give a presentation entitled,  “Don’t Forget the Ladies – Women Patriots of the Revolutionary War.”

Marcy Carter-Lovick was recently elected as the next State Vice Regent of the Texas DAR and will be installed at Continental Congress in Washington D.C. June 2018.  At the national level, she serves as the National Chair of the Volunteer Genealogists Committee for NSDAR.  She is both a National Vice-Chair and a State Vice-Chair of the Chapter Development and Revitalization Commission, as well as a State Vice-Coordinator for the New Horizons leadership development program.

Marcy was named as the Texas State Volunteer Genealogist of the Year in 2014, and is a member of the America 250! Task Force.   She is a member of 14 different lineage societies including Jamestown Society, Magna Charta Dames and Barons, the Guild of St. Margaret and the Society of Descendants of Lady Godiva.

Would you like to be part of our meetings and be able to listen to the interesting speakers we have each month?  You are welcome to come and see what the DAR is all about even if you are not a member.  Would you like to be involved in the good works that DAR participates in?  Anyone interested in receiving help to prove their ancestry for qualification to become a Daughter of the American Revolution are welcome to contact our chapter at www.facebook.com/PrestonTrailNSDARPottsboroTX75076 on Facebook or www.DAR.org.

The Preston Trail Chapter of the DAR next meets Thursday, March 1st, and thereafter through May on the first Thursday of the month at 5pm for snacks and fellowship and at 6pm for chapter meetings and programs.  For the meeting location please contact the chapter at prestontrailnsdar@gmail.com

Martha Scharlyn Butts Neyman,  a valuable and well-loved daughter of the Preston Trail chapter, passed from this life on March 18^th.  Martha did many good works for the community, was loved by so many, and will be greatly missed.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 177,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations.  DAR members are committed to volunteer service having served more than 12.5 million hours in communities throughout the world during the past three years.  To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media at facebook.com/TodaysDAR, twitter.com/TodaysDAR and youtube.com/TodaysDAR.