Hospital milestone, Lokey's playful expansion, job fair among this week's business news

Physicians Surgical Hospitals completes 50th Inspire therapy procedure

Physicians Surgical Hospitals announced recently they have completed their 50th Inspire procedure.

Inspire is an FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for people who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. OSA affects 22 million Americans. When left untreated, it doesn’t just affect one person, but also those around them. OSA can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and other serious issues.

CPAP is the main treatment for OSA, but unfortunately a large percentage of people don’t see benefit from or can’t tolerate CPAP. Physicians Surgical Hospitals is proud to offer Inspire as another treatment option for this population. Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.

The Inspire system is implanted during a short, outpatient procedure. The system is placed under the skin of the neck and chest through two small incisions. Most patients return home the same day and take over-the-counter pain medications to manage pain as needed.

“We are excited to have completed the 50th Inspire procedure at Physicians Surgical Hospitals.” said Dr. Wyatt Weinheimer. “Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events, has a high level of patient satisfaction and a high therapy adherence.”

To learn more about Inspire, please visit https://physurg.com/specialty/otolaryngology.

Little Mechanics get greasy at Lokey's Bodyshop's new playful expansion

Lokeys Bodyshop, the Panhandle's leader in automotive repair, is expanding its operations to a new location, with a partnership with Little Bee’s Playhouse. Customers both big and little will be able to experience the body shop garage like never before. The new Lokeys will be built with littles (toddlers) in mind, allowing them to learn thru play.

This one-of-a-kind experience will feature a branded play area with toy tools and a gas pump, creating a fun and educational environment for littles (toddlers). To celebrate the new partnership, Little Bee’s Playhouse (located at 2600 Wolflin Ave. - next to Dominos and Silverland) and Lokeys hosted an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony, on Friday, May 3.

Lokeys body shop has been a family-owned business, serving the Texas Panhandle for over 35 years. Started by Lokey and Lorrene Mata in their garage, the business has grown and is now owned by his sons, Jason and Jayden Mata. Jason and Shelby Mata and Jayden and his wife, Lexy, have been instrumental in bringing this partnership to life.

“We love Little Bees and have created wonderful memories with our two boys. We are excited for other families to get create memories here as well.” said Lexy Mata, who with Jayden have two littles of their own, Roczen age 7 and Lennox age 3, who love to visit Little Bee’s.

Little Bee’s Playhouse, a play and party venue designed for littles (toddlers), was started by Kathy and Carlos Lopez, 5 years ago and has slowly been working to make this small play town look and resemble more of Amarillo. Bringing in local sponsors to support the business, they have partnered with Market 33, Primrose School of Amarillo Southwest and now Lokeys. “Our vision has always been to create a little Amarillo, where littles (toddlers) can come play and see the businesses they naturally see in our community,” said Lopez.

The new Lokey’s will be open for play, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting May 3 and reserved for private events on weekends.

For more information about the open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony, please contact Little Bee’s Playhouse at (806) 418-6267 or Info@LittleBeesPlayhouse.com. To learn more about Lokeys Bodyshop, Lokeysbodyshop.com or call (806) 352-8399. For partnership inquiries with Little Bee's Playhouse, contact Kathy Lopez at (806) 418-6267 or Info@LittleBeesPlayhouse.com.

Educator Job Fair offers opportunities for teachers to connect with districts

As the academic year draws to a close, Region 16 Education Service Center is excited to announce its upcoming Educator Job Fair, scheduled to take place on May 16 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 5800 Bell St. in Amarillo.

The job fair will provide a valuable opportunity for educators seeking new career opportunities to connect with school districts from across the region. Representatives from various districts will be present to discuss current and upcoming job openings, as well as provide information about their respective schools and communities.

"Our Educator Job Fair is an excellent platform for both experienced educators and new graduates to explore the diverse range of teaching opportunities available in our region," said Brenda Foster, Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Region 16. "We encourage all educators who are passionate about making a difference in students' lives to attend."

Registration for the Educator Job Fair is free and open to all educators.

“Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your career, this event is for you,” Foster said.

Regional school districts interested in hosting a booth at the fair are encouraged to register at r16.us/district to secure a spot.

Amarillo’s yearbook is online: PAFR details city spending

The annual modern-day yearbook for the City of Amarillo, which breaks down numerous aspects of city spending, is online and available to the public.

The city's Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) is a yearly account of city spending for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023 – from waste collection to street maintenance to permit fees. The PAFR is a comprehensive review of city finances, providing residents with quick and convenient access to transparent information and financial accountability.

“The Popular Annual Financial Report is a testament to the dedication and proficiency of city staff in managing the financial affairs of Amarillo," said Amarillo Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Laura Storrs. “The PAFR showcases the city’s commitment to transparency and demonstrates unwavering dedication to responsible fiscal management.”

The PAFR has received the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for the past 12 years.

"The consistent recognition of our PAFR underscores our commitment to financial accountability and transparency," Storrs said. “We take immense pride in providing our citizens and city council with accessible and understandable information about how their tax dollars are utilized."

The COA PAFR is available online at www.amarillo.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/37246

For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.

Rural Nursing Education Consortium receives prestigious national award

When the original signatories of the Rural Nursing Education Consortium (RNEC) met at Amarillo College on Feb. 26, 2019, the document they inked that day articulated an ambitious goal: to establish a pipeline of homegrown nurses that would meet staffing needs of the Consortium’s hospitals in the Texas Panhandle. In just over five years since then, with approximately 100 homegrown graduates to its credit already, RNEC has not only exceeded the expectations of even its most optimistic architects, but it has additionally achieved national acclaim.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has named RNEC the 2024 winner of its Outstanding Rural Health Program award, a significant laurel that spotlights exceptional commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and education within rural communities.

The prestigious accolade will be presented on Thursday, May 9 at NRHA’s 47th Annual Rural Health Conference in New Orleans.

“This is an incredible and gratifying honor,” said Dr. Tamara Clunis, AC’s vice president of academic affairs. “It certainly reinforces the commitment of all the RNEC partners who have stepped up to establish a proactive solution to a very real rural nursing shortage.”

RNEC is comprised of higher education partners Amarillo College, Frank Phillips College and West Texas A&M University, alongside five steadfast rural hospitals – Dallam County Hospital District, Golden Plains Hospital, Hereford Regional Medical Center, Moore County Hospital District, and Ochiltree General Hospital. RNEC was conceived to support the delivery of expanded nursing education opportunities, uniquely delivered via face-to-face and distance learning technology, throughout the colleges’ service areas, with participating hospitals providing classrooms and serving as clinical sites.

Amarillo College delivers its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) curriculum — an avenue to becoming a registered nurse (RN) — at each participating Hospital District, while Frank Phillips College similarly extends its reach to deliver the Vocational Nursing (LVN) Program to students who choose that pathway. Graduates wishing to pursue baccalaureate nursing degrees can do so at West Texas A&M.

Counting this May’s graduates, Amarillo College has produced a total of 67 RNs through RNEC thus far, while many more have achieved LVN success with Frank Phillips.

WT small business client and nonprofit partner win prestigious SBA Awards

CANYON — Canyon business owners and an Amarillo nonprofit will be recognized for winning regional commendations from the U.S. Small Business Administration after being nominated by America’s SBDC at West Texas A&M University.

George and Paige Nester of Creek House Honey Farm in Canyon have been named the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year–West Texas District and Amarillo nonprofit Square Mile Community Development was named the Community Champion of the Year–Amarillo Area. The SBA presented the awards during an April 30 celebration, part of America’s SBDC at WTAMU’s National Small Business Week festivities. The ceremony took place at Creek House Honey Farm, 5005 Fourth Ave. in Canyon.

The SBDC is a program of WT’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business.

The Nesters beat out all other nominations in the SBA’s West Texas District, which covers 71 counties. They started Creek House Honey Farm from their kitchen table in 2011, never dreaming that they’d soon be operating a top agri tourism destination in the Texas Panhandle. Their farm is now host to a retail store, restaurant, meadery, event hall and an expanding manufacturing facility where they produce and ship honey and skincare products nationwide.

“George and Paige’s success has helped put Canyon on the map, and I’m so proud to know that Creek House is now a recognized brand across the U.S.” said Gina Woodward, regional director of the SBDC, where the Nesters have been longtime clients.

Brady Clark founded nonprofit Square Mile Community Development in 2016 to provide economic development, housing, health, education and spiritual support in under-resourced neighborhoods of Amarillo. Donna Dorman Madison joined him shortly thereafter, and the two have worked on-on-one with numerous clients to take them from aspiring entrepreneurs to successful small business owners who are now giving back to those same neighborhoods.

“Brady and Donna are a model for serving others, and I am so proud to know and work alongside them,” Woodward said.

Square Mile has long partnered with the SBDC to help bridge a gap in economic development, working with entrepreneurs as they learn to navigate the world of consulting, business banking and building generational wealth.

To attend the reception, RSVP at wtsbdc.com/awards. For information, contact Woodward at 806-651-5151 or gina@wtsbdc.com.

Texas Big Game Awards banquets slated

The Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) has released the regional banquet schedule for its annual Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) program. The first banquet is July 27 in Bryan at the Ice House on Main, followed by Aug. 3 at Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio and wrapping up in Ft. Worth on Aug. 17 at the Community Arts Center.

The Fort Worth event is for Regions 1, 2 and 3 (Trans Pecos, Panhandle and Cross Timbers).

Established in 1991, the program is designed to promote big game hunting in Texas and encourage proactive habitat and wildlife management. TWA and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department co-sponsor the awards programs and banquets.

“The Texas Big Game Awards program recognizes exceptional native Texas big game animals, as well as the landowners whose conservation efforts create the ideal habitat that supports our native wildlife. Each banquet serves as a celebration of our hunting heritage and brings together Texans of all ages,” said TWA CEO Justin Dreibelbis.

More than 1,000 award applications were received prior to the March 1 program deadline. All applicants will be recognized and receive a certificate at one of the regional banquets coordinated by TWA. This year’s banquets include a screening of TWA’s first-ever Conservation Film Series featuring Brandon Adams’ "Texas Slammed."

Hunters who harvested the top three animals, statewide in each category, will be recognized and receive a special award at the TWA annual Convention in San Antonio July 11-14 at the J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa.

TBGA program sponsors include Hixon Land and Cattle Company, Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores, Busch Light, Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships, Capital Farm Credit, Stealth Cam, Skull Hooker, Yeti, NAP Archery, Muddy, Lee Hoffpauir Outdoor Superstore, Cyclops Lights, Walkers Game Ears, Cold Steel, Silver Stag, Mossberg Rifles, and Hawk Hunting Products.

For more information on the TBGA banquets, call (210) 826-2903 or visit http://www.texasbiggameawards.org/awards-banquets/.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for week of May 5, 2024