Phillips elected as area president of PTA

Stephanie B. Phillips, broker/owner of Real Estate Center, was elected as the Area 13 president of PTA at the Spring Conference in Tyler.

The Area 13 President of the parent-teacher organization covers PTA boards and general meetings in 21 surrounding counties, including all of Longview. Phillips has served on many local boards, volunteered for several organizations and has been the recipient of many awards in the past year. She will help organize PTA organizations in schools that do not have one.

She can be reached at (903) 759-3500 or Stephanie@RealEstateServiceCenter.net

Oldest worker in East Texas sought

The oldest outstanding worker in Texas is being sought and potential East Texas-area nominees or their employers are asked to submit names to Experience Works, the nation's largest training and employment organization for older workers. Nominees must be at least 65 years old, a resident of Texas, currently employed and working at least 20 hours each week for pay, according to Billie Wilkins, spokeswoman for Experience Works. Nomination forms are online at www.experienceworks.org.

Also being sought are nominees for America's oldest worker for 2008. Last year's winner was a Vermont maintenance worker who was 101 years old. The deadline for both is June 1.

Bobcat of Longview offers new line

Bobcat of Longview now offers the new line of Bobcat compact tractors and carries the first three models released in the new Bobcat compact tractor line. Additional models will be introduced in 2008, officials said.

Bobcat of Longview is located at 1511 West Marshall in Longview and can be reached by phone at (903) 758-5547. More information about Bobcat of Longview can be found at www.bobcat-northtexas.com.

Author captures Texas' Great Houses

Harry N. Abrams will release a new book by Texas native Lisa Germany in June. "Great Houses of Texas" is a tour of 25 homes in places ranging from Jefferson to El Paso. Photographer Grant Mudford has captured the residential architecture of these houses.

Germany is a noted expert on the architecture of Texas and has written widely on American architecture.

Three physicians join UTHSCT

Three physicians recently joined the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. They are Dr. Eli Azzi, a pulmonologist; Dr. Nasir Hussain, an internal medicine physician; and Dr. Gustavo Valero, an infectious disease specialist.

Azzi, an assistant professor of medicine, is board certified in three distinct specialties: internal medicine, critical care medicine, and pulmonary medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. Before joining UTHSCT, he was medical director of the intensive care unit at Milford Memorial Hospital, Bayhealth Medical Center in Milford, Del.

Hussain, a professor of medicine, joins UTHSCT as medical director for clinical operations and chief quality officer. He is board certified in internal medicine. Before coming to UTHSCT, Dr. Hussain was associate professor of medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

Valero, an associate professor of medicine, is board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease. He comes to UTHSCT after a decade of private practice in McAllen as an infectious disease specialist.

Union Pacific recognized by GM

Union Pacific has been named a 2007 General Motors Supplier of the Year for the fourth time this decade for delivering superior services to GM.

Jim Young, Union Pacific Corp. chairman and CEO, accepted the award during ceremonies in Jacksonville, Fla.

Union Pacific Railroad is the largest automotive carrier west of the Mississippi River and provides transportation services for all of GM's finished vehicle business in the western United States.

Laurie O'Neal earns certification

Laurie O'Neal, East Texas region representative for the Office of the Governor in Economic Development and Tourism, attended and completed her final and third year in the Texas Community Development Institute in The Woodlands.

The Community Development Council, the national certification organization, consists of three one-week long series of seminars that offer a comprehensive curriculum of professional knowledge and skills in community and economic development and capacity building.

The Institute focuses on building alliances and infrastructures to increase a community's economic and social growth by expanding an individual's ability to identify community and economic problems, set goals, encourage liaisons with outside agencies, simulate community interaction and bring groups together to respond to a wide range of economic and quality of life issues.

Additionally, O'Neal has been certified as a professional community and economic developer.

As the East Texas regional representative for the governor's office, O'Neal provides advanced and specialized consultation, technical assistance and direction to staff, industry, constituents, economic development assistance organizations, and local, state and federal units of government. She covers the eastern region of the state including counties from the Gulf of Mexico to the counties bordering the Red River.

O'Neal has lived in the East Texas area for 25 years and is married to Don O'Neal, a Longview dentist.

Good Shepherd a top eye donor hospital

Good Shepherd Medical Center is being honored by the Transplant Services Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center as a member of the Leadership Circle of top cornea eye donor hospitals in North Texas.

This honor is awarded to the top 20 hospitals in North Texas demonstrating an extra level of service to donor families and transplant recipients. Through the efforts of its staff and the benevolence of donor families, Good Shepherd Medical Center provided 17 cornea eye donations to the Transplant Services Center in 2007.

"We are proud to be aligned with Transplant Services Center and are honored to be a member of the Leadership Circle," said Rita Gould, vice president and chief nursing officer of Good Shepherd.

According to Transplant Services Center, there are an estimated 46,000 cornea transplants annually in the United States.

Chamber members travel to D.C.

Longview Chamber of Commerce members met with U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and U.S. Senators Cornyn and Hutchison, R-Texas, on important policy issues during the organization's Washington DC Fly-In, April 16-18.

"This meeting was a great opportunity for members to meet with legislators in our nation's capital and discuss important matters that affect the business community," said Kelly Hall, president of the Longview Partnership. "We had the chance to talk with Sen. Hutchison about the future of transportation projects, for example, at a time when transportation funding is reaching a crisis situation."

The biannual event allows members to meet face-to-face with congressional members and staff on a variety of policy issues.

Top priorities this year included community and economic development, transportation, immigration, health care and energy.

The Longview Chamber of Commerce represents more than 40,000 employees and 1,000 businesses, Hall said.

U.S. oil and gas rig count down by 3

HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States fell by three this week to 1,839.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,473 were exploring for natural gas and 357 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Nine were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,747.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Wyoming added four rigs and Louisiana added one. Oklahoma lost four, Colorado, Alaska and New Mexico each lost two, and California and Texas each lost one.

Editor's note: Deadline for submissions for the Longview News-Journal's Sunday Business Digest is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Submissions may be faxed to (903) 757-3742; e-mailed to melswick@longview-news.com or mailed to: Mike Elswick, business editor, Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606. For questions, call (903) 237-7737.