Brown & Fortunato announces 3 new attorneys
Brown & Fortunato recently announced that attorneys Dusty A. Abresch, Jesse K. Fishman and Michael K. Gawargi have joined the firm.
Abresch is a member of Brown & Fortunato’s Corporate Group where her practice includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and real estate. She has experience handling a variety of equity and asset transactions, restructuring corporate entities and negotiating real estate deals. She is a member of the Colorado State Bar, the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association.
Fishman is a senior attorney in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group, where her practice is focused on representing employers in litigation, pretrial and advisory matters. She has experience representing individuals in a variety of discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination matters and uses that knowledge to advise employers on best practices and how to avoid costly mistakes. She was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2019 to 2024 and is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Wyoming State Bar and the Washington State Bar Association.
Gawargi joined Brown & Fortunato as a member of the firm’s Corporate Group where his practice is focused on drafting and negotiating complex agreements, assisting in mergers and acquisitions, managing corporate governance issues and leading business entities through formation and strategic growth initiatives. He also has experience in private equity holdings, giving him a unique perspective and a well-rounded background in corporate and transactional matters. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Amarillo Area Bar Association and the Amarillo Area Young Lawyers Association.
Pantex cuts the tape in the advanced fabrication facility
Efforts to modernize Pantex continue as old structures are removed and new buildings are erected in their place. Two years ago, Pantex broke ground on the Advanced Fabrication Facility (AFF), replacing structures built nearly 80 years ago.
For more than 58 years, Pantex has produced high explosive (HE) charges for every weapon in the nation’s nuclear stockpile. The ALF, at an estimated cost of $21 million, is 20,000 square feet and will provide a more efficient and cleaner workspace for development and testing operations, Pantex said.
“The AFS will enable Pantex to support the production of the Weapons Modernization Program, which directly impacts offerings to our Department of Defense customer and global security for the nation,” said Jason Armstrong, field office manager of Pantex. “The completion of this facility is another example of our commitment to our mission and our designation as the National Nuclear Security Administration’s High Explosives Center of Excellence for manufacturing.”
The AFL replaces a legacy facility with an annual maintenance cost exceeding $470,000 and allows for the consolidation of operations from three World War II-era buildings, with improvements in operation and efficiency. Other short-term construction projects supporting AL’s mission include the High Explosives Science and Engineering facility and the High Explosives Synthesis, Formulation and Manufacturing Facility.
Community Options Names Samantha Cutler Texas State Director
SAN ANTONIO – Community Options, a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, has announced that Samantha Lara Cutler has been named by the National Board of Directors as Texas State Director. In this capacity, Cutler will manage operations in San Antonio, Amarillo, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, Lubbock and Corpus Christi. Most recently, she was the Regional Director of San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi.
Community Options operates 58 homes and supports over 1,300 individuals with disabilities and families throughout Texas. The national nonprofit organization develops innovative housing and employment support for over 6,000 people with disabilities and families in 12 states.
Region 16 Education Service Center becomes home to innovative Edge Data Center
Region 16 Education Service Center (ESC) has announced the addition of a state-of-the-art Edge Data Center (EDC), built in partnership with Duos Edge AI, Inc. a subsidiary of Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOT). This first-of-its-kind facility in Texas will transform educational and economic opportunities for the Panhandle region, according to a news release.
To celebrate this milestone, a launch event will be held on March 18 at Region 16 ESC, located at 5800 Bell St. in Amarillo.
“We are excited to launch our first data center in Amarillo, a location that will serve as a critical hub for education and economic development in the region,” said Doug Recker, President and Founder of Duos Edge AI. “Our collaboration with Region 16 underscores our commitment to improving educational outcomes and fostering economic growth in underserved areas.”
“The 60 public school districts in the rural Texas Panhandle rely on Region 16 for their educational and technology needs. Bringing edge data centers to our area is a critical step in ensuring our students have the resources and connectivity they need to succeed,” said Michael Keough, Chief Technology Officer for Region 16. “This advancement will enable rural communities to enjoy the same level of access to educational and business opportunities as urban areas, minimizing delays and increasing the quality of service throughout the region.”
To learn more about Region 16 ESC, visit www.www.esc16.net. To learn more about Duos Edge AI, visit www.duosedge.ai.
Optimum announces update on shipping negotiations with Nexstar
Optimum said that on Jan. 10 after striking a deal with Nexstar, the owners of multiple broadcast stations, Nexstar content has been removed from Optimum TV lineups, effective immediately. Local Amarillo stations affected include KAMR and KCPN.
Optimum said it offered an extension to keep Nexstar’s content on the air while carrier negotiations continued to reach a fair deal for customers, but Nexstar declined, “combining local channels with lesser-known ones,” Optimum said in the statement. his, as well as seeking excessive. the rates.
Optimum said customers looking to view Nexstar-owned content can continue to do so for free via single-dash streaming or visit www.optimum.com/nexstar to learn more about other solutions. Optimum teams are ready to help customers find the best packages for them via phone at 866-347-4784, online chat or by visiting their website.
USDA announces 2025 enrollment periods for crop and dairy safety net programs
WASHINGTON – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week the 2025 enrollment periods for its key safety net programs – Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Milk Margin Coverage (DMC).
Agricultural producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from January 21 to April 15 and for DMC for the 2025 coverage year from January 29 to March 31.
The ARC and PLC programs provide financial protection to farmers from significant declines in crop prices or income and are vital economic safety nets for most U.S. farms, while the DMC provides producers with price support to help offset differences in milk and food prices. For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC website, the DMC website, or contact their local USDA service center. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov or usda.gov.
Meadows Foundation president and CEO to retire
DALLAS — The Meadows Foundation announced Jan. 15 that Peter M. Miller will retire as president and chief executive officer on Dec. 31, 2025, after six years of dedicated service. Miller, who became president and CEO in January 2020, is the great-grandson of the Foundation’s founders, Algur H. and Virginia Meadows.
Since 1948, The Meadows Foundation has awarded over $1.4 billion in grants and charitable distributions to all 254 Texas counties.
Under his leadership, the Foundation has built on its 76-year legacy of funding Texas nonprofits. Miller had served as the foundation’s director and trustee for 10 years. During his tenure, the Foundation focused on five high-priority initiatives: secondary education completion, teacher preparation, water conservation, depression and homelessness.
A successor is expected to be appointed in June 2025 and start on January 1, 2026.
UMB Financial Corporation Receives Regulatory Approval to Acquire Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. and DENVER, Colo. – UMB Financial Corporation and Heartland Financial USA, Inc. recently shared that regulatory approvals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System have been received to complete the previously announced acquisition of HTLF. These approvals follow shareholder approvals for both companies.
The acquisition is expected to close on or about January 31. After closing, UMB will have approximately $66 billion in assets (based on assets as of September 30, 2024), raising it to the top 4% of 599 publicly traded banks in the U.S. The transaction will expand UMB’s presence from eight in 13 states, including Texas.
