In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct.15), two Del Mar nursing students, Joshua Soza (left) and Michaella Luder, were awarded $500 scholarships from the American GI Forum. The school also received a $25,000 donation from Hector P. Garcia Foundation. Courtesy Photo
This month, News Briefs has packed its case with awards, community heroes, Selena songs, and a search for a city manager. Stay up with who’s who and what’s what right here in the October issue of Corpus Christi Business News.
BROOKDALE GIVES BACK
The senior living community at Brookdale Trinity Towers in Corpus Christi recently presented a record high donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. Through a variety of activities, including the Brews and BBQ event in June, they raised $17,500 this year, far above last year’s high of $10,000.
More than 60 associates participated in the September Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Heritage Park — the third year they have walked the walk. With this record size check, they are also talking the talk in a big way. Shout out to the Brookdale Trinity Towers!
CITY MANAGER SEARCH FINALLY UNDERWAY
Don’t expect a new city manager to replace Margie Rose, who resigned five month ago, until after 2018, announced the City Council at a September meeting in City Hall. The council hired two search firms in mid-September to begin a nationwide hunt for candidates.
“We want to do it right,” Mayor Joe McComb said at the meeting about the slow process.
The council also gave interim City Manager Keith Selman a raise. His $200,000 a year salary was temporarily boosted to $220,000 with a $7,200 car allowance. The spike will last until a new city manager is hired.
FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Josh Brunemeier was named Firefighter of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Corpus Christi last month. Each year, the Kiwanis honors a local firefighter, singling out someone who has served as a role model through his or her community activities. Brunemeier has sponsored numerous charity and volunteer events and ran an Easter basket drive that collected more than 200 baskets for kids. He volunteers annually with the Special Olympics and Toys for Tots.
LONGHORNS PLAY SELENA
As if Corpus Christi — or the world — had any doubt that Selena is a well-loved international superstar, the University of Texas Longhorn Band recently played two Selena favorites during halftime. Fans in the stands got to their feet for renditions of “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and “Como la Flor” during a halftime that tipped its cowboy hat to Latin artists, including Santana and Shakira.
The Longhorns are not the only marching band to honor the Corpus Christi native. Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Javelina Band performed a compilation of “The Music of Selena” at a game in 2015.
SHARKS GO LOCAL WITH MARKETING
The Corpus Christi Football Club has partnered with JBBM Marketing for its sales, marketing, and corporate partnerships. Known by its mascot, the Sharks, the town’s newest professional sports team is a member of the United Soccer League-Premier Development League, the premier professional soccer league in North America. The Sharks just ended their first season of professional ball this summer. JBBM Marketing is a local firm that has developed partnerships with national companies as well as local ones in delivering what it termed “unprecedented levels of engagement, first-class hospitality experiences, and brand promotion” in a recent news release.
FIREFIGHTER, NURSE AWARDED FOR LIFE SAVING
Two Corpus Christi first responders were on hand at the local airport one day in May when a 62-year-old man had a heart attack. Gonzales, who is a Firefighter II EMS, was nearby and quickly ran to assist Kenneth Rushing as he collapsed. Orr, who is nurse practitioner, was also nearby. Together, they were able to save Rushing’s life. Rushing has since returned to his home in Kentucky.
In September, Orr and Gonzales were awarded lifesaving certificates for their actions. The fire department also gave Gonzales a lifesaving medal, one of the organization’s top honors.
BAY AREA HOSPITAL RECOGNIZED
Corpus Christi Medical Center-Bay Area recently received the Healthgrades 2018 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award as well as the Healthgrades 2018 Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. The awards recognize the Corpus Christi Medical Center facility for its exceptional clinical outcomes while caring for women during childbirth and during and after gynecological surgeries and procedures.
Data from patient outcomes taken from 15 states and the District of Columbia from 2014-16 were analyzed to determine which facility ranked highest. The accreditation makes Bay Area Hospital one of the top hospitals in the nation.
“We are one of the top 10 percent of the hospitals to receive an award like this,” said Liberty King, director of Women and Neonatal Services at Corpus Christi Medical Center. “This means our nurses and doctors do a great job of taking care of our patients and the ancillary staff helps us do that.”
The medical center is located at 7101 South Padre Island Drive.
NEW CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER AT PORT
Omar Garcia was recently appointed chief external affairs officer at the Port of Corpus Christi. The former CEO of the South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable will be responsible for oversight and guidance of the governmental affairs, public affairs, communications, and community relations disciplines for the port. He will also will serve as liaison between port executive leadership and the public advocacy groups, local and national elected officials, business leaders, community members, and regional stakeholders.
The Kingsville native was appointed in 2010 to the Economic Development Corporation by then-Gov. Rick Perry. He is an experienced authority in the oil and gas industry and has more than 10 years’ experience working in regional economic development.
