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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Abilene appoints new city manager
ABILENE, Texas () – The City of Abilene has appointed a new city manager. Emily H. Crawford, who is the current city manager of Brownwood and has served in local government leadership for the past 14 years. Crawford will officially move into the city manager role June 25, becoming Abilene's 2nd female city manager. Mindy Patterson, who has served as city manager since former city manger Robert Hanna left in March, was the first. Prior to serving as City Manager, Crawford served in many roles with the City of Brownwood, including Assistant City Manager, Director of the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, Community Relations Coordinator of Brownwood Independent School District, and Director of Brownwood Convention and Visitors Bureau. Read more about Crawford and her qualification provided by the City of Abilene below: Crawford holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development from Abilene Christian University. Her Bachelor's degree is in Health and Wellness Promotion from Texas State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She also completed executive training at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin and holds a graduate certificate in mediation from ACU and multiple certifications through the National Incident Management System. Crawford currently serves as President Elect of the Texas City Management Association (TCMA), where she has held a number of leadership roles including Vice President, Region 3 President, 100-Year Anniversary Conference Committee Chair, and Membership Committee Chair. She also serves on the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees. In 2023, she was recognized as 'Woman of the Year' by the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Hurt said Crawford's perspective and ideas will help guide the city of Abilene into the future. 'She brings new opportunities for change and isn't afraid to think differently,' he said. 'She's got great ideas for the future, and I'm excited to see how she helps lead Abilene forward.' Crawford said she and her husband, who pastors Brownwood Community Church, are looking forward to making Abilene their home. 'My husband, Scotty, is a huge supporter of me and my work, and he is excited,' she said. 'It's definitely a sad time for us as well, because we have such great friends and such a wonderful church and a great work environment here. But we are at a place in our lives where we are looking at this as an opportunity for just a new chapter, a new adventure.' Crawford said she focuses on building excellence into everything she and her current staff does, something she said she knows Abilene shares as a core value. 'When we're putting in infrastructure, we want to make sure that we're doing it in a way that 10 years from now, if it has to be dug up for some reason or another, we did it right — and they're not going to have to go back and fix what we didn't do properly,' she said. 'We don't just want to do it on the fly or on the cheap. That's what I mean about working today with tomorrow in mind. We have to think about what we do every day and how that will impact our future residents.' Crawford said she also is a big believer in healthy organizations, citing her master's degree from ACU in organizational development. 'I have been able to see what a thriving, healthy organization can be — the enjoyment of having a good workplace environment,' she said. 'People are happy to come to work. They believe in the mission. And I'm not saying that it's not the case in Abilene, but that is a core value of who I am as a city manager and as a leader. I believe when the city organization, the people in it, are healthy and thriving, then the results that the public receives are high quality. That's what I want to bring to Abilene.' Crawford and her husband have been married since 1996. They have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law. Outside of work, she enjoys herb gardening, reading, traveling, hosting dinner parties, and spending time with her family. Crawford worked in other industries before her family moved to Brownwood in 2006, where she became the director of the community's Convention and Visitors Bureau through its Chamber of Commerce. The role allowed her to interact with the City Council regularly and also introduced her to city officials and its inner workings. She worked for the Brownwood Independent School District for two years as its Community Relations Coordinator, then became the Director of the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation in April 2011. It was through those roles that she found her passion for municipal government, 'I just really fell in love with all the aspects of the city — Public Works and public safety and even the landfill,' she said. 'I was just so intrigued by all of the things and the operations that happen on a day-to-day basis that mostly go unseen or unnoticed, especially when they're operating as they should.' Her predecessor in Brownwood, Bobby Rountree, was a long-tenured city manager who spent most of his career with the City of Baytown. 'He became my mentor, and he saw that I was curious about local government,' she recalled. 'He gave me opportunities to do special projects and learn alongside him.' As Rountree neared retirement, Crawford served as assistant city manager with him for a year, then was appointed to the Brownwood's top spot upon his retirement. In her time in Brownwood, Crawford said one of her top three projects as city manager would include a public safety initiative coordinated with other agencies in Brown County to update radio systems. 'That was a massive undertaking because of the age of all of our equipment and the radio infrastructure,' she said. 'We were able to upgrade our public safety radio system along with our dispatch center, allowing every single first responder in Brown County to communicate while expanding the reach of the radio system.' That project aided first responders in doing their jobs with speed and accuracy, allowing greater overall communications and increasing first responder and residents' safety. 'I'm really proud that the county, other area cities, and all the fire agencies were able to come to an agreement on the best service and the best product, and we all invested in it at the same time so that it could be a comprehensive upgrade,' she said. Another key accomplishment, Crawford said, is in what she'd call 'place-making,' a concentrated effort to make public spaces such as parks and recreation areas more enjoyable. Those upgrades, such as splash pads, enhanced green spaces, and enhancing sports complexes, added in both value and safety. Crawford said she loves Parks & Recreation because it provides experiences families can enjoy while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Related goals have seen the city enhance the community's downtown district with attractive, walkable shopping, dining, and entertainment options. 'We've had a huge boom in our downtown district of new businesses, almost all of which were local Brownwood people who were taking a risk in opening a new business,' she said. 'They have been very successful, and now downtown is the place to be.' A capstone of accomplishments during her tenure would be the new Brownwood Event Center complex. A decade in the making, the center is now the gem of the community's downtown, she said. 'We've already hosted so many conferences and business expos and weddings,' she said. 'It's become the place to go, the place to be. And I'm really so proud that when people think of their happy memories and special moments in Brownwood, it's going to be at the event center.' Growth and renewal is tied directly to an individual city council's desire to reinvest in the community and its future, Crawford said. 'I'm very fortunate that I have been able to work with the Mayor and Council here in Brownwood, who not only want to service the needs of the residents today but look to the future — what kind of a city are we building for our children and our grandchildren?' Crawford said. 'When we collectively have that type of an outlook, then it really makes growth possible.' Another key component of growth is tied to community partnerships, whether they be local business, industry, medical, and more. It's like putting puzzle pieces together, she said, and when they fit, 'that's when the magic happens.' 'The city alone cannot create growth,' she said. 'We have to create a foundation and policies and an environment where business can thrive.' That can be done through code, incentive packages, or a variety of other strategies, she said, but all need to be geared to ensuring existing enterprises thrive and entrepreneurship can be fostered. When Hanna announced earlier this year he planned to retire, Crawford saw Abilene as a natural next step in her professional journey. Brownwood essentially sees Abilene as its neighbor — or its 'big sister' up the road, Crawford said. 'One of the reasons why I was drawn to Abilene is because I was very familiar with the city,' she said, from entities such as Hendrick Medical System to the West Central Texas Council of Governments and local colleges such as ACU and TSTC. That will give her a level of familiarity and comfort, she said, with enough room to really dig in and get to know the city's inner workings. 'I feel like I understand the West Texas culture, which we also share in Brownwood,' she said. 'Being out here with no really close neighbors creates a sense of independence, but it also creates a sense of community connection. We all have to pull together and make things happen. I think that instills a real strength, and that's something I see in Abilene. If we want something to happen, we have to pull together and make it happen.' That sense of connection and value of place also is transferable to demographics and economics, Crawford said. 'When you look at industry, healthcare, higher education, those are all very, very similar dynamics to Brownwood,' she said. The proximity to Brownwood means that Crawford and her family can also maintain ties with her parents, who live there, and friends and contacts she's made there, while letting her dig into her new home. 'I plan to bring a perspective that places a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnerships, because I see that happening in Abilene — with the city, with the Development Corporation of Abilene, with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, with nonprofit organizations and foundations,' she said. 'I love partnership and collaboration, because, like I said, the city alone doesn't have the only piece that's needed to build healthy communities. It takes all of those pieces working together.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Journals
Stephanie Sapp Rideau
Comcast West Division Congratulates Stephanie Rideau for being recognized as the WICT Network: Rocky Mountain Chapter, Walk of Fame Honoree as Woman of the Year. The WICT Network Walk of Fame is an inspiring celebration of influential leaders in media, entertainment and technology.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Libby Wadle Takes J.Crew on a Trip to Europe
LONDON — is on the move, with plans for summer pop-ups on both sides of the Atlantic and a new collaboration with the London jeweler Alighieri, known for its gold designs inspired by art and literature. One pop-up will open in Italy, with 'an American abroad' vibe, and in partnership with a hotel. The others will open in Nantucket and the Hamptons, according to the company's chief executive officer Libby Wadle, who was in the British capital this week to receive the Woman of the Year award at the World Retail Congress. More from WWD These Ugg Boots Were Made for Dancing Lingerie Label Ysé Opens First London Store on King's Road Koibird, Leslie Amon Team Up on Fruity, Fun Capsule The Italy pop-up marks a European comeback for which shut its six London stores in 2020 following a Chapter 11 filing. In an interview, Wadle said the pop-ups offer yet another platform for storytelling and a way to engage with old and new customers. is forging even more ties with Europe. This week it unveiled a limited-edition summer capsule of jewelry and embellished ready-to-wear with Alighieri, which was founded by the designer Rosh Mahtani. The collection is inspired by maritime heritage, and was made in London's Hatton Garden, which has been a jewelry-making hub since the Middle Ages. Wadle said it was Olympia Gayot, creative director of women's and kids' at who came up with the idea. 'She wears the jewelry, so it was a natural, organic partnership. It has a nautical feel, and is a summer brand associated with being at the beach. It's a season when we thrive, and there's a lot to celebrate,' she said. The collaboration, which features fish motifs, nautical cord necklaces and a white linen shirt adorned with Alighieri golden buttons, exemplifies how Wadle has been running the company. She said she encourages collaboration and wants her team to be looking outward and engaging with popular culture. 'We are not insular, we want to connect to culture and creativity — and not be daunted by it. There are a lot of great ideas out there, and we're always interested' in what's going on outside the walls of the company, she said. Asked about her goals for the company, Wadle said 'we really want to get back to a place where we are part of the story, and the culture. Wadle said still resonates with people everywhere who remember the catalogues, cashmere and laid-back tailoring that was synonymous with the brand for so long. Collaborations are a pillar of the growth strategy. Earlier this year, forged a three-year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the longest partnership in its history. At the time, Wadle said the collaboration is meant to 'celebrate the intersection of sports, style and community at a scale that is really unprecedented for the brand.' Wadle, a longtime and Madewell executive, became CEO of Group in 2020, and was charged with navigating the company through the pandemic, reviving and reigniting Madewell's growth. Asked about how approach has changed, Wadle, who was decked in a cream barn jacket, white embellished skirt and sleek heels with an ankle strap and pointy toe, said that 15 years ago 'there was a formula to dressing.' Today, she said, personal style is so much more important and that people like to mix things up. 'We know we're not the only brand out there, but we want our pieces to have longevity, to be wardrobe workhorses. We want to be a go-to brand for people styling themselves.' She picked up the Woman of the Year award during a cocktail at Burberry's Bond Street store. Ian McGarrigle, chairman and founder of World Retail Congress, described Wadle as the latest in a list of women 'who not only lead with vision, but who also pave the way for future generations of women to thrive in this dynamic industry.' Best of WWD Salma Hayek's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: A Red Carpet Journey [PHOTOS] How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion With His New Look: A History and Timeline Cannes Film Festival's French Actresses Whose Iconic Style Shines on the Red Carpet [PHOTOS]
Epoch Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Epoch Times
2025 WNBA Season Preview: Top Storylines Include Clark, Bueckers, and Wilson
The NBA Finals are only three weeks away, but the WNBA is just starting. The 2025 season, the league's 29th, gets underway Friday. Last year saw the arrival of Caitlin Clark, record attendance and TV ratings, and the New York Liberty winning their first championship. This year looks to build off that momentum and become the biggest WNBA season ever. Here are some of the main storylines. Welcome to the W The expansion Golden State Valkyries debut Friday night, the first new WNBA franchise since the Atlanta Dream joined the league in 2008. How will they perform in Year One? Despite signing Sixth Woman of the Year Tiffany Hayes and drafting Lithuanian standout Justė Jocytė fifth overall, Golden State is facing an uphill battle just to reach .500. Only one expansion team (the 1998 Detroit Shock) finished with a winning record, and all 10 prior WNBA expansion teams, including that Shock squad, failed to make the playoffs. Bigger and Better Adding a team isn't the only way that the league is getting bigger—it also added four games to the schedule. Each team will play Record Breaker Speaking of records, Clark set lots of those last year—both good and bad. She became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double, set a league record for most assists in a season (337), attempted the most three-pointers in a single year (355), and also had the most turnovers in a season (223). Clark helped the Indiana Fever (20-20) end a seven-year playoff drought, and the team has had nearly a complete roster overhaul for her second season. Indiana had the youngest average age last year (25.5) but will have the oldest average age (29) come opening night. The Fever have surrounded Clark with several veterans, as well as new coach Stephanie White, who previously coached Indiana from 2015-16. Inexperience on the Sidelines White is an outlier of sorts, in that she actually has WNBA head coaching experience, while most WNBA head coaches do not. Of the 13 coaches, seven will be making their career debuts this season. Of the seven rookie coaches, three were promoted from assistant positions, three were plucked from the college level, and one comes from coaching overseas. Old Faces, New Places Player movement is a part of every sports league, and several big names will have new digs for the 2025 season. Tops among them is 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer Brittney Griner. After a dozen years in Phoenix, Griner joined Atlanta this offseason, while her old team added Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally. Meanwhile, 2012 MVP Tina Charles left Atlanta to join Connecticut, while the league saw a three-team blockbuster trade this offseason. A pair of two-time WNBA champions in Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd changed locations, with Plum joining the Los Angeles Sparks and Loyd going to the Las Vegas Aces. Just as the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis NBA trade was historic as reigning All-NBA players were exchanged for the first time in league history, this WNBA trade marked the first time that a pair of No. 1 overall draft picks were included in the same transaction. Loyd was the top pick in 2015, while Plum went first in 2017. Old Faces … Out the League Someone on the short list of 'Greatest Players in WNBA History' decided to hang up her sneakers: Diana Taurasi retired this offseason. She is the league's all-time leading scorer who spent two decades with the Phoenix Mercury, but she's not the only MVP to head off into the sunset. Elena Delle Donne, a two-time MVP, announced her retirement in April after sitting out last season. Going for History While Taurasi and Delle Donne combined to win three MVP awards, A'ja Wilson has three all by herself, including last year. She joined Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson as part of the three-MVP club, and there is no such thing as a four-MVP club. Wilson is aiming to become the first player to win MVP four times, a year after she also set a single season record by averaging 26.9 points per game. Buckets in Big D Before the Dallas Mavericks shockingly won the NBA Draft Lottery—and the right to select Cooper Flagg—the hotshot rookie in the DFW everyone was talking about was Paige Bueckers. The 2021 College Player of the Year at UConn, and the 2025 NCAA champion, went first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and the Dallas Wings are expecting an immediate impact from her in the vein of Clark last year. Bueckers is the only Division I player over the last 20 years with 2,000 career points and 50/40/85 shooting splits, and anything less than winning Rookie of the Year will be seen as disappointing. Since 2004, 14 of the 21 top overall picks (66.7 percent) Related Stories 4/23/2025 4/16/2025
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fingerpaint Group's Jennifer Harmon Receives Healthcare Businesswomen's Association's Luminary Award
This honor celebrates women who embody leadership and a strong commitment to the healthcare industry CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fingerpaint Group is proud to announce that Jennifer Harmon, Managing Director of Fingerpaint Medical, was named a 2025 Luminary by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA). This prestigious accolade recognizes senior women leaders who serve as role models, actively mentor and sponsor others, and exhibit dedication to the healthcare industry. 'Jennifer's recognition as an HBA Luminary is a testament to her unwavering dedication to empowering others and driving meaningful change within our organization and the broader healthcare community,' said Javeria Shahab, President, Fingerpaint Medical. 'Her mentorship and leadership have inspired many, and we are incredibly proud of her achievements.' With over two decades of experience in medical communications, Harmon has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation. Her leadership at Fingerpaint Medical has been instrumental in delivering impactful medical education and communication strategies that enhance patient outcomes and support healthcare professionals. Harmon co-founded PharmaHEALTHLabs, which was acquired by Fingerpaint Group in 2023. 'I'm incredibly honored to be recognized as an HBA Luminary,' said Harmon, who accepted her award at HBA's 35th annual Woman of the Year luncheon earlier this month in Chicago. 'I believe that when we invest in each other's growth, we drive the entire industry forward. I'm proud to be part of an organization and a community that champions women and meaningful progress in healthcare.' HBA Luminaries are selected by HBA's Corporate Partner companies and are celebrated for their role in advancing the careers of other women and their dedication to the industry. About Fingerpaint Group Fingerpaint Group, a top 20 healthcare marketing agency, is a vibrant palette of people and expertise spanning the complete spectrum of life science solutions. Where others see limits, we see opportunity for originality. We craft with courage and purpose, pairing imagination with innovation and blending skills that transcend barriers and silos. We achieve success by painting with the richer hues of genuine partnership, unlocking the greatness of brands, and transforming them into enduring masterpieces. Visit us at Contact: Michelle Maskaly Director of Corporate Communications [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fingerpaint Group
