Arts: Sheila Perry
Born in northern British Columbia, Canada near the Alaska panhandle in a town called Terrace. She came to Odessa five years ago to take the position of executive director of the Ellen Noël Art Museum. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s from University of Alberta and a master’s from the University of Leicester, England. She has served at a variety of museums and galleries throughout her career, including at the Visual Arts Alberta Association in Edmonton, the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City, IA, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, NL and the Woodstock Art Gallery in Woodstock, ON. While at the Noël, she has increased revenues by 35% and kicked off a Capital Campaign that is well on its way to completion. An avid traveler, she has visited more than 40 countries, 32 states, all 10 Canadian provinces and three territories. She has also lived in five countries on three continents.
Business: Stacey L. Brown
Born and raised in Odessa, she graduated from Permian High School and then attended Odessa College and Texas Tech University, graduating with a bachelor’s. She worked in Dallas and then moved back to West Texas as a staff accountant for Johnson, Miller & Co., CPA’s. She went to work for Odessa Women’s and Children’s Hospital in 1991 and, 21 years later and several positions later, is now the CEO/president of the hospital now known as Odessa Regional Medical Center, a position she’s held for 12 years. In August of last year, Stacey took on the additional role of serving as CEO/President of Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring, which is also owned by Steward Health Care. She just finished her term as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. She was recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest in 2013 and Tenet Healthcare Corporation Outstanding Chief Financial Officer in 1997 and 1999.
Community Service: Russell Tippin
Tippin was born in Denton, but has spent most of his life in West Texas. He graduated from Andrews High School, and obtained a bachelor’s at Howard Payne University and earned a master’s from University of Phoenix. He began his career in Fort Stockton, where he served as the CEO of Pecos County Memorial Hospital from 1999 to 2010. He then returned to what he refers to as his hometown of Andrews to serve as CEO of Permian Regional Medical Center. In 2019, he was hired as the President/CEO of Medical Center Health System. He is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives. In 2010, he received the 2010 Texas Hospital Association Pioneer Award. In 2019, the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospital (TORCH) awarded him the Gordan Russell Award.
Education: Dr. Rama Chemitiganti, MBBS, FACP
Dr. Chemitiganti is the regional chairman of Internal Medicine and the chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the TTUHSC School of Medicine, Permian Basin. His work and experience spans over three continents in the past two decades. He was instrumental in development of the only advanced training program in the field of Diabetes and other disorders of hormonal imbalances in West Texas. He also contributed to the expansion of existing training programs for physicians locally with a goal of creating future leaders in healthcare. He completed his medical education in India. After a teaching stint in Dar-es-salaam, TZ, he served as a research teaching specialist at New Jersey Medical School and East Orange, VA. Here he was a part of the team investigating unexplained and disabling fatigue in gulf war veterans and civilians. He went on to do a medical residency at the Mount Vernon Hospital, New York Medical College and an Endocrinology fellowship at TTUHSC. He serves in multiple leadership roles at the medical school and at Medical Center and Midland Memorial Hospitals.
Government: Darlene Mays
Mays was born in Los Angeles, but considers herself an Odessan as she’s lived here for 43 years. Shortly after moving here, she started working for the City of Odessa. She is now a 42 year veteran team member of that organization, where she currently serves as the Code Enforcement Education administrator. Mays is a graduate of Odessa College (Associate Degree) and the National Baptist Convention (Christian Education). She has a Certification of Supervisory Level Management from Odessa College. She is a Licensed Registered Code Enforcement Officer of the State of Texas, including Immediate Code II Certification. Mays is a past recipient of City of Odessa Employee of the Year, CEAT Code Enforcement Officer of The Year; Board Member of the Texas Department of Health Code Enforcement Office Advisory Committee –Austin, Texas; Outstanding Young Women of America; Past President of Main Street Odessa; Past President of Greater Odessa Rotary Club; Black Chamber of Commerce of the Permian Basin Ebony Bar Humanitarian Award and the President’s Award; Keep Texas Beautiful Ed Davis Litter Award and the W. D. Noel Volunteer of the Year Award for Community Enhancement.
Health & Science: Anand C. Reddy, M.D.
Born in India, Reddy attended the prestigious medical school Bangalore Medical College. He furthered his career in medicine in United Kingdom where he successfully completed his MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians). He came to the US for his Internal Medicine residency at Case Western University in Cleveland and then did his Nephrology fellowship (Kidney specialization) at Mt. Sinai – New York. He moved to West Texas in 2011 to work as a Kidney Specialist (Nephrologist). His practice serves Odessa and Midland, as well as patients in Fort Stockton. Dr. Reddy has inpatient hospital privileges and provides services to MCH, ORMC and Midland Memorial hospitals. He also sees dialysis patients at DaVita dialysis centers in Midland and Odessa. Director and Practicing Nephrologist at the Permian Basin Kidney Center Inc in Odessa and also sees patients at Reeves County Hospital District in Pecos.
Humanities: David Boutin
Born in El Paso, Boutin moved to Odessa when he was only a year old. After graduation from Permian High School, he attended Odessa College and then transferred to Texas Tech, where he earned a bachelor’s. He started out his career at Everybody’s Supermarkets in Odessa, where he was Co-Owner/President/General Manager for 17 years. In 1992, he served as an environmental assistant on a consulting basis to the City of Odessa Director of Utilities through Landgraf, Crutcher & Associates. In 1993, he joined Southwest Convenience Stores in Odessa as the Director of Environmental and Construction. In 2002, he was promoted to Director of Operations until he left the company in 2005. He served as Senior Vice President Commercial Lending for Western National Bank from 2014 to 2018 until it was acquired by Frost Bank, where he served as Market President until his retirement in 2018. He is vice president of the Odessa Development Corporation Board and is Chair of the Odessa College Foundation Board. He is past Chair of numerous organizations including Grow Odessa and Odessa Chamber of Commerce, as well as past treasurer of Catholic Charities.
Law: Sheriff Mike Griffis
Griffis was born and raised in Odessa, attended Permian, and in 1988 enrolled in the Odessa College Law Enforcement Academy. He became a licensed peace officer in May 1989, and was commissioned by the Ector County Sheriff’s Office as a volunteer Reserve Deputy under Sheriff Bob Brookshire. He was elected as Constable of precinct 1 and served from January 1, 1993 until May 1995 at which time he returned full time to the Sheriff’s Office. He rose thru the ranks to 3rd in command in October 2015. He ran for sheriff in 2016, winning the election in the primary and became sheriff in 2017. He is now in his second term. In December 2019, he was appointed by Gov. Abbott to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. He is a board member of The Salvation Army, Project Lifesaver, Ector County Child Services Board, and The United Way. He is a member of The Sheriff’s Association of Texas, National Sheriff’s Association, The Big Bend Area Law Enforcement Association, and a member of the Odessa Rotary Club, and former board member of the Permian Basin Law Enforcement Academy.
Media: Victor A. Lopez
Born in Lamesa, Lopez graduated from Dawson High School in 1983. He attended West Texas State University in Canyon and graduated from Odessa College in 1993. He is currently enrolled at UTPB. Victor has worked for NewsWest 9 for almost 20 years, starting in Master Control in 2003 and worked his way up the ranks, becoming a producer and eventually a reporter. He earned his spot on the anchor desk in 2011 as part of NewsWest 9 Sunrise. He is currently the anchor for NewsWest 9 at 4. He has emceed numerous events including the Feast of Sharing and the Permian Basin Rehab Center telethon. He finds his work with The Crisis Center of West Texas and Safe Place of the Permian Basin rewarding. His work as a journalist has been recognized by the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters for the Best Morning Show in 2011 and two other awards for individual stories. He serves on the Board of Directors for Midland Classic Theatre Company and volunteer, on stage and off, for Midland Community Theatre, as a member of their volunteer/production auxiliary.
Philanthropy: Joyce Fisher
Born in Shelby, Miss., Fisher’s humble beginnings as a daughter of cotton farmers instilled in her the love of family, compassion for others and a strong work ethic. Joyce and husband Mike Fisher moved to Odessa in 1971. Mike traveled for many years as a master welder until they formed Fisher Construction, in 1989. After Mike’s death in 2008, Joyce continued to grow the company until she retired in 2020. Joyce’s legacy of philanthropy began with her love of God and her local church, First Baptist Church of Odessa. She supports many organizations in the Permian Basin including Permian Basin Mission Center, Safe Place, Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center, West Texas Food Bank, Make a Wish, Sky High for Kids – supporting St. Jude’s, and First Odessa Christian Academy. Her love of music led her to support The University of Mobile Music Department, of which she was honored to receive a Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2018. In addition to Joyce’s philanthropic gifts, she has served on a number of boards in Odessa, including Adjustment Committee of the City of Odessa, Western National Bank Board, Permian Basin Mission Center Board and Search Committee for First Baptist Church of Odessa Music Minister.
Religion: Rev. Karin Carlson
Born in Illinois, Carlson has lived in Odessa for 32 years. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s and earned a master’s from UTPB. She worked at Odessa College for more than 20 years, first starting out as a tennis coach and then served as the Department Chair for the Physical & Health Education Department. In 2011, she made a career change, as she was named the Associate & Discipleship Pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Odessa. She served as the Minister for the King Women’s Ministry for a few years, and in 2015, she was named Pastor of the Mackey Chapel United Methodist Church. All the while, she was attending seminary, and in 2018, graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary. She also serves as the Education Coordinator for Reflection Ministries of Texas. Rev. Carlson is involved in a variety of local organizations, including as a One Accord leader with ECISD and churches, Pink the Basin, West Texas Food Bank, Education Partnership Leadership team member and the ECISD Equity Task Force.
Ranching/Agriculture: Dr. Will Evans, DVM
As an Air Force brat, Evans wandered the country to various assignments until his family moved back to North Texas where he finished his high school education at Denton High School. He found himself in agriculture as a late teen, working on a large farming, dairy and ranching operation through most of his high school and college career. He graduated from Tarleton State with a degree in Animal Science. At the same time, he learned blacksmithing and farrier work and continued that practice through college, veterinary school and into early veterinary practice. After college he entered the equine industry, working at the first commercially available equine embryo transfer facility in Texas and later as an assistant manager at a stallion station in the hill country. He took a sabbatical after that and spent several months in Australia and the South Pacific. He moved to Stillwater and found a position in the teaching hospital at Oklahoma State University, and eventually entered the curriculum. He graduated in 1995 with honors. He moved to West Texas and through a partnership, took over management of the Gardendale Veterinary Clinic.
Service in a Profession: Wesley Burnett
Burnett has spent the past 30 years in the field of Economic Development. He attended Odessa College and is a 1991 graduate of UT Permian Basin with a bachelor’s and a master’s. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and the Institute for Organizational Management. He was born and raised in Odessa. He most recently served as Director of Economic Development at the Odessa Chamber of Commerce for more than five years, recruiting companies to relocate to the area and working with local businesses to expand both their facilities and workforce. Prior to his work with the Chamber, Wesley spent a decade as the Director of Economic Development in Andrews, where he was also elected to the Andrews ISD School Board and involved in many community organizations. He moved back to Odessa to serve as the Director of Business Retention and Expansion during his first stint at the Odessa Chamber from 1999 until 2006. He now works for Nacero, as their Director of Project Integration for the $7 billion project they will break ground on in Penwell in the coming months.
