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ne of the big ideas behind this magazine is really simple: This area is filled with some of the most fascinating people in the world, and we think it’s worth telling their stories. You’ve already read a few of those. But this special section offers another platform for introducing readers to the experts, professionals and business owners who make Amarillo and Canyon such an interesting place to live. Learn more about these leaders in the following pages.
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ANB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TEAM: MATT RAMSEY, SVP JOHNNY CROWLEY, SVP STELLA KNICKERBOCKER, SVP LEXA CRADDOCK, VP WHITNEY WELLS, VP JASON GROSS, AVP RUSSELL FIELDS, AVP
ANB Investment Management What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? ANB’s Investment Management team has a passion for helping people answer the question, “What will my retirement look like?” We meet people where they are, build a relationship to determine where they want to be, and then we help them get there. We are financial professionals with a constant focus on our clients’ goals. We’re 100-percent independent, so that means no agenda, no commissions, and no conflicts striving to make our strategy as simple, transparent and as pain-free as possible. Does your team have additional training or certifications? Our team members hold the following professional designations and certifications: CFA, CFP, CPA, CTFA, CRC, CIS II, and CRPS. You may or may not recognize all those letters. They just mean we are more than qualified to help you meet your financial and retirement planning goals. How long have you lived in this area? We are mostly Amarillo natives and those who are not have called Amarillo home for a very long time. Amarillo National Bank has been a single family-owned bank since 1892, and our division has been a part of the bank since 1950. What do you love about this community? The people of the Panhandle make Amarillo a special place. They are kind, generous, grounded and strong. Throw in a healthy dose of independence and that makes every interaction unique and full of potential. What makes your business or organization unique? Being privately owned gives us a distinctive focus and vision. Our marching orders are to put the customer first—period, end of story! What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? ANB’s motto is “Amarillo Before Bank.” The bank contributes financially to countless community organizations, including our local United Way. And as employees, we are encouraged to volunteer wherever we feel led to serve.
806.378.8298 | ANB.COM
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Sabre Cofer Living Texas Style Real Estate Group Brokered by eXp Realty, LLC What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? Residential, Farm and Ranch, Commercial/Investment Properties. It is an honor to be part of our clients’ story as they buy or sell and move on to the next chapter of their lives. What kind of education do you have? Our team members come from all walks of life, some with higher education degrees and everyone with interesting jobs and life experiences. Do you have additional training or certifications? I am a firm believer in personal and professional development, as are our team members. The more specialized our training, the better qualified we are to help our clients with their unique needs. I have earned the professional certifications: Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, Certified Residential Buyer Specialist, Certified Residential Listing Specialist, Graduate Realtor Institute, Pricing Strategy Advisor, Seller Representative Specialist, and Texas Realtors Leadership Program. How long have you lived in this area? I was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, and I have been in Amarillo and Canyon since 1987. Nothing better than the privilege of being a Texan! What do you love about this community? We are community. We help so many people moving from out of state to Texas. We tell them “Welcome to Texas!” letting them know how amazing our state and our Panhandle are, that here they will find people are friendly and ready to help them. We’re building an even stronger community through relationships. What makes you, your business or organization unique? Our team members truly care about our clients. I see our team members going the extra mile to figure out a solution to help, managing the many issues that can arise during the process of selling or buying a property. The relationships we build with our clients are very personal to us. Many of our clients become dear friends and some become part of our family. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? Our team supports Sell a Home Save a Child, Homes for Heroes, Life Outreach International (helping provide water wells for those in need of fresh water and rescuing victims of human trafficking), FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and many other local community organizations as opportunities arise where we can serve and give as needed.
806.683.7026 LIVINGTEXASSTYLE.COM
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David Nicolas Meraz Street Volkswagen What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? I am the Marketing Director at Street Volkswagen of Amarillo. I have been with the company since 2013 when the brand returned to Amarillo. What kind of education do you have? I received a Bachelor of Mass Communication with an emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations from West Texas A&M University. How long have you lived in this area? I’ve lived in Amarillo since 2012 after moving here from the Fort Worth area to attend WT. What do you love about this community? One of the reasons I decided to stay in Amarillo after college is because of the community. This community is welcoming and takes care of each other. I love the feeling of living in a medium-size market, because I am able to meet and engage with like-minded individuals who work in the same field as I do. The people in the Panhandle truly are some of the best people I’ve ever met. What makes you, your business or organization unique? I am grateful to work for a company that allows its employees to dream big and is so community focused. I believe that one of the reasons we are so successful in the Panhandle is because we put our community first and try to help out as much as possible. This is unique because you don’t see many dealers doing this. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? I am involved with Family Support Services. I have been on their board for about 5 years but I’ve volunteered with them longer. I am a Past President of the American Advertising Federation-Amarillo Chapter. For the past two years I’ve been involved with the Teen Universe Amarillo Program and I’ll continue to support that program. I love giving back to nonprofits like United Way of Amarillo & Canyon because I know that the money they receive impacts dozens of programs in our area.
8707 PILGRIM DRIVE 806.350.8999 | STREETVW.COM
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Sindy Ortiz Street Volkswagen What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? As Office Administrator at Street Volkswagen, I’m responsible for overseeing the finances of the dealership. My staff makes sure all bills are paid on time and monies are received on all services the dealership completes. Making sure we are in compliance with each car deal from correct signatures on contracts, correct taxes collected, to making sure all monies are collected from lenders. What kind of education do you have? I have a high school education and two years from a trade college. (Went to college for Travel and Tourism.) How long have you lived in this area? I have lived in Amarillo since 2010. What do you love about this community? The people are so friendly and giving. A community that is always giving! What makes you, your business or organization unique? Our business is very unique in the way that we embody our customers’ needs and wants and make them our family. We genuinely care about our customers, not just from a business aspect but on a personal level. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? I am currently on the Panhandle Breast Health Board. I’ve been part of this board and organization for about five years. I am also a past Loaned Executive with United Way of Amarillo & Canyon. One of my favorite groups that my husband and I support is Family Support Services.
8707 PILGRIM DRIVE 806.350.8999 | STREETVW.COM
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Matthew and Mark Dodgen Nearfall Clothing What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? Our primary business is custom sports apparel and branded Nearfall apparel. Our focus is wrestling, since that is the sport that we grew up in as kids. We have since branched out into other sports and are now outfitting teams in multiple pursuits. What kind of education do you have? Matt earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Mark also graduated from UCO with a Bachelor of General Studies. How long have you lived in this area? We were born and raised in Amarillo until we were 12 years old, when our parents moved us to Oklahoma for better opportunities in wrestling. We later moved back to Amarillo after college and have been here ever since. What do you love about this community? We are heavily involved in the local wrestling community and help coach at the Wesley Wrestling Club when we can. We definitely have a love for them and appreciate their support and loyalty throughout the years. What makes you, your business or organization unique? Nearfall was established in 2009 by twin brothers Mark and Matt Dodgen. The Dodgen brothers were both Oklahoma High School State Wrestling Champions and later NCAA D2 National Wrestling Champions while attending the University of Central Oklahoma. With Nearfall, they wanted to create apparel and gear tailored to the wrestling community, not just generic gear for any sport. They are constantly improving their products to ensure that they always offer the best possible gear. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? The Wesley Wrestling Program.
920 SW SEVENTH AVE. 806.349.3848 N E A R FA L LC LOT H I N G .CO M
Leslie Massey Farmers Insurance
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What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? Agency Owner at Leslie Massey Farmers Insurance. What kind of education do you have? BBA in Marketing from WTAMU 2001, and 12 years insurance experience. Do you have additional training or certification? Series 6 and 63 FINRA licenses. How long have you lived in this area? I have been a resident of the Panhandle all of my 43 years. Born in Hereford, raised in Canyon, attended WTAMU and love living in Amarillo. What do you love about this community? My husband and I have experienced the ability to start and grow multiple businesses here in Amarillo. I’m not exactly sure how to describe it but if you work hard and do the right thing, this community will embrace you and help you succeed. The people here are friendly, generous and the sunsets cannot be beat. What makes you, your business or organization unique? I have an amazing team in my agency that has a heart to serve and love on our clients. We put our clients' needs above our own and will go the extra mile to make sure they are taken care of. We support Amarillo and invest in organizations and projects that make a positive difference in our community, mostly in combating poverty. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? Campaign Co-Chair for United Way of Amarillo & Canyon 2020-2022; Amarillo Association of Realtors member and Co-Chair for the Community Outreach Committee; Apartment Association of the Panhandle member; Texas Panhandle Builders Association member; and Leadership Amarillo and Canyon Alumni member. We support various other local schools and organizations that make a positive impact in our community and ensure that our children have a better place to live.
2700 S. WESTERN ST., SUITE 700 806.352.7388 FA R M E R S A G E N T. C O M/ M M A S S E Y
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Andy Marshall FirstBank Southwest What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? CEO and President of FirstBank Southwest. What kind of education do you have? B.S. in Business/Management, University of Maryland; MBA, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Do you have additional training or certifications? Graduate School of Banking, LSU; National Commercial Lending School, SMU; CEO Executive Management, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Mississippi School of Banking, Ole Miss How long have you lived in this area? Four years. I began at FBSW on Dec. 4, 2017. What do you love about this community? The friendliness and authenticity of the people of Amarillo and the closeness of the entire Panhandle. What makes you, your business or organization unique? The FBSW Family is unique in our focused approach to how we do business and live our lives. We treat each other and our customers as a closeknit family. A lot of organizations say words like that, but our uniqueness is in how we deliberately and relentlessly live each day, every day, that way. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? United Way of Amarillo & Canyon.
FBSW.COM
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Rockwood Furniture Co. What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? At Rockwood, we strive to help you design your furnishings to fit your particular style and space. We offer everything from handcrafted hardwood pieces to the trending styles of today. We bridge the gap from indoor to outdoor living spaces, offering furniture and home furnishings for every room in your home. We recently added a mattress showroom so that we can also help you get your best night of sleep. We are the leading industry experts and strive everyday to accomplish what we set out to do, which is offer the best furniture and provide superior customer service. How long have you lived in this area? We grew up in small-town Texas and have been in business in Amarillo for nearly 14 years. We first opened in August 2007 at the entrance to Westgate Mall. We have since moved to a much larger showroom and retail location on Interstate 27, between Amarillo and Canyon. What do you love about this community? One thing we love about doing business in the Amarillo/Canyon area is the friendly atmosphere. We meet people from all walks of life. We love to
welcome people into our store, strike up a conversation, and have them leave not only as customers, but as friends. In addition, we are so grateful that our community has shown such a commitment to shopping locally during the pandemic. Despite the challenges of the past couple of years, so many of our customers realized the value of home and came to us to help them fill their homes with lasting, beautiful products they love. For that, we are thankful. What makes you, your business or organization unique? Everything we bring our customers starts with the finest materials and craftsmanship, because we believe that beautiful things in your home should bring you pleasure for many years to come. Beyond our furniture, we decided when we launched our business to have the best customer service around. Our location has changed and our business has grown, but that high level of service remains our goal. We have a great team in place to help us accomplish it on a daily basis.
11570 I-27 | 806.358.8778 ROCKWOODFURNITURECO.COM
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Dr. Lucas Haney Broome Optical What is your primary business, expertise or area of interest? Hard-to-fit contacts/keratoconus. Dr. Lucas Haney is skilled at listening to the concerns of his patients, finding real solutions to their problems. He has worked with corneal specialists, and has an interest in patients who have corneal diseases or have been dissatisfied with their contact lens-wearing experience. What kind of education do you have? Dr. Haney received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with an emphasis on Molecular Biology from Abilene Christian University. He then earned his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry, and returned to Amarillo to begin his practice. Do you have additional training or certifications? Dr. Haney is certified as a therapeutic optometrist and glaucoma specialist. How long have you lived in this area? Dr. Haney was born in Borger, Texas, and his family moved to Amarillo when he was 5 years old. He's lived in several different cities in Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico. His wife, 10 children, and their dogs have set down deep roots in Amarillo. What do you love about this community? Dr. Haney loves the big city feel of Amarillo, with its smalltown appeal. There are always friendly faces and the kindness of strangers that holds the community together. Amarillo continues to grow and change, but keeps a core sense of community. What makes you, your business or organization unique? Dr. Haney joined Broome Optical this year, and appreciates how the team feels like family. Patients are the priority at Broome. They are not rushed through exams, and doctors take time to build relationships with them. It’s a pleasure to have a “practice within a practice,'' where he can consult with fellow doctors, making sure patients receive excellent care. What community organizations or initiatives are you involved with? Dr. Haney has a passion for caring for those in need and people recovering from addiction. He is a member of the Texas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. The Haneys attend Messiah's House and support Christian Relief Fund, bringing healing and hope to families in Africa and elsewhere. Dr. Haney has traveled to Mexico, Guayana, Peru and Ukraine as a medical missionary, and hopes to continue that work.
3 4 0 8 O L S E N B LV D. 806.355.5633 EYECAREAMARILLO.COM