Andrew Rankin

age: 37 | 5th and 6th Grade Science Teacher | Red Lick Independent School District

Andrew Rankin believes education is a fundamental part of society and that it is the responsibility of public education to create productive members of society.  He has taught business education courses, held roles as a campus principal at two schools, and currently is blessed to teach science at one of the best school districts in the State of Texas while being closer to home and his family.  “I do what I do because I am convinced that education, as any other occupation, is a God given talent,” he remarks.  “I am happy to serve in any area needed to help create well-rounded students who can make a positive difference in society.”

Since he has had many opportunities to work with new and aspiring teachers and mentor them to grow into successful educators, Andrew finds a great deal of satisfaction and success when he sees people he has worked with excel beyond what they thought possible. He adds, “Seeing others succeed is a personal accomplishment to me.”

While principal for Bloomburg Junior High and High School, Andrew and his team of teachers were able to raise their students’ performance and raised their test scores from a 65 to an 80 during the 2018-2019 school year.    He continues, “I witnessed what the teachers at Bloomburg were capable of, and I am proud to say I was their principal.”

Andrew and his wife, Katren, have two sons, Eli (8) and Nate (6).  He coaches soccer for two teams for Texarkana Soccer Association where he also serves as commissioner when needed.   A board member for Workforce Solutions of North East Texas, he also serves as financial director and teacher at Spring Lake Baptist Church and is a security supervisor for Rhea Lana’s of Texarkana.  In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, collecting sports memorabilia, shooting guns at Texarkana Gun Barn and Range, and shooting landscape and nature photography.  

Best piece of advice:

“Maintain integrity, have a clear vision, learn to listen to others, and build relationships with those who challenge you to be better because life can be tough. If you stumble, be ready to get up, assess what happened, and move on.” – Dr. Kathy Allen, retired superintendent

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I am color blind and can only see very faint blue and yellow in rainbows. Revelation 4:3 speaks of God’s throne surrounded by a rainbow. Heaven will be the first place I will get to experience the beauty of something most take for granted.”

Christina Tate Cook

age: 36 | Art Teacher | Pleasant Grove Intermediate School

Believe it or not, Christina Cook’s teaching career began when she was 4 years old with her grandmother as her student.  She would “play-teach” her family members lessons from encyclopedias before she could even read, creating lesson plans based on the pictures.  She took teaching very seriously ... assignments were elaborately decorated with “fantastic job” stickers and doodles.  She explains, “Through these childhood experiences, I developed a philosophy of education that is entirely based on encouraging children to become excited about education.”

Christina believes that the most important element in an educator’s job description is to inspire students.  And she has the opportunity to do just that while teaching art to approximately 465 students each week.

Finding the courage to pursue her true passion of teaching art is Christina’s greatest professional accomplishment.  (She formerly worked as a Registered Nurse at Wadley Regional Medical Center and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in critical care and pediatrics.) In 2017, she received the honor of Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for the State of Texas, a feat in which she is very proud.  She has also received the Arts Educator Award from TRAHC.

A member of Williams Memorial United Methodist Church, Christina enjoys arts outreach in the Texarkana community.  She annually participates in the Women for the Arts’ Party with Picassos, has been a director of the Texas Elementary Art Meet involving all Region 8 schools, and oversees a fifth grade art club which focuses on community involvement.  

Personally, Christina feels fortunate to be married to her best friend, Coby, and has a sweet 4-year-old son, Wyatt.  She enjoys spending her weekends with her family at Lake Greeson on their houseboat, fishing and swimming.

Best piece of advice:

“Kindness is contagious.” —Nancy Tate, Christina’s mother

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I once had to evacuate a subway car that broke down in Paris, France!”

Chase Brewster

age: 31 | Baseball Coach | Owner of Sticks Baseball

Chase Brewster, the owner of Sticks Baseball, admits that his entire life revolves around the sport.  Whether watching his players during their high school season, traveling during the week to watch his current players, or seeing his former players (like Jaden Hill) play during a weekend college series, Chase enjoys all things baseball.

Sticks Baseball, based out of Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, and Canada, is a fall and summer baseball program that has over 400 high school players.  Chase is in charge of everything that has to do with the high school program, including roster placement, scheduling, budgeting, travel, and college advancement.  “Being from Texarkana, we have built great relationships with other baseball people from here such as Shane and Frank Halter who run our Sticks Baseball youth program here in town, and Dustin Moseley who trains our players in Little Rock, Arkansas,” Chase says. “The drive and passion behind why I do what I do is helping players chase their dreams of playing college baseball and hopefully getting drafted one day. Baseball is a great tool that helps players get an education and travel the world.  We hope every kid that plays for the Sticks can be successful.”

Marrying his wife, Alisha, in front of all of their friends and family this past November was a great personal achievement for Chase.  The ushers were all former players who played for the Sticks, and several of the coaches who watched Chase grow up were able to attend.  “Many of our closest friends were in the wedding party, like Kameron Forte, who was my best man,” Chase explains.  “It was a great day with a ton of people involved.”

Being a part of the coaching staff at Genoa Central High School, with Jonathan Gosdin and Kevin Huff, and winning the 2012 and 2014 3A State Championship in baseball was a great accomplishment for Chase. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a great team and community that in a three-year span had a record of 91-6 and three conference championships,” he admits.  “Owning my own business and being in charge of so many different moving pieces in several different states is also something that I am extremely proud of.”

Best piece of advice:

“Treat every kid like you would treat your own.” –Dirk Kinney, scout for the St. Louis Cardinals and Sticks Baseball assistant coach

Name something about you that very few people know:

“My wife and I have two dogs, ‘Cooper’ and ‘Buster,’ who get everything that they want.”

Jessica Bolton

age: 31 | Owner | Red Door Dance Academy

As a business owner, Jessica Bolton has her hand in every aspect of her dance studio. From construction projects and social media marketing to sanitizing the studio and teaching dance – she does it all. “It’s important for me to focus on building relationships with students and parents in order to better serve my clientele,” she explains.  “The more I understand parent and student demands, the better business owner I can become.”

Although she can’t recall any huge life events that call for extraordinary celebration or praise, Jessica focuses on celebrating life’s little victories that can be found in the mundane.  She says that her greatest accomplishment is having a positive outlook on life that allows her to find joy in many little things.

Producing Red Door’s 2020 dance recital during a pandemic is, hands down, Jessica’s greatest professional achievement.  “Our kids showed true resilience this year – choosing to come to virtual dance class and practice recital dances ‘online only’ wasn’t always ideal, or even exciting – especially since 100% of children’s physical activity and face-to-face interaction converted to screen-to-screen interaction,” Jessica comments.  “I think the high quality of our 2020 recital amidst a pandemic is something I will always be proud of.”

Jessica is a member of the Opportunities, Inc. Angel Guild.  Her grandfather, Sonny Williams, was the president of the school board for Opportunities, Inc., and her mother is the current president of the organization’s Foundation board.  “I am so humbled to now be a small part of an organization that does major things for children in our community. I also serve on the board for Women for the Arts, a subsidiary of TRAHC, which provides volunteer and financial support for arts events in our community,” she explains.  “I also volunteer my time for Temple Memorial Pediatric Center’s annual fundraiser, ‘Dancing with Our Stars.’

“My 10-year bucket list is HUGE, and I don’t dream small,” Jessica admits. “The list definitely includes building a state-of-the-art facility for Red Door, staffing five or more teachers, having three or more children with my husband, John, funding a mission trip (with my family), becoming a better friend, and staying healthy among other things … I better get busy!”

Best piece of advice:

“If it excites you and scares you at the same time, it probably means you should do it.” — Rhee Gold, Jessica’s professional mentor

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I performed on Broadway in NYC as a 17-year-old kid!”

Braxton Langdon

age: 30 | Insurance Agent | Texas Farm Bureau Insurance and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance

Braxton Langdon’s job as an insurance agent is to help protect families by making sure their specific needs are met.  Whether they are looking for auto, home, or life insurance, Braxton takes pride in working with his clients and meeting their needs.  “I decided to embark on this career because I’ve always wanted to help people any chance I can. There’s just something about helping someone, big or small, that gives me satisfaction knowing I made their life at least a little bit better,” he admits.  “Whether it’s personal or professional, my clients have my cell number and have been told to contact me if they ever need anything at all with no hesitation.”

Braxton’s greatest personal accomplishment is graduating college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. “As much as I disliked school, I never wanted to go to college in the first place. Looking back, I made so many memories and learned so many valuable lessons that I may not have ever had the chance to know,” he adds.

Being the best he can be is important to Braxton.  He recently had a customer who experienced a bad house fire. He was able to help him and his wife cope with the loss of family heirlooms, personal belongings, and just the shock of the loss itself.  Hearing them say a simple, “Thank you for helping us and taking care of us” made Braxton know that he had done his job correctly.  He looks forward to continuing to further his career as an insurance agent, helping families protect their assets and maintain their standard of living.

In his spare time, Braxton and his wife, Cylas, enjoy spending time with each other and their two fur babies.  He also looks forward to being outdoors whether golfing, hunting, fly fishing/tying, or gunsmithing.  Community-oriented and always willing to help with a cause, Braxton assists many of Texarkana’s nonprofits either as a volunteer or sponsor.  He has been involved with Texarkana Kids Run the Line Too, Run the Line, Four States Delta Waterfowl Board, Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure®, and the DeKalb Alumni Livestock Show.

Best piece of advice:

“If you do it right the first time, you ain’t gotta do it again.” — Todd Langdon, Braxton’s father

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I’ve been told by my wife and a few of my coworkers that I’m pretty good at impersonations. I’m constantly asked to imitate different people. I can usually tell if I’ll be able to impersonate someone within the first 15 seconds of talking with them. I enjoy getting a rise out of people, and that usually does the trick.”

Sanel Thomas

age: 26 | Franchise Owner/Operator | Chick-fil-A Central Mall

The Chick-fil-A restaurant located in Mesquite, Texas, was where Sanel Thomas first worked at the age of 17. Even though it started off as a part-time job in high school, he grew to love the brand, the people, and serving guests. “It has had a huge impact on my life, and I try to share those values and lessons with my team,” he explains.  “I am very passionate about people and helping them achieve their dreams and goals. Our founder used to say that we are in the people business, disguised as a chicken restaurant, and I believe this 100%.”

The first person in his family to graduate college, Sanel has worked hard to become an entrepreneur.  His greatest professional accomplishment is being selected to be the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A Central Mall in 2019.

Being involved with the local school districts and donating food to various organizations and businesses throughout the community in times of need are several of the ways that Sanel helps give back to the Texarkana community.  He is also involved with Greater Texarkana Young Professionals and occasionally volunteers to do speaking engagements with local high schools and colleges to share his journey to entrepreneurship and overall leadership principles that he has learned over the years.  

In his spare time, Sanel enjoys hanging out with friends and family and traveling.  He even finds the time to play sports and work out, too.  When asked about his future, he shares, “I hope that over the next 10 years we continue to grow the business here at Central Mall inside and outside the restaurant using various different platforms.  More importantly, I hope I am spending the majority of my time influencing the next generation of leaders.”

Best piece of advice:

“No goal is too high if we climb with care and confidence.” — S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I can speak Malayalam (a south Indian language) fluently because that is the language we spoke at home while I was growing up.”

Nicole Raley

age: 39 | Vice President – Mortgage Department | Farmers Bank & Trust

As vice president of the mortgage department at Farmers Bank & Trust, Nicole Raley helps borrowers obtain home ownership or better themselves financially with their mortgage.  “I work alongside a great group of individuals who assist customers with their mortgage loans,” Nicole says.

Nicole is proud of the fact that she started working in mortgage at a young age and has stuck with it. By doing so, she gained experience and knowledge that she tries to pass on to her coworkers. “Seeing my fellow coworkers become successful because of something I have taught them is my greatest professional accomplishment,” she explains.

Nicole’s children, Gabe and Grace, are her best friends.  They inspire, humble, and surprise her and her husband, Cody, every single day.  Hands-down, her children are her greatest personal achievement.  She enjoys watching her children play sports and even finds time to read a good book every once in a while.

While her career requires most of her time, Nicole also enjoys giving back to her community.  She currently serves on the board of United Way of Greater Texarkana and the Community Impact Committee for United Way.  She is president of the Texas A&M–Texarkana Alumni board and serves on the board of the Texarkana Home Builder’s Association.  

“In 10 years, I hope to be attending some college graduations for my children,” Nicole comments.  “And I will enjoy advising them, as much as they will let me, on what they should do with their lives!”

Best piece of advice:

““Family is everything. Keep your family close. You will always need them in some way.” – Bill Hopkins, Nicole’s grandfather

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I actually like to cook!”

Shambrekiá Wise

age: 34 | Health Insurance Specialist / Author | The United States Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

As a Children’s Series author, Shambrekiá Wise enjoys spreading the message of love, hope, and respect to children.  She loves seeing the positive impact that books can provide to children who face barriers which prevent them from seeing the world.  

Even more dear to her heart, Shambrekiá enjoys being a great role model for her 6-year-old daughter, Sandiya Badmus.  “Showing my daughter how impactful we can be when we focus on God’s purpose for us is life-changing,” she remarks.  “Having her form a relationship with Him based on my love for Him and the teachings I share with her is the most beautiful thing in the world.” 

Shambrekiá admits that she always wanted to work in the healthcare industry, even aspiring to be a physician at one time.  After completing college, she landed an amazing opportunity to work for The United States Department of Health & Human Services under The Office of the Secretary.  She explains, “I, along with my colleagues, would be some of the first to work on the implementation for The Affordable Care Act.  A year later, I transferred to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to work on The Children’s Health Insurance Program.  A few years later, I would transfer back to Texas and oversee Managed Care activities in the State of Texas.  While this was not the original plan, I get to help millions of Americans and especially my Texans, obtain and retain health insurance that is unequivocally critical for their daily life.”

While she truly loves her job, Shambrekiá most enjoys being an author because it allows her to tell a story to the audience that she chooses.  She has written several books, including “Last Stop ... Dupont Circle” and “Sightseeing with Sandy.”  She knows that through the simple act of turning a page, she is giving hope, showing kindness, and spreading love to others. 

Best piece of advice:

“This is chess, not checkers. Figure it out, Mommy.” — Sandiya Badmus, Shambrekiá’s daughter

Name something about you that very few people know:

“When I was about 7 or 8, I found six puppies left alone under a house in my neighborhood. I couldn’t imagine anyone being alone on Christmas, so I took them home. Once there, I fed them leftover chicken and my aunt’s eggnog. I then used my Aunt Sherry’s brand new shoe box to make them a bed and covered them with towels. Needless to say she wasn’t happy, but they were! That is one of my most memorable Christmas holidays.”

Blaire Barlow

age: 26 | Director of Marketing | Wholesale Electric Supply

Blaire Barlow serves as the Director of Marketing at Wholesale Electric Supply, a family-owned independent electrical distributor that covers five states. In this position, Blaire is responsible for sales promotions and customer relationship activities. “While planning events and customer incentive trips are definitely the glamorous part of my job, having the advantage of learning the electrical supply business from coworkers with years of experience in the industry is the rewarding part,” Blaire conveys.  “The inspiration and support of the founders and leaders of our company continue to ‘turn on a light bulb’ for my marketing strategies.”

This year, Blaire was selected by the National Association of Electrical Distributors to represent Wholesale Electric as a member of their first leadership development class, a professional accomplishment in which she is very proud.    On a personal level, Blaire’s greatest achievement is to work with her lifelong mentor, Scott Bruner, to raise funds for Temple Memorial Pediatric Center while participating in this year’s “Dancing with Our Stars.”

Service-oriented, Blaire has served as the Texarkana Debutante Cotillion Club sponsor for the past three years and serves as a board member for Women for the Arts, Temple Memorial Pediatric Center, and Salvation Army. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Junior League of Texarkana.  

“At a very young age, I was exposed to a group of family friends who have all been leaders and volunteers working to make Texarkana one of the best communities to live in,” Blaire comments.  “Looking to the future, I am excited to continue their legacies while encouraging volunteerism and service among my peers.”

Best piece of advice:

“Do not get up in the morning and be unhappy with what you do. Don’t do it! Life’s too short to do that.” Steve Ledwell, Blaire’s family friend

Name something about you that very few people know:

“My first debut in Four States Living Magazine was on the cover of the March 1999 issue as a flower girl model.”

Shivik Sharma

age: 33 | Financial Services Professional | Independent Broker

Giving peace of mind to families who seek his financial services is Shivik Sharma’s goal.  He helps people make sound decisions to protect their livelihoods and their families.  “I get to know my clients on a one-on-one basis and listen to what is most important to them personally, in order to create a plan to help them achieve their specific goals and dreams,” he explains.

Shivik encourages families to design and execute plans in and out of the market, based on the client’s wants and needs.  Whether their goal is sending their children to college or trying to move on after a family member’s loss, he wants each of his clients to feel financially secure, and he treats each client as a friend.

Attending UT Austin in 2005 and graduating from The University of Texas at Austin in 2009 was a great personal goal for Shivik.  Becoming an Eagle Scout from Troop 17 First Baptist Church at the age of 16 and earning a position in the Million Dollar Roundtable Status in the financial world (MDRT) were also meaningful personal accomplishments for him. 

Spending time with “Honey” (his rescue dog), taking family vacations, fishing on early mornings, seeing the sunrise, visiting the Texarkana Animal Care & Adoption Center, and being a role model to young Boy Scouts are ways Shivik spends his free time.  Known for always trying to bridge the gap between people of varying ages, races, and genders, Shivik enjoys helping others, listening, and always learning from new people.  

Best piece of advice:

“Be prepared and always do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” — Dr. Randy Brown, Former Boy Scout Troop 16 Scoutmaster

Name something about you that very few people know:

“To me, life is one big winding journey with many different paths, some tougher than others. Sometimes the greatest miracles in life can come from helping pick others up along the journey, and that is what I truly love doing in life. I was always told to be a part of something bigger than myself and help my fellow Americans.”