Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements in a variety of arenas as well as charitable events.

k Applause k

* Dr. Donna Miller of Waco was awarded fellowship in the American College of Dentists on Oct. 17 during its annual meeting and convocation in Las Vegas.

Miller is an active member and past president of the Central Texas Dental Society. She is also involved in the Texas Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

* Gary Williams, La Vega ISD deputy superintendent for support services, recently earned the designation of Registered Texas School Business Administrator through the Texas Association of School Business Officials.

Certification is achieved through a combination of specified coursework, school business experience, and training in the area of specialization. Williams’ certification, effective beginning Sept. 29, is maintained by completing 60 hours of continuing education every three years.

* Dr. Robert Marks, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at Baylor University, has been elected the first chapter chair of the newly created Dallas Section of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers Computational Intelligence Society.

Considered a leading expert in computational intelligence, Marks received his doctorate in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. He came to Baylor from the University of Washington, where he was professor of electrical engineering and graduate program director from 1996 until 2000.

* Hap LeCrone, a Waco psychologist who writes a weekly column in the Waco Tribune-Herald, recently received the 2006 Outstanding Media Coverage Award. The honor is given yearly by the Texas Psychological Association.

* Scott & White Health Plan was listed as the best health plan in Texas for 2006 by U.S. News & World Report, and was nationally ranked in both the commercial and Medicare plan categories.

Ranked No. 1 in Texas since the inception of the magazine’s ratings, the health plan excelled in both overall member satisfaction and treatment outcomes.

* Rhonda Bailey has been promoted to the position of convention services manager for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau.

As convention sales manager for the CVB over the past three years, Bailey brought several prestigious events to Waco, such as the Baptist Missionary Association of America national convention and the Lime Association of Texas convention. In her new role she will work with organizations that have booked their conventions in Waco.

* McLennan Community College’s Small Business Development Center director and staff counselors earned the designation of certified business development specialists at a ceremony in Dallas in November.

The North Texas Small Business Development Center awarded the new credentials to the staff based on their education, past experience and the success stories from former clients.

* The Elizabeth Gordon Bradley Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated its 30th anniversary in October. The chapter has grown to include over 100 members living throughout the United States.

The chapter’s current officers are: Barbara Lewandowski, regent; Cathy Willis, vice regent; Marion Garrison, chaplain; Linda Totten, recording secretary; Anne Brothers, treasurer; Marlene Oliver, registrar; Scotty Bradsby, corresponding secretary; Kathy Sartor, historian; and Sarah Bolsins, librarian.

* Three dancers from Joy’s School of Dance Company were selected as Texas Association Teachers of Dancing Scholarship finalists at the TATD Dance Convention in Houston.

Lacey Pailles and Madison Taylor were selected in the ballet category, and Jillian Adair was honored in jazz. The dancers were chosen from among 200 other participants in each of their respective age groupings. Their instructors are Joy Burkhart, owner of Joy’s School of Dance, Meredith Sutton and Natalie Todd.

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