Ryan Berry

age: 40 | President and CEO | TSD Logistics, Inc

TSD Logistics, Inc. is a trucking and transportation firm with about 150 employees and five different divisions. After 10 years with the company, Ryan Berry was named President and CEO. “As CEO, I am directly responsible for all operations, sales, HR and accounting functions of the company,” he stated. “With so many moving parts, I lean hard on my team of experts. Without their help, it doesn’t go. Fortunately, 2018 has been a banner year for TSD, thanks to our amazing team, and quite honestly, the favor of God.”

Being a father to his three children, Will, Hattie Wren, and Rhodes, is Ryan’s greatest personal accomplishment. “Leaving a godly legacy for them is at the top of my list,” he explained. “At the end of the day, what else matters more? I try to keep it simple for them. Love God, love others. Everything else takes care of itself.” 

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“LIFE IS SHORT AT ITS LONGEST.” —HOYT JOHNSON, RYAN’S GRANDFATHER

For fun, Ryan enjoys being in the great outdoors, usually with his kids. Once he gets home from work, he quickly changes out of his work clothes, and he and kids go outside. “We love to hunt, fish and play ball, but we have just as much fun riding bikes or catching lizards at home. If I’m not with the kids, I like to hunt, fish, or play golf with my dad, brothers and friends.”

Born and raised in this community, Texarkana is very important to Ryan. He currently serves as treasurer on the board of directors for Laces of Grace and supports Watersprings Ranch. He also coaches his oldest son’s baseball teams through TABA.

Through TSD, Ryan has developed a relationship with Texas A&M-Texarkana and was recently invited to collaborate with the staff to develop the newly-offered Supply Chain Management Major as both a bachelor’s and graduate degree program. TSD offers both internships and scholarships to business and supply chain majors, and this fall, Ryan will be partnering with TAMU-T to teach a supply chain course at Red River Army Depot. 

Name something about you that very few people know:

Name something about you that very few people know: “I always mow my front yard in two different directions to make sure it’s all even. Only the front yard, not the back. And now that I have said that out loud, I’m thinking maybe that’s not so normal.”

Ashley Barker

age: 36 | Assistant Principal at Pleasant Grove Elementary | Pleasant Grove ISD

Between her 10-year-old son, the infants she cares for on Sunday mornings at First Baptist Church, and her 500 students at Pleasant Grove Elementary, children constitute a large part of assistant principal Ashley Barker’s life.

“I love being an assistant principal at Pleasant Grove because it allows me the privilege to be a part of the lives of so many wonderful students,” Ashley said. “It is such a blessing to see students grow and succeed throughout the year.” As assistant principal, Ashley is responsible for maintaining the highest level of instruction throughout the school. She also works hard to help the principal foster a safe, supportive campus culture that serves the school community.

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“WHEN YOU CAN’T CONTROL WHAT’S HAPPENING, CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO CONTROL THE WAY YOU RESPOND TO WHAT’S HAPPENING. THAT’S WHERE THE POWER IS!” – JAN WILCOX, ASHLEY’S MOTHER

Currently pursuing a doctorate in Education Administration at Texas A&M-Commerce, Ashley plans to continue along this career path for years to come. “I love going to work every day,” she said. “I want to continue my path in administration and be a strong educational leader for students, staff, and parents.”

When she’s not on campus, Ashley can likely be found either at First Baptist Church, where she and her family regularly attend and volunteer, or on the sidelines of the nearest athletic event, cheering on her son, Easton. “He has brought [my husband, Chris, and me] such joy and happiness,” Ashley gushed. “He has the kindest heart and sweetest smile.” 

Name something about you that very few people know:

“On every movie, new or old, I always, always Google the entire plot before watching it! I have to know the ending! I will not share the ending or spoil it for others but I have to know! I am not much on surprises, I guess!”

Kevin Avery

age: 30 | AVP Commercial Loan Officer| Farmers Bank & Trust

Although it took Kevin Avery some time to get his bachelor’s degree from TAMU-T because he was working full-time, he never gave up on his goal of being the first in his family to earn a college degree.

That same determination and tenacity also pushed Kevin to land his dream job where he gets to help businesses and individuals with their banking and financing needs. “My career at Farmers Bank has been a whirlwind from the beginning. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with and learn from,” he remarked. “The team I get to work with each and every day doesn’t really feel like work at all. I was fortunate to get an early opportunity to join Farmers when they opened the first branch in Texarkana on Summerhill. I can’t believe how much we have grown since that time and the opportunities that have come along with that growth.” 

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“IF YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, MAKE SURE YOU DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO." – LARRY AVERY, KEVIN’S FATHER

In his spare time, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife, Heather; daughter, Abigail, and son, Owen. He also has really grown to appreciate the game of golf and enjoys going to the lake and getting together with his friends. Each year, he gets to work with Laces of Grace whose mission is to provide a pair of shoes to children in need in Texarkana. He also volunteers in the kids’ ministry at Heritage Church and is a graduate of the Leadership Texarkana class of 2018. 

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I grew up in a small town and went to a small school. My teacher once asked me to bring the school car around to the other side of the campus. I took that opportunity to perform two very well executed donuts in the school car. I later received a lick from the principal for each donut. Well worth it!”

Carrie Atkinson

age: 38 | Florist/Owner | Persnickety Too

Persnickety Too started out as a dream Carrie Atkinson had in 1997, after her mother’s shop, Persnickety, closed. “My mother, Sonya Haltom, taught me everything I know and love about flowers and business. When the original Persnickety closed, I vowed to start my own business, which is also Persnickety (hence the name),” said Carrie.

After her mother passed away in a motorcycle accident in 2005, Carrie’s dream became a promise to her to carry on her legacy of grace, creativity, and beauty. Through God’s providence and her husband, Jason’s encouragement, Persnickety Too opened in April 2014. 

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“YOU NEED THREE THINGS TO CHOOSE A CAREER OR FULFILL A CALLING: DESIRE, AFFIRMATION, AND OPPORTUNITY.” —SEAN MAHAFFEY, CARRIE’S FRIEND

For fun, Carrie enjoys reading fiction (horror and mysteries), dining at local restaurants, watching movies, working out, and traveling with Jason; son, Wesley Neaves; daughter, Emma Daniel; and two foster daughters.

Carrie enjoys giving back to those in need through her business. “I give back daily to the community by investing in our local children that, through no fault of their own, need a safe place: a place to hope and dream and realize their full potential,” she explained. “We are able to do this as therapeutic foster parents through Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center.”

Carrie’s greatest passion is helping touch and enrich the lives of children in need. She lives by the Bible verse found in James 1:27: “Pure and faultless religion is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction and remain unstained by the world.” Carrie and Jason feel called to be foster parents. She concluded, “Nothing has been harder or more rewarding in my life than to give love and safety to a child that has known neither.” 

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I have an acute sense of smell. If you had raw onions in the last 24 hours, I can smell it!”

Laila Ali Al-Dubais

age: 29 | Theatre Teacher Texarkana Arkansas School District — Arkansas High School

Ask any teacher what their favorite part of their job is, and they’ll tell you: the students. It’s those interpersonal relationships that make long hours, heavy workloads, and emotional labor worth it. Laila Al-Dubais is no exception, and her passion for people transcends the classroom.

The Arkansas High theatre teacher, Laila loves her job. “Teaching high school theatre is, and has always been, the biggest dream of mine,” she said. “Through teaching, I have learned more about myself than ever before. My students encourage me to become a better person, not only for myself, but for them.”

Laila’s greatest accomplishments are the accomplishments of her students; when they succeed, she succeeds. One of these success stories is that of a student who performed in one of Laila’s productions during her first year of teaching. “After the show was over,” she recalled, “[the student’s] mother came up to me in tears telling me how, in the previous year, he had been so afraid of getting up in front of others that he took a zero on a class presentation about himself. To see this student achieve so much in so little time gave me the confidence that I was doing something right in my classroom.” 

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“GOD’S PLANS FOR ME ARE NOT ALWAYS MY PLANS.” —VICKIE AL-DUBAIS, LAILA’S MOTHER

Laila’s devotion to Texarkana’s young people expresses itself not only at work but also in her free time. A member of the International Rotary Club, she is deeply involved in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camps—and has been since she herself was a student in the program. “For the past 12 years, I have dedicated my time to helping high school juniors see the potential in themselves to become better leaders in their schools and communities,” she said.

Laila is engaged to Andrew Miller, and spends a lot of time volunteering with her mother, Vickie, through Dierksen Hospice. The musical duo visits nursing homes and other facilities in the area to perform songs for senior citizens. “One of the places we volunteer has an Alzheimer’s wing,” she explained. “When I see [the residents’] eyes light up when they recognize a song from their youth, it is one of the most magical things to ever witness, and I feel blessed to be able to bring some joy to their lives.” 

Name something about you that very few people know:

“Everyone asks about the heritage of my name. My father is from Saudi Arabia. When my mom was picking out names, she wanted to honor his background. Laila means ‘born at night’ in Arabic and Hebrew. Ali is my father’s first name, which is an Arabic tradition that all children carry their father’s first name as their middle name.”

Cody Adams

age: 29 | Marketing - New Clinic Specialist | HealthCARE Express

As the New Clinic Specialist for HealthCARE Express, Cody Adams moves from clinic to clinic, setting up new facilities and promoting brand awareness across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He gets the unique opportunity to spend time in smaller communities and combat the stigma that there’s nothing to do. Creating events allows him to use his creative side while promoting a business and culture that he truly believes in.

Professionally, Cody feels fortunate to have a very fulfilling career. “It’s rare to find a job that allows a person to sustain their livelihood, but also fosters a sense of passion for personal growth and leadership,” he explained. “That’s what I have with HealthCARE Express. I have so much love and passion for this amazing company that cultivates leaders and growth from top to bottom.”

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“WORK HARD IN WHATEVER YOU DO.” – BRAD AND JUDY KLIMAZEWSKI, CODY’S GRANDPARENTS

Serving the community is part of HealthCARE Express’s mission, and Cody gets to be on the frontlineof those efforts. Whether it’s their Teddy Bear Clinics or Klondike Leadership Academy, HCE helps engage families and children in the communities they serve.

Personally, Cody admits that becoming an uncle six years ago has changed his life in more ways than he could have ever expected. “Watching this little girl grow up and being a part of her life is huge for me, and it’s something I love and value dearly,” he said. Spending time with his niece, cooking, and reading are Cody’s favorite pastimes. He also enjoys exploring interior design magazines and books. “I love finding out what can be done with limited spaces and how surrounding oneself with things that matter can truly tell an individual’s unique story,” he admitted. “I also consider myself to be a novice, but I aspire to be a great cook. Plus, cooking gives me the opportunity to spend time with my family, so it’s like a two- in-one.” 

Name something about you that very few people know:

“I am pretty much an open book, but I have a really crazy addiction to sunflower seeds.”