Business and People Notes
Hall Estill announces that Jeffrey C. Rambach has joined the firm as a shareholder. Since entering private practice in 1989, he has concentrated his practice in all areas of taxation, trusts and estates, ERISA and employee benefits, mergers and acquisitions, business formations, tax litigation, charitable foundations and nonprofits. In addition, he assists clients with wealth transfer planning, business transactions and employee benefits.
“Bringing Jeff on board is another sign of how strongly our firm is growing,” Hall Estill Managing Partner Michael D. Cooke said. “Just recently we added five excellent attorneys to our intellectual property group, and we intend to continue our growth at the firm following the addition of Jeff to our team.”
Fire Chief Allen LaCroix will officially retire from the City of Tulsa on June 30 after 37 years of service.
LaCroix first started with the Tulsa Fire Department in 1975 as a firefighter then quickly moved through the ranks over the years as a fire captain, fire prevention investigator, deputy fire marshal, fire marshal, deputy chief of field operations and chief operating officer under Mayor Bill LaFortune. LaCroix landed the top job as fire chief in January 2002.
LaCroix was instrumental in leading the effort to obtain international accreditation for the Tulsa Fire Department in 2001, an achievement unique in the State of Oklahoma. In 2006, LaCroix was also presented with the J. Ray Pence Chief Officer Leadership Award, an award recognized by the State of Oklahoma’s Fire Chiefs Association as a fire chief who produces progressive improvements in safety, efficiency and effectiveness in the areas of fire prevention, suppression and administration.
Memorial High School Library Media Specialist Betsy Richert won the 2012 Polly Clarke Award.
The award is sponsored by the Oklahoma Library Association to honor an Oklahoma school library media specialist who has been instrumental in the establishment of an exemplary library media program which serves the instructional needs of teachers, students, and administrators, according to the website.
Richert works closely with teachers and students whether it is facilitating research for an entire class, leading book talks, or helping a student to find that one book that might inspire him or her to become a lifelong reader.
Under her leadership, the Memorial library has become a highly utilized hub at the school.
Richert was presented with the award at the annual Oklahoma School Librarians luncheon at the /Encyclo-media Conference in Oklahoma City recently.
Terry Boss has been hired by his alma mater, the University of Tulsa, as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team.
At Tulsa, Boss (2000-04) started in 20 of 23 games, logged 1,920 minutes in goal, picked up 96 saves and six shutouts, and earned a career 1.17 goals-against average. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in 2004 from TU. Boss comes to Tulsa after playing the last three years with Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders (2009-12). Prior to that, he was with the MLS’s New York Red Bulls (2008-09), as well as the United Soccer League’s Charlotte Eagles (2005, 2008) and Puerto Rico Islanders (2006-07).
Shaun Lee was recently hired at the Tulsa Press Club as manager. He brings a vast background of private club experience.
At each stop, from Kansas City to South Carolina, Lee has earned awards ranging from a 2008 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence to 2006 Culinary Institute of America Greystone Experience Finalist.
Family ties and the desire to raise his children in the area led Lee to turn his sights on Tulsa, and to the Tulsa Press Club.
“I am excited to be part of such a well-respected and long-lived club,” says Lee. “Everyone I have met has been so welcoming and enthusiastic. I look forward to helping the club grow and become even better.”
As part of the staff changes, the club also hired Shelley Campbell, , as part-time community relations director to help with events, membership and fundraising.
Campbell is a long-time Tulsan. Her career has included stops at Gilcrease Museum, The Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum and, most recently, The Tulsa City-County Library.
Tulsa Ballet dancer Sofia Menteguiaga has been promoted to principal dancer.
She joined the ballet company at the beginning of this season.
Menteguiaga is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before her move to Tulsa, she was a soloist with Ballet de Santiago de Chile and the Ballet del Teatro Colón.
With her promotion, the Tulsa Ballet now has two female principal dancers.
The company has three male principals including Alfonso Martin, Ma Cong and Wang Yi.
The law firm Sprouse Shrader Smith PC, with its first expansion outside its Amarillo, Texas base, has moved into the Tulsa market with the opening of a new office at 21st Street and Utica Avenue.
The office headed by lead shareholder David J. Schaffer, a Tulsa native, has three attorneys who primarily focus on serving oil and gas industry clients.
Shaffer, who has 11 years of practice in Tulsa, has been in oil and gas, real estate, corporate transactions and commercial litigation. He became associated with the firm a year ago.
Updated 02-27-2012
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