Photo by Lauri Gray Eaton

Rick Swinghammer, president of the Rotary Foundation for the Noon Rotary Club, presents Lynn Heckler, president of Christian Women’s Job Corps with a check for $21,000 from Rotary’s annual fundraiser held in June of this year. The Rotary Club designated CWJC as their recipient for 2007 and held their “Pirates of the Caribbean” dinner/auction  to raise funds for the organization. CWJC President Heckler said, “This event was a huge undertaking – I am humbled and overwhelmed with the generosity, time, and commitment the Rotarians exhibited to raise money for CWJC “

Wayne Lowell named CEO WellMed

Wayne Lowell, a member of the board of directors of WellMed Medical Management, has been named CEO of the company. Former CEO, WellMed founder George M. Rapier III, M.D., will remain as chairman of the board of directors.

Lowell has more than 30 years of experience in the business of healthcare, including serving as executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer of healthcare giant PacifiCare Health Systems, a publicly held company. He helped lead that company during a period of growth in the 1990s, presiding over the company's market capitalization growing from $40 million to nearly $4 billion and a Fortune 200 ranking.

Lowell, a certified public accountant, was named CFO of the Year by the Institute of Management Accountants and CFO magazine recognized him as one of the top 100 CFOs in the nation.  Modern Health also named him an "up and comer."

Since 1998, he has served as a consultant with CEOs and CFOs of public and venture capital-backed organizations through his company, Jonchra Associates LLC, based in Irvine, Calif.

Lowell helped direct WellMed's acquisition last year of eight Ryder Medical Group medical clinics, which now operate under the name RMG Health Centers. The acquisition brought the number of medical clinics that WellMed owns in the Greater San Antonio area to 21, including clinics in Boerne and Bulverde.

Keller Williams opens Boerne office

The Boerne business office of Keller Williams has opened at 1595 S. Main, Suite 101. Keller Williams is recognized as the second-largest real estate organization in the nation in agent count and fist in the South Texas/Hill Country area.

The San Antonio Business Journal reported that, effective Jan. 1, 2007, Keller Williams is the top real estate company in the Boerne/San Antonio area in total real estate sales.

The Boerne office phone number is (830) 816-3500.

Turkey round-up aims to collect thousands of frozen gobblers

The San Antonio Food Bank is collecting frozen turkeys to hand out to families for Thanksgiving. People can donate anytime between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Security Service Federal Credit Union service centers located at Loop 1604 and 281 and Interstate 10 and DeZavala. 

Canned goods and any other items needed by the Food Bank are also being collected through the entire month of November at Security Service locations in San Antonio, Schertz or Boerne. The goal is to collect 5,000 turkeys and one million pounds of food. 

In addition to turkeys and canned goods, the San Antonio Food Bank, which was just voted national Food Bank of the Year, encourages financial donations. One dollar donated equals $13 worth of food; $10 is enough to buy a turkey. Financial donations can be made online by going to www.safoodbank.org or in person at any Security Service service center.

Tootie Pies touted in Neiman catalog

Neiman Marcus will carry Tootie Pies in the retailer’s holiday catalog, the Boerne-based baker of premium pies said.

Tootie Pie Co. Inc. is committed to filling orders to be shipped to Neiman Marcus Direct, the company’s direct-to-consumer print and online business.

“We are honored to have our pies chosen by one of the nation’s premium retailers,” said Don Merrill, Tootie Pie’s president and chief executive officer.

This item first appeared in the Friday issue of the San Antonio Express-News.