New lines of Travelers offered

Susan Kirkland Insurance has been appointed to sell personal lines and commercial insurance coverage from Travelers.

"Susan Kirkland Insurance is pleased that customers can now select insurance coverage from Travelers," said Susan Kirkland Brady. "Travelers is one of the largest and most respected insurance companies in the nation. They offer a range of products at competitive prices. In addition, Travelers shares our commitment to providing the highest level of responsiveness and service to customers", said Brady.

Established in 2004, Susan Kirkland Insurance is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including auto, home, motorcycle, boat/rv and commercial/small business. Call 903-935-0011 or visit susankirklandinsurance.com.

Allstate owner receives top award

Marshall entrepreneur honored for providing outstanding customer service Allstate agency owner earns prestigious service designation. Allstate exclusive agent Eric Wilson of Marshall has been designated a Premier Service Agency owner for 2009.

The Premier Service Agency designation is awarded to Allstate agency owners that have consistently met designated levels in customer service and business performance.

Wilson's recognition proves his agency's ability to deliver accessible, knowledgeable and personal customer service that allows him and his staff to achieve outstanding results.

ETBU professors present papers

Several faculty members of the Fred M. Hale School of Business at East Texas Baptist University have presented scholarly papers recently.

Kathleen Mays, assistant professor of business administration, presented a paper, "The Role of Undergraduate Management Education in Bridging the Theory-Application Gap," at the Christian Business Faculty Association Conference.

Bill Mills, professor of computer science, presented a paper, "Experiential Learning in a Liberal Arts MIS Curriculum," at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines conference.

Stanley Self, associate professor of accounting, presented a paper titled "Operations and Accounting Department Management: The Effect of Stress on Organizational Performance," at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines conference.

Self had one of his papers published this past summer. "Incentives and Class Attendance: One Business School's Experience" was published in the International Journal of Education Research.

Workers comp session set

Updates on the Texas Workers Compensation program will be provided in a workshop scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Hampton Inn in Longview.

Cost is $99. Register by calling 903-757-5857. The program is designed for business owners, managers, human resource officers, health and safety officers and those in the legal profession.

Session on 'Texas friendly' service set

The Kilgore College Small Business Development Center is hosting a customer service workshop titled "Texas Friendly Hospitality" from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at Kilgore College-Longview Center.

Cost is $29, and the training will focus on how to manage and enhance quality customer service. For information, call 903-757-5857 or visit www.kilgore.edu/sbdc.

Sponsors said customer service is a vital component to repeat business and profitability. This workshop will teach participants how to manage and enhance the delivery of quality service.

Not only will teamwork be promoted, but a focus will be aimed at improving both internal and external customer service.

Highways set to be resurfaced

About 131 miles of Northeast Texas highways will receive new surfaces during the summer of 2010 with a contract awarded in October by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

The Texas Transportation Commission approved a bid of $5.2 million from J-W Payne Construction Company out of New Boston to seal coat highways in nine counties located within the Atlanta District.

"Seal coating a highway involves placing a layer of hot asphalt over the old pavement and then covering it with crushed stone," said Robert H. Ratcliff, District Engineer in Atlanta. "This process makes the roadway surface watertight and improves skid resistance."

In an effort to help keep used tires off Texas landscapes, the district is requiring that about half of the asphalt used to be mixed with "crumb rubber" made from grinding up old tires.

The following local highways are scheduled to be resurfaced during the summer of 2010:

Harrison County: State Highway 43 from the Marion County line to Spur 449 from 3.1 miles; Farm-to-Market 968 from Farm-to-Market Road 3252 to U.S. Highway 80 for 2.6 miles

Marion County: State Highway 43 from Farm-to-Market Road 805 to the Harrison County line for 3.2 miles; State Highway 43 from the Cass County line to U.S. Highway 59 for 14 miles.