Women of Distinction | Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest

Host For The Midland-Reporter Telegram Readers Choice awards in August of 2023. In 2010 she was recognized for fair and balanced reporting by the Midland Independent School District and honored by the state of Texas as a member of the Media Honor Roll. Krista is also an Associated Press award winning journalist for her spot coverage of two major West Texas news stories, the search for Little Destiny and The Alon Refinery Explosion. Krista and her co-host Greg Morgan had the number one morning show in West Texas from 2006 - 2016. Her greatest joy is being wife and mom of Austin, Aspen, Alexandrea and Alex.

Krista Escamilla is a wife, mom of four, business owner and encourager. Krista owns Rig-ID Workwear with her husband Al, she is also the award-winning Host of The Krista Escamilla Show Podcast with almost 30 years of experience as a journalist. The Krista Escamilla show is a weekly dose of motivation as her guests share their inspirational stories. Krista also highlights our community, pays it forward and (her favorite goal) makes you smile. Krista was voted the Gold Winner as the Best Talk Show.

In 1994, Cathy expanded the office to include a worldwide Executive Recruiting division. C. G. & Company opened an office in Dallas in 1997 followed by an Austin office in June 2000. She was nominated to the board and soon elected President of the Texas Association of Personnel Consultants. Cathy has also served on the board as District IX Director (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana) for the National Association of Personnel Services. Cathy makes time available to speak to businesses, social and school groups to present the importance of proactive career planning, talent acquisition, and the human resource issues that affect the organization in today’s business climate. Cathy currently sits on the University of Texas Permian Basin Presidents Advisory Board, Southwest Heritage Credit Union Board as the Secretary and is a member of the Loan Committee. Cathy has been on the Board of Odessa Links Homeless Coalition for over 15 years as well as volunteers her time to different non-profit organizations in her community. Cathy loves to travel internationally. She loves to learn about the cultures of the different countries she travels to, and to make friends all over the world.

Cathy George has worked in the staffing industry for over 30 years. She launched her own business in 1988, C.G. & Company in Odessa, Texas. In the early 1990’s Cathy expanded her business to include a temporary division and started brokering for Professional Employer Organization (PEO)/employee leasing. During this time, she also became active in the Permian Basin Association of Personnel Consultants (PBAPC), serving as the President for two terms. She earned her Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) credentials in 1993, which enabled Cathy to become Education Chair of the PBAPC.

Valerie Sparks (Johannsen) was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa. Growing up she participated in Girl Scouts, her church youth group, band, cheerleading, tennis, and Rainbow Girls. During high school, Val was a member of the medical explorers always wanting to be a nurse. Graduating from Harlan Community High School, Val attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, College of Nursing. She earned her associate degree and became a registered nurse in 1981. She then graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Looking for a new adventure, Val was recruited by Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH) in 1983. Val has been a registered nurse for 42 years and is currently the Infection Preventionist at MMH, a position she has held for 33 years. She received her Master of Nursing in Surveillance and Epidemiology (2014) from American Sentinel University and has been certified in Infection Control for 32 years.

During the Covid pandemic, Val was instrumental in organizing community mass vaccination clinics and assisting the steering committee for Midland Memorial to be able to care for our community and the region in the safest possible manner. Val was recognized in 2021 as a Permian Basin Great 25 Nurse, the MMH Nightingale Award, and a Daisy Team Award. In 2022, Val was awarded with a Daisy Lifetime Award for her dedication and service to the nursing profession. Val’s community service includes PTA boards, band, and football boosters, currently serving as board member of Children Community Clinic, Manor Park, and Live on Stage. Val and her husband Jeff have been supportive of High Sky Children’s Ranch, March of Dimes, Gladney Adoption Center, University of Texas College of Engineering, University of Nebraska College of Nursing, First Baptist Church, Midland Memorial Hospital, and many more nonprofits within the community. Val has been the bride of Jeff Sparks for 39 years. She and Jeff have 4 adult children and loves being “Gigi” to eight grandkids.

Reagan is an Obstetrician Gynecologist with Midland Women’s Clinic. She became interested in healthcare at a very young age. Many after-school hours were spent at her father’s general surgery office which her mother managed. Between doing homework and after-school activities, she learned how to do many of the behind-the-scenes jobs. It was no surprise to her family when she decided to go into medicine. Reagan graduated from Lee High School and went on to attend Texas A&M University. She returned to West Texas for medical school attending Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, where during her third year she discovered her love for women’s health and surgery. After graduation Reagan moved to Richmond, Virginia where she completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Virginia. There she met and married her husband, Aaron, a Urologist.

Community service has always been an integral part of Reagan’s life. Growing up in Midland she was very involved in her church and service organizations, but Girl Scouts was her primary focus. Reagan’s troop was very active in the Girl Scout Council enabling her to earn both her Silver and Gold Awards. During her senior year of high school, she led 2 troops for underserved girls and mentored parents to assume leadership when she moved on to college. While at A&M Reagan was active in the Aggie community including the Aggie Girl Scouts. During medical school, she participated in mission trips to border communities in Mexico and volunteered with Girl Scout programs in Lubbock.

Returning to Midland in 2011, Reagan and her husband, Aaron, set to work building their practices and starting their family. They have three children: Hayden, Ainsley, and Leyton. Initially struggling to find balance in being present for her family as well as taking care of her patients, Reagan made the decision to focus on Gynecology, giving her more time with her family. As a physician, Reagan enjoys caring for women throughout all stages of their life and using her skills as a surgeon to improve her patient’s quality of life.

As a mom of three children, Reagan has been very active in their education and supportive of their outside interests. She volunteers at chess club with Hillander School, teaches first grade religious education at St. Anns Catholic Church, leads the Wolf Den for Cub Scout Pack 3, and helps in many roles with her children’s sports teams. Reagan’s biggest volunteer commitment is with Girl Scouts. She leads a Junior Troop of sixteen 4th graders who keep her very busy with all their plans and goals. They are currently working on their Bronze Award projects, planning their end of the year campout, and determining which badges they would like to earn next! Reagan recently has taken on a new role as the co-manager of the Emerald Service Unit in Midland. Between her work as a physician, her volunteer activities, and her family, Reagan stays very busy and fulfilled. 

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