[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF RAMONA THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 2, 2019

  Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of 
Ramona Thomas and celebrate her upcoming retirement on June 3, 2019. 
Ramona has dedicated 29 years to serving the Permian Basin.
  Ramona began her tenure with Permian Basin Community Centers, now 
known as PermiaCare, as a Staff Accountant in 1990, and almost twenty-
nine years later, she will be retiring as the Chief Executive Officer, 
a position she's held since November of 2014. PermiaCare provides 
integral mental health, intellectual and developmental disability, and 
substance-abuse disorder services, and Ramona's leadership in the 
organization has attributed to their ability to expand into the leading 
expert in behavioral health and development disability services in the 
Permian Basin.
   In addition to being an integral leader in PermiaCare, she has also 
served through various capacities in numerous professional 
organizations. Ramona has also gone above and beyond as an active 
leader in the community. She regularly volunteers with the Rotary Club, 
Leadership Midland, the Midland Behavioral Health Leadership Team, and 
the United Way of Midland.
   I worked directly with Ms. Thomas during my time on the Board of 
Directors for Permian Basin Community Centers, during which time she 
was the Chief Financial Officer. I found her to execute her work 
precisely, and she led her agency to be ranked consistently as one of 
the best in Texas. I'll always remember Ms. Thomas' personable 
demeanor, unquestionable talent, and as a joy to work with. On behalf 
of the 11th District of Texas, congratulations to Ramona Thomas on her 
retirement. I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish in this 
next chapter.

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