Dr. Howard Patterson recently completed his 23rd year as vice president for Athletics at The University of Texas at Tyler. Hired in 2001 to help transition UT Tyler from a predominantly commuter campus to a residential campus and to create an NCAA athletic program from scratch, Patterson has exceeded everyone’s expectations. Beginning in 2008 Patterson served multiple roles as a … Read More

Matthew Nelson resides in Cass County, Texas. He served in the United States Marine Corps. After his service he obtained a business management degree from the University of Massachusetts. He currently holds a chartered property casualty underwriter (CPCU) designation and runs a personal and commercial insurance agency. Matthew and his wife have three children. They are active in their local … Read More

Mr. Abney is a certified public accountant and president of the Abney and Company, PLLC. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Texas Association of Sports Officials, Texas Forestry Association, a board member of the Marshall Harrison County Joint Airport Zoning Board, the Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation … Read More

Dr. John Ray joined the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority Board as a member in June, 2023.  His career was spent in higher education.  He completed both his B.S. and M.S. at Stephen F. Austin State University with a major in Biology.  Later in his career, he returned to the University of Houston to complete a doctorate in Educational … Read More

Matt was born in Tyler and grew up in Lindale. He graduated from Lindale High School, attended Tyler Jr. College and then graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in business. Throughout his career in the technology industry he has worked with numerous public sector organizations such as cities, counties, transportation and other agencies who build and … Read More

Curtis Rath is looking forward to retirement at the end of 2022, after a 40 plus year career in the Sales, Marketing and Development of food products with global corporations including Nestle, McCormick, Denny’s and J. Rettenmaier. As the son of an Air Force veteran, Curtis attended 9 different schools in 4 states and 3 countries before graduating high school … Read More

Rush Harris is the Executive Director of the Marshall Economic Development Corporation. Harris has worked in just about every capacity a rural economic developer can over 9 years from speaking with 4th graders about fun jobs that require special skills to signing a $50 million expansion project with a multinational corporation. Harris received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from … Read More

Nathan Tafoya is one of 1,200 global IEDC certified economic developers (CEcD) and is celebrating 15 years in economic development. He is also a certified entrepreneurship development professional (EDP), focusing on creating, sustaining, and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems for small businesses and founders. Nathan is a  Texas Economic Development Council board member. Nathan is the recipient of DCI’s 2021 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award, the biennial … Read More

Marcia Daughtrey has a BA from University of Texas at Tyler.  She is currently retired from long time ownership of a metal manufacturing business; she has served on the boards of numerous civic and volunteer organizations.

Ben Hamilton is a 1984 Graduate of Tyler Jr College and a 1988 graduate of UT Tyler with a Bachelor of Science. After Graduation Ben went to work as Vice President of GME Inc. family owned Tool and Die business. He was previously the chairman of the Economic Development in Jacksonville, President of the Jacksonville Lions Club and Secretary/Treasurer of … Read More

Chet Clayton is the President and CEO of First State Bank of Ben Wheeler.  Chet attended Texas A&M University where he received his degree in Agricultural Economics in 2000.  Upon graduation he returned to East Texas to join the Bank.  First State Bank is a family owned financial institution located in Van Zandt County since 1911. Board Member Spotlight What’s … Read More

Andrea Williams-McCoy, a native Texan, grew up in Texarkana, Texas, and currently serves as the Vice-Chair Presiding Officer of the Board of Directors of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA). She has been active in Republican campaigns and conservative causes at the local, state, and federal level for more than 2 decades.  Andrea has also worked for the … Read More

Mr. Cory J. Floyd  currently works as an attorney at Norton, Wood, and Floyd.  A Corpus Christi native, he has lived in Texarkana, TX for 16 years. Cory received his B.B.A, in Accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University, and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. He currently practices in the state and federal courts of … Read More

Experience Dan Droege is a 1985 graduate of Central Missouri State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance & Banking. He is also a graduate of the ABA National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma and The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. … Read More

Experience John Cloutier is the founder of Blazer Electric & Satellite Company. Prior to starting his own company, Mr. Cloutier was Vice President and Manager of Lays Electric. Mr. Cloutier served in the U. S. Navy from 1987–1993 aboard the USS Nimitz and USS Shiloh. While with the Navy, he attended the Forces Afloat Education Program, where he became an … Read More

Experience Larry B. Morse is Vice President and Distinguished Engineering Advisor with PetroTel Inc., a petroleum consulting firm in Plano, Texas. He has over thirty-five years of industry experience in developing and managing large oil and gas fields around the world. Mr. Morse joined PetroTel in December 2007 and has been involved in projects in Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Alaska, Texas, … Read More

Experience Jason Ray is a 1998 graduate of The University of Texas at Tyler, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Mr. Ray is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Mineola. He has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He serves … Read More

Experience Mr. Spurrier earned a B.B.A. in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University in December of 1983. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional. Dave L. Spurrier, CFP®, is Managing Director – Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, he worked in the banking industry in Longview, TX from 1985 through 1994. He currently serves … Read More

Experience Mr. Honey, a native of Butte, Montana, has lived in Longview since 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mining Engineering from Montana Tech in 1975. In 1991, Mr. Honey received an MBA Degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Illinois and member of the National and … Read More

Experience Robert Messer, a Sulphur Springs native, has been employed by The American National Bank of Texas for more than 30 years. He currently serves as the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer. A 1979 graduate of Texas A & M, Messer also has an MBA from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) and has attended the Southwestern Graduate School … Read More

Experience Gary Halbrooks is the CEO / President of Venue Properties, Inc. with its home office located in Tyler, Texas. Venue Properties, Inc. is a real estate company involved in the brokerage, development, investment and management of commercial real estate throughout the Southwestern and Southeastern United States. Mr. Halbrooks attended Tyler Junior College and graduated from the University of Texas … Read More