COMMUNITIES UNLIMITED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
Alex Goodyear joined Communities Unlimited in October 2022 as an Environmental Specialist. Alex works with CU's communities and water/wastewater facilities by providing technical assistance in Louisiana. Alex researches issues and develops solutions to make informed decisions to resolve local problems and alleviate local needs. Before coming to CU, Alex worked as a Loan Technician for the United States Department of Agriculture.
Alexander Webb started at Communities Unlimited as a GIS Technician in March 2023. He develops a wide array of computerized maps to assist with water and wastewater issues for our customers. Before coming to CU, Alexander worked as a Security Department Manager for the US Army. Alexander has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, Cartography, and Remote Sensing from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Alexander works out of the Fayetteville office.
Job Titles:
- Area Director for Environmental Services in Alabama
- Environmental Services Area Director - East
Alexander Brandon, Area Director for Environmental Services in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, joined Communities Unlimited in 20 10, and was the first to be promoted to an area director position.
Alexander has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 15 years. He currently assists more than 12 community water and wastewater systems in Mississippi and has leveraged more than $1.1 million in community infrastructure financing last year alone. He conducted four training workshops last year. He has been a Certified Water Operator licensed by the State of Mississippi since 2003.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Mississippi State in 2001.
Job Titles:
- American Connection Corps Member
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
Allen Spradling came to CU in May 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Advisor for the Environmental Team.
Allen works with our communities to assist them with their water and wastewater needs. Before starting CU, Allen worked as a Water/Wastewater Operator for the town of Grubbs, Arkansas. Allen served in the US Air Force from 1988-1991 and attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Allen lives in Grubbs, Arkansas and works in the northeast portion of the state.
Amber McClellan came to Communities Unlimited in July 2018 as a Receptionist and moved up to Program Assistant in April 2019. In 2020, Amber became the Executive Assistant to the CEO and assists with AHCC, Loan Closings and more.
Amber attended Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is a graduate of Farmington High School.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
- CU Community Environmental Management Technician
Andrew Brooks is a CU Community Environmental Management Technician. Andrew is a retired Air Force Veteran from San Angelo, Texas, where he lives with his three sons. Andrew spent six years in the Air Force as a Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician, focusing on Drinking Water, Wastewater, Hazardous Waste, and Air Quality. Andrew has an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Criminal Justice, has completed coursework in Technical Theatre through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is currently working on his Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Environmental Management and Technology.
Job Titles:
- Tennessee State Coordinator
Annie Chiodo, is the Tennessee State Coordinator. She is located in Waynesboro, Tennessee. She joined Communities Unlimited in 2014.
Annie has worked with Community Environmental Management Systems for 20 years. She currently supervises and assists staff in Tennessee to ensure the development of critical, external, and professional relationships. She is currently mentoring two new employees for Communities Unlimited. Annie holds a Class III Tennessee Water Treatment License and a Class II Tennessee Water Distribution License.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Area Director of Rural Housing
Audra Butler is a non-profit leader and program director with more than a decade in subsidized and affordable housing leadership and homeless advocacy. Over the last 10 years, Audra has worked with nonprofits and organizations focused on creating pathways out of poverty. As the Area Director of Rural Housing for Communities Unlimited, Audra is focused on efforts that will help to close the information gap between urban and rural housing issues and creating a portfolio of impactful initiatives that address the unique challenges and opportunities within rural areas.
Audra formerly served as the Interim Director and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Fayetteville Housing Authority. While there, Audra led the organization through leadership transitions and organizational restructuring, stabilizing operations and allowing the team of housing professionals to continue providing services to thousands of Arkansans in Northwest Arkansas. Audra also served as the Chief Operations Officer for Community Programs at ARVAC, a community action agency in central Arkansas, directing operations in 9 counties and expanding the organization's homeless services and transitional living program.
Bar retta Robinson started CU in November 2022. She works as a Management Consultant, serving aspiring and existing business owners in starting and growing their business. She assists them with financial forecasts and business plans. Before coming to CU, Ba rretta worked as a Purchasing Specialist for the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville, Arkansas.
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Treasurer of the Board Director, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering
Mr. Hix has been employed with Cherokee Nation for nearly two decades. He graduated from Northeastern State University with a bachelor of science in Chemistry in 1996 and a master of science in Industrial Management in 2000. He is a Registered Sanitarian with the State of Oklahoma and the National Environmental Health Association and holds a Class B Water Operator and Water Laboratory licenses, as well as a Class C Wastewater license from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Hix works closely with many federal, state and local agencies to address water and sewer infrastructure needs in the Cherokee Nation's 14-county jurisdictional area of northeast Oklahoma.
Job Titles:
- Arkansas State Coordinator
Brad Jarrett, the Arkansas State Coordinator, is located in West Memphis, Arkansas, and joined Communities Unlimited in 2010.
Brad conducted four Environmental Training Workshops to communities in Mississippi and in Arkansas last year and is currently assisting 14 community water and wastewater systems in Arkansas. He leveraged more than $15 million in combined loan and grant funds to communities for infrastructure improvements last year alone.
Brad has received the Army Achievement Medal for his leadership to operations of the 212th Signal Battalion and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 2016. He attended Vincennes University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army School of Petroleum and Water Supply.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
Bradley Pittman, Community Environmental Management Advisor came to Communities Unlimited in November of 2021. Bradley graduated from Louisiana State University with a BS in Construction Engineering Technology.
He brings to CU several years of experience in problem-solving and planning. He also has experience working with water and sew er issues.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Healthy Foods Coordinator
Brenda Williams is the Healthy Foods Coordinator for Communities Unlimited.
Brenda is responsible for managing the Food LINC program, a value chain initiative focused on increasing access to and availability of healthy foods for residents of food deserts in the Memphis Mid-south region. This initiative also includes outreach to minority and small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs to encourage their participation in local food production. She also coordinated the Farm to Food Pantry Program, which purchased food from small-grow farmers through a grant from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and donated it to local food pantries.
Previously, Brenda was the manager of graduate programs for The University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business of Economics. Brenda received her B.S. from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and her master of business administration degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist, Joined Communities Unlimited in January of 2022
- Source Water Project Manager
Brett Capps, Community Environmental Management Specialist, joined Communities Unlimited in January of 2022.
He assists rural communities and organizations with water and waste water system compliance. He has strong technical skills.
Brett graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in May of 2021.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
Bria Hines started Communities Unlimited in November 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. Bria lives in Alabama, where she works with CU's communities and assists them with project management, financial, operational and project budgeting needs. Before coming to CU, Bria was a Senior Team Lead and Disability Support Specialist for Fisk University Academic Excellence and Student Performance (AESP).
Job Titles:
- Senior Management Consultant
Brian Wells, Senior Management Consultant, works with rural communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs to solve problems and grow their business with in-depth consulting and innovative lending programs.
He started his career as a command pilot in the United States Air Force. He then transitioned to being the Chief Financial Officer of a small firm with multiple business lines. Brian's years of experience in different fields make him especially adept at finding solutions that fit his client's needs.
He has earned a bachelor of arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, a bachelor of business administration degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington.
Bryn Bagwell, Director of Lending based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, began at Communities Unlimited in January 2021.
She leads the lending team and manages Communities Unlimited CDFI assets in support of mission-based lending. The CDFI includes small business, consumer and commercial portfolios with assets in excess of $17 million. She is also in charge of Communities Unlimited PPP lending program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has extensive experience in banking and lending.
She has a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology-Religion and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She graduated fro m the Mid-South School of Banking in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1990 and the American Institute of Banking in Norman, Oklahoma, in Commercial Lending in 1992.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
Caroline Ingram started Communities Unlimited in October 2021, as a Community Environmental Management Specialist.
She has a strong background in planning and Development and Wastewater treatment. Caroline graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2020 with a Master of Science, Geography.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant - Finance and CEO
Catherine Krantz started working at Communities Unlimited in November 2022. She is the Area Director for Broadband. Catherine manages the implementation of broadband strategy by developing and submitting grant proposals to ensure equitable accessibility to infrastructure and funding for disadvantaged families in rural communities throughout CU's footprint.
Before coming to CU, Catherine worked as a Broadband Solutions Manager for Connected Nation.
Catherine has a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.P.A Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist Based in Tyler, Texas, Joined Communities Unlimited in February 2021
Chad Brown, a Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Tyler, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in February 2021.
He pro vides technical, managerial and financial assistance to rural water and wastewater systems. He spent four years working with the City of Raleigh (NC) Public Utilities.
He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with the 2-13 th Aviation Regiment in Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, the 82 nd Airborne Division, the 173 rd Airborne Brigade and in the 2nd Infantry Division as part of the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area in South Korea. He was honorably discharged in 2013.
Chantel Poor joined Communities Unlimited in December of 2021 as a Communities Facilitator.
She lives in Almyra, Arkansas. Chantel works in community outreach, and strategic planning in low-income and underserved communities, while collaborating with community leaders. Chantel has several years of office experience, including all Microsoft programs. She is very skilled in Customer Service and working with the public.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Specialist for CU
Cherub Alford is a Community Environmental Specialist for CU. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Louisiana, Monroe.
Job Titles:
- Digital Content Coordinator
Chris Baker is the Digital Content Coordinator for Communities Unlimited.
Chris is responsible for developing, publishing, and managing all social media content. He provides creative insight into current trends and supports other communication team projects including website creation and annual report production.
Chris has a strong background in marketing and social media from his previous role as Operations Manager for Cumulus Broadcasting. Chris works out of the Fayetteville office.
Job Titles:
- Louisiana State Coordinator
Chris Brunson, Louisiana State Coordinator of Environmental Services located in Dry Prong, joined Communities Unlimited in 2001 as an Operations Management Specialist before being promoted in 2019.
He has more than 37 years of experience in community environmental management systems. This past year. Chris works in community outreach, and strategic planning in low-income and underserved communities, while collaborating with community leaders. Chris worked with 22 projects and leveraged $9.4 million for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects last year in Louisiana. He also presented six environmental training workshops. He holds Louisiana Class IV licenses in all five areas of water and wastewater.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board / SVP, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ( Retired )
Mr. Page leds the Donor Services team at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), a nonprofit professional services organization based in New York that administers over $200 million in grantmaking annually. He and his staff worked globally with individual donors, charitable institutions, and corporate foundations to develop strategies, manage grantmaking programs and assess their impact. With over 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience, his career has been largely focused on issues of poverty alleviation, community development and family financial security. Prior to joining RPA, Mr. Page served in the Ford Foundation's rural poverty and economic development programs. He is a Trustee of the Carbon Disclosure Project, a UK-based nonprofit global climate change reporting system utilized by over 3,000 organizations in 60 countries.
Job Titles:
- Economic Development Loan Officer
Chris Tillman joined Communities Unlimited in October 2021 as an Economic Development Loan Officer.
He has an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Chris has several years of experience in the loan, financial, and lending business.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Entrepreneurship
Cynthia Terry, Director of Entrepreneurship, has been managing Tennessee entrepreneurship programs for Communities Unlimited since June 2004.
Her work includes management consulting with business clients and managing the entrepreneurship team. Together, they serve small business owners onsite and virtually in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
She also leads the development of new partner relationships, programs responsive to entrepreneur and local community needs (e.g. MEMShops) and funding development. Cynthia is an entrepreneur herself, having started her own successful business.
She has a master's in business administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis in Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Senior Management Consultant
Dale Rutherford, Senior Management Consultant, based in Little Rock, Arkansas, started his Communities Unlimited position in March 2021.
Dale works with clients to develop financial models and budgets for their existing or conceptual business ideas. Dale conducts assessments with clients to scope the type of their needs and helps them identify problems and develop plans to achieve their goals and objectives.
Aside from being a published author, Dale also holds several certifications including Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Dale also has an MBA and a BS in Management from Henderson State University.
Job Titles:
- Community Resource Manager
Dawn Parker is a Community Resource Manager for Communities Unlimited (CU). She is located in Northeast Texas. She joined CU in April 2023. Before coming to CU, she worked as an Operations Manager for Texarkana Radio and maintained seven radio stations. She also owns 7LpStudios (photography). Dawn attended Strayer University-Global Region and studied Sociology.
Deanna O'Malley is a Community Facilitator for CU.
She has s strong background in building relationships and working with communities. Before coming to CU, Deanna worked for the Arkansas Department of Health where she provided assistance with community grants and provided guidance and technical assistance for the community. Deanna attended Kaplan University and Texarkana College. She resides in Texarkana, Arkansas.
Job Titles:
- Principal, Debby Warren Consulting
Debby Warren has spent the past 30+ years promoting social and economic justice in the American South, mostly working in the non-profit sector, including serving as the first Executive Director of both the Southern Rural Development Initiative (SRDI) and the Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina (CRA-NC). She also served as Co-Director of the legal services entity that preceded the NC Justice Center. Ms. Warren also taught at Duke University's Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, developing new courses on Nonprofit Leadership and Community Philanthropy.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
Deborah R. Brown joined Communities Unlimited in June 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. She provides technical assistance for water and wastewater management and assists municipalities with gaining access to capital.
Before starting at CU, Deborah worked as an Education Program Coordinator for Go Forward Pine Bluff. Deborah has a Master of Legal Studies from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources from The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Deborah lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Job Titles:
- Senior Economic Development Officer, Joined Communities Unlimited in May 2021
Debra Williams, Senior Economic Development Officer, joined Communities Unlimited in May 2021.
She is responsible for originating quality loans through internal and external referral sources. She also develops strategies to market the bank's SBA and small business grant programs to entrepreneurs with financing needs. She came to Communities Unlimited with a strong financial background, from her previous role s as a Vice President/Loan Manager for Arvest Bank as well as Vice President of Commercial lending for RCB Bank.
Debra has a BS in Business Administration, Marketing Management Orientation from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.
Job Titles:
- Housing Counseling Technician
Job Titles:
- Alabama State Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of the Colorado Energy Office
- Principal, DKY Consulting
Dominique Gómez is the Deputy Director of the Colorado Energy Office, a non-regulatory department within the office of Governor Jared Polis. The Colorado Energy Office works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing energy, energy efficiency and zero-emissions vehicles to benefit all Coloradans. Prior to serving in this role, Dominique was the Program Director at the Salazar Center at Colorado State University where she focused on climate adaptation and resilience. Before that she was Chief Operating Officer at WaterSmart Software, where she helped the company grow its operations and advocated for technology and innovation in the water sector.
Dominique served on the Denver Climate Action Task Force which made recommendations to strengthen Denver's work to address climate change equitably and recommended funding through a sales tax which led to the voter approved Measure 2A, which will generate between $20 and $40 million a year to combat climate change and economic disparity. She also serves on the board of Cascadia Consulting, a sustainability consulting firm based in Seattle.
Dominique graduated with an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and has a BA from Yale University. She lives in Denver with her husband and young daughters.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- GIS Coordinator
Don Becker is our GIS Coordinator based in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
He joined Communities Unlimited in April 2020. He assists with the implementation, collection, validation, training, presentation and publication of GIS data. Don has 20 years of experience in GIS mapping. He has collected data and created maps for the US Census Bureau, voter registration, county road inventory management and road maintenance documentation.
He has a bachelor of arts degree in Humanities with an emphasis in Anthropology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas.
Job Titles:
- Principal, DKY Consulting
Donna Kay Yeargan is a native Arkansan born and reared in Howard County. She has been actively engaged in political and social issues throughout her life. Donna Kay lives in her state as many of us live in our communities. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, where she was a campus leader, she married and moved to Foreman, Arkansas, where she was involved in civic and church activities and became active in local, regional and state activities. During that time, Donna Kay earned a Masters Degree from East Texas State University, now affiliated with Texas A&M.
Donna Kay has served on the University of Arkansas Alumni Board of Directors and the Natural State Committee, and as Chairman of the State Parks Commission and the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, along with serving in a multitude of community and civic organizations. In 1999, Donna Kay joined newly-elected Blanche Lincoln as the Director of Economic Development. She held the post until 1997 when she was named State Director for Senator Lincoln, overseeing the state operations of Senator Lincoln's offices in Arkansas. She continued in that post until January 2011.
Elaine Crutchfield, Ed.D., Director of Program Support Services, joined Communities Unlimited in 2001 after working in the Office of Services to Business and Industry at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she served as a performance improvement consultant.
Job Titles:
- Oklahoma State Coordinator
Gaylene Riley, Oklahoma State Coordinator, based in Atoka, Oklahoma, joined Communities Unlimited in 2017.
Gaylene Supervises and supports the CU Environmental Program and staff in Oklahoma to ensure the development of critical external professional relationships / partnerships within the State of Oklahoma and to ensure that CU technical assistance and training grants and contract metrics are achieved within budgeted perimeters. Previously, she worked for 35 years as a Rural Development Specialist at USDA-Rural Development. This past year, Gaylene worked with 22 community projects and leveraged $12.6 million in funding for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects in Oklahoma. She presented five NAWMA workshops addressing Asset Management Planning and Fiscal Sustainability, taking the training to an online platform after the first session.
She holds an Oklahoma Class D Operator license for both water and wastewater operations and a Class C Water Lab license for Oklahoma.
Job Titles:
- Special Projects Area Director
Griffin Todd, Special Projects Area Director for Environmental Services, joined Communities Unlimited in 2017 as a Source Water Coordinator before being promoted to his current position.
Griffin is a certified Water Operator licensed by the State of Arkansas and has worked in the Southern RCAP seven-state region for over 4 years, supporting technical assistance providers working with over 500 communities each year.
Griffin Todd graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in May 2017 with a bachelor's degree in public health.
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant
- Receptionist
- Office Assistant and Receptionist, Joined Communities Unlimited in September 2019
Haley Reed, Office Assistant and Receptionist, joined Communities Unlimited in September 2019.
She had previously worked in customer service positions before joining Communities Unlimited. Haley is responsible for providing support services such as data entry for water systems, answering and directing incoming calls, meeting space preparation, mail processing and recording and receiving checks for processing.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Services Area Director - West
Harold Hunter, the Texas Environmental Services Area Director located in Richmond, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 1994.
He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 38 years. He assisted 11 community water and wastewater systems in Texas last year and leveraged more than $33 million in community infrastructure financing. He conducted three training workshops last year. He regularly participates in the Texas Water Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (TWICC) with state and federal agency partners.
Harold received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology/History from Ouachita Baptist University in 1973 and a master's degree in Public Administration at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Harrison Brown started CU in March 2023 as a GIS Technician. He works with communities to assist them with their mapping needs. Before coming to CU, Harrison is working on his Bachelor's in Geology at Northwest Arkansas Community College. Harrison works in the Fayetteville office.
Ines Polonius, Chief Executive Officer of Communities Unlimited, joined the organization in 2014 and works out of the Fayetteville, Arkansas, office.
She has been active in national and international economic development for over 30 years. She has dedicated her career to accelerating community economic development in persistently poor, rural places in the South. She leads Communities Unlimited, a CDFI dedicated to moving rural and under-resourced communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama toward prosperity.
She received a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Economics degree from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, and a certificate in Public and Not-for-Profit Management. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Ines Polonius is CEO of Communities Unlimited, Inc., a CDFI and community economic development organization in the rural South. Communities Unlimited (CU) works side by side with local leaders to create fair access to resources needed to sustain healthy communities, healthy businesses and healthy families. CU resides in the solutions space, providing direct assistance and capital to micro-enterprises, small businesses as well as water and wastewater systems in persistently poor rural places across Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.
Ines earned an MBA and an MA in Economics from Boston University and received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Today, Ines serves on the board of directors of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO). She is a 2017 BALLE Fellow, an RWJF Interdisciplinary Research Leader, an active member of the Partners for Rural Transformation and the national WealthWorks network.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
Irma Schultz, Community Environmental Management Technician located in Tyler, Texas, began with Communities Unlimited in February 2021.
She assists in providing basic onsite technical assistance services to 15-20 small communities and small water/wastewater systems serving rural areas.
Irma graduated from Columbia Southern University with a bachelor of science degree in Occupational Safety and Health Administration in December 2018.
Jane Coffin, Lending Assistant Communities Unlimited. With 16 years of nonprofit experience, Jane brings her office management skills to her role as Lending Assistant. Her duties include post loan management, compliance and collections. She has also increased the functionality of Communities Unlimited's loan software. Jane monitors and reports on our current SBA profiles and assists in grant reporting and data management.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
Janelle Saucedo is a Community Environmental Management Technician in East Texas. She provides onsite technical assistance to rural communities with water and wastewater issues and assists them with project planning, financing, and utility management and administration. Before coming to CU, Janelle worked as a Laboratory Technologist for QualTex Laboratories at Biobridge Global in San Antonio.
Janelle received a Bachelor's of Science from the University of California at Riverside. Janelle lives in Dallas, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
Jessica Hester joins CU's Environmental Services Team as a Community Environmental Management Advisor based in Trinity, Texas.
Jessica was a Water/Wastewater Operator for the City of Trinity, Texas, before coming to CU. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Everett University and has a Class C Certified Groundwater Treatment Operator and Class D Certified Wastewater Operator certificates.
Jessica provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development training to small community environmental management systems.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
- Environmental Management Specialist
Jorge Negrete is a Community Environmental Management Specialist for Communities Unlimited. He assists Rural Community Water Systems with technical, managerial, and financial assessments to improve their infrastructure. Before coming to CU, Jorge worked with city stakeholders and engineers to find solutions to water sewer improvement in Webb County Colonias.
Jorge has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Minnesota, Mpls.
Jorge started CU in October 2022.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
Job Titles:
- Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist
Julie Hudgins, Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Westville, Oklahoma, joined Communities Unlimited in 2018.
She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 24 years. She currently assists 13 community water and wastewater systems in Oklahoma and leveraged nearly $20 million in community infrastructure financing in the last year. She has been a certified Water and Wastewater Operator licensed by Oklahoma since 2019.
She received a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration and Finance Management from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Services Area Director - Central
- the Environmental Services Area Director
Karen Conrad, the Environmental Services Area Director, located in Miami, Oklahoma, began at Communities Unlimited in 2007 as an Operations Management Specialist. She was promoted to Oklahoma Coordinator in 2017 and Area Director - Central recently.
She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 37 years. She has been a Certified Water and Wastewater Operator in Oklahoma and Missouri since 1980. She assists 10 community water and wastewater systems in Oklahoma and leveraged more than $3.9 million last year. She assisted in six water and wastewater operator training sessions. Karen received a master's of business administration degree from Pittsburg State University in 1999 and a bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern State University in 1993. She also attended the Water and Wastewater Technical School in Neosho, Missouri, and graduated with high honors in 1980.
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant
- Project Coordinator
Katy Parrish, Project Coordinator for Entrepreneurship, located in Amarillo, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in August 2020.
She comes from a background of marketing, management and community outreach. At Communities Unlimited, she provides technical assistance in the areas of business financials, bookkeeping, strategic management, growth management, turnaround and digital marketing.
She received a bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University and a master of Business Administration concentrating in International Business from Louisiana State University in Shreveport.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
- Environmental Management Technician
Kayley Westbrook is a Community Environmental Management Technician for Communities Unlimited in Temple, Texas. She provides onsite technical assistance to small communities and/or existing water/wastewater facilities. She prepares and submits written reports detailing CU's work in the communities. Before coming to CU, Kayley worked as a Retail Manager.
Kayley started CU in October of 2022.
Kelle Menogan, Jr. started CU in December of 2022 as a Community Facilitator. He works with communities to assist them in developing improvements. He assists them with broadband, water and wastewater treatment, and small business loans. Before coming to CU, Kelle worked as a Career Transition Specialist and Recruiter for the Mississippi Job Corps.
Kim Griffey, Chief Financial Officer located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, joined Communities Unlimited in 1995.
She is responsible for the financial aspects of 54 federal, state and foundation grants totaling more than $16 million. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She received a master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a bachelor of science degree in Accounting from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. She became a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Arkansas in 1992.
Job Titles:
- Community Resource Manager
Kristy Bice, Community Resource Manager (T.L.L. Temple), started Communities Unlimited (CU) in April 2023. She has a background in working for non-profits. Before coming to CU, Kristy worked as Senior Director of People Services at Goodwill. She has a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service. Kristy lives in Lufkin, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- West Texas Regional Coordinator
Kurt Grant is the West Texas Regional Coordinator. He supervises and supports over CU Environmental Program staff in West Texas and supports the CU Environmental State Director. He joined Communities Unlimited in May 2020 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist based out of Amarillo, Texas, where he assists community water and wastewater systems in Texas.
Kurt previously worked with the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission as a Local Government Services Specialist, where he served as contract City Manager for Timbercreek Canyon and as part of the Texas Revenue Recovery Association. He also administered and managed Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for various Panhandle region projects and trained for Grant Administration through the Texas Department of Agriculture. Kurt is working with 12 communities and conducted three training workshops in the last year.
Kurt has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and an associate's degree in Business Administration from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Training Coordinator
- Latoyia Morgan Training Coordinator Joined Communities Unlimited in September of 2021
Latoyia works alongside business management consultants to develop course content. She also coordinates and facilitates training and other events and assists in providing advice and services to business clients. Latoyia has a previous background in training. Latoyia received her MBA in Human Resources from the University of Phoenix-online.
Before coming to CU, she served as a Training Coordinator for Agape Child and Family Services in Memphis.
Libby Harris, SharePoint/Teams Administrator based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, joined Communities Unlimited in August 2019.
She provides laptops and phones for the Communities Unlimited staff, as well as training and troubleshooting for the hardware and software used by staff members. She assisted in installation, implementation and training of Office 365 for Communities Unlimited. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University's College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Lorraine Magee, Training Project Manager, is based in Monticello, Mississippi, and joined Communities Unlimited in 2018.
She is responsible for planning, developing and delivering training for the Environmental team, for the seven-state regions. She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than eight years. She currently assists 16 community water and wastewater systems in Mississippi and has leveraged more than $1.2 million in community infrastructure financing last year.
Lorraine earned a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. She obtained her MSDH Class C Water Operator's Certification in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
- Environmental Management Advisor
Lucas Guinn is a Community Environmental Management Advisor for Communities Unlimited, Environmental Team. He has around 21 years of experience working with water and wastewater.
Job Titles:
- Regionalization Project Manager
Lupita Ortega, Regionalization Project Manager located in Brownsville, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 2018. She previously worked for the organization as a contract disaster assistance technician in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
She worked with 12 projects and leveraged more than $2.2 million for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects last year. She completed four training modules at the Utility Management Institute-North American Development Bank in San Antonio, Texas. The modules were Planning, Designing and Implementing a Successful Utility; Financial Administration; Financial Planning and Leadership in the Utility.
Mark Pearson, Community Facilitator, is based out of Austin, Texas, and joined Communities Unlimited in 2004.
Mark works in community outreach, and strategic planning in low-income and underserved communities, while collaborating with community leaders. He has worked with infrastructure finance community management for water and wastewater for more than 17 years. He currently supervises two staff members assisting more than 30 community water and wastewater systems throughout West Texas. He leveraged more than $4 million in community infrastructure financing last year. He regularly participates in the Texas Water Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (TWICC) with state and federal agency partners.
He received a bachelor of arts University Scholar/Liberal Arts degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and a master of science degree in Economics from Baylor.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Sustainability
Martha Clare Bullen is the Director of Community Sustainability.
She has a strong history of working with communities. She is skilled in strategic planning, public speaking and research. Martha has a Master's Degree that is focused in Educational Leadership and Administration from Mississippi College and is the previous Community Development Director for the Foundation for the Mid-South.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law, Sprinkle Firm
Mr. Sprinkle has an extensive entrepreneurial background, as he has founded and operated several successful businesses. He also serves as a volunteer at Bowen Business Law Group, PLUS Program, Academic Success Program, Moot Court Board, Mock Trial Team as well as several others. He received a bachelor of science in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law.
Michael Rivera is a Loan Officer with a 15-year background in banking and finance.
He has an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Management and Marketing from Athens Technical College.
Job Titles:
- Area Director of Program Operations
Michelle Viney, Area Director of Program Operations, joined Communities Unlimited in 2018 after previously working for the organization from 2003-2007 as a Community Education and Outreach Specialist responsible for the production of the Community Water Bulletin and CRG Small System Guides.
Today, Michelle works with rural communities in Arkansas to develop strategies for community and economic development. She is a certified NPDES Stormwater Inspector and is a licensed Class I Wastewater Treatment Operator and Class 1B Solid Waste Management Facility Operator in Arkansas.
She has a bachelor of arts degree from Hendrix College in Environmental Ethics and a master's degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Technician
- CU As a Community Environmental Management Technician
Morgan Jones joined CU as a Community Environmental Management Technician in June 2023. She provides technical assistance for water and wastewater management and assists municipalities with gaining access to capital.
Before coming to CU, Morgan worked for the City of Jackson Police Department, where she was responsible for analyzing and submitting results for illegal substances. Morgan has a Master's in Pharmacy from the University of Florida and a Bachelor's in Biology from Jackson State University. Morgan will be working in the Jackson, Mississippi, area.
Job Titles:
- Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist
Oliver De La Garza, Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist in Texas, began at Communities Unlimited in September 2018 as Assistant Direct or of Community Sustainability, where he coordinated recovery efforts in four communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. Oliver provides onsite technical assistance and training to rural community environmental management systems.
Last year, Oliver worked with seven projects and leveraged $11.9 million in funds for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects in Texas. He presented two environmental training workshops. He is the go-to technical assistance provider (TAP) in Texas for resolving issues with SAMS ID for rural utilities.
Oliver previously served as Ombudsperson in the Texas Secretary of State's office and served as a Child Support Officer II in the Texas Attorney General's office. Oliver has a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
Ramon Rosales joined Communities Unlimited in January 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Advisor.
Ramon has several years of experience working with the Military Highway Water Supply Corporation in Progresso, Texas. He has a background in managing financial plans and developing strategies as well as a list of other skills and experience.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
Randy Vessels started CU in September 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Technician.
Randy provides technical assistance and training to CU's rural communities. He assists them in all areas of technical and financial compliance. Before coming to CU, Randy worked as a Regional Field Manager for RCAC. Randy has an Associate degree in science and mathematics from Yuba College, Woodland Campus, and holds multiple course certificates from Cal State University. Randy resides in Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- South Texas Regional Coordinator
Raul Gonzalez Jr., South Texas Regional Coordinator, based in Brownsville, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 2003.
He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 26 years. He currently works with 10 community water and wastewater systems and leveraged more than $4.9 million in community infrastructure financing in the last year. He assisted with two workshops last year and participated in two funding meetings. He responded to many USDA and Congressional direct technical assistance referrals. He has leveraged $500,000 so far this year.
He has been a certified Water Operator licensed by Texas since 1996.
Job Titles:
- Senior Management Consultant
Rhett Douglas, Senior Management Consultant located in Memphis, Tennessee, joined Communities Unlimited in October 2020.
He works with small businesses and entrepreneurs to prepare financial and operational plans for clients, conduct webinars on digital marketing and corporate structure and assess small businesses for loan readiness. He comes from a business background, having successfully launched and promoted two new franchise concepts in Collierville, Tennessee.
He has a bachelor of arts degree in Theatre Concentration with a minor in Business from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He has a master of business administration in Sales-Marketing from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Senior Environmental Management Consultant Based in Bastrop, Louisiana, Joined Communities Unlimited in 2001
Richard King, a Senior Environmental Management Consultant based in Bastrop, Louisiana, joined Communities Unlimited in 2001.
He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 20 years. He is currently assisting eight community water systems in Arkansas and Louisiana and has leveraged more than $2 million in the last year. He holds a Class IV Louisiana Professional Water Operators license in the fields of Water Production, Treatment and Distribution.
He received an honorable discharge form the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973 after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist Based in Greenfield, Tennessee, Joined Communities Unlimited in October 2020
Robert Kelley, a Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Greenfield, Tennessee, joined Communities Unlimited in October 2020.
Robert provides technical, managerial and financial assistance to rural water and wastewater systems in Tennessee. His previous work experience included serving as a Senior Wellsite Geologist for an oil and gas firm, where he provided clients with a detailed geochemical rock analysis and hydrocarbon gas analysis. He is PEC and H2S certified and is also trained as an Emergency First Responder.
He has a bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Russ Garner started CU in January 2023 as a Community Facilitator on the Community Sustainability Team. Russ has an M.P.P.A. from Mississippi State University and has a background in research and Rural Development.
Job Titles:
- Owner / Consultant, Soluciones Consulting
Mr. Torres' story is one of family, hard work and success. He is the youngest of eight siblings and was raised in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where he migrated with his family picking seasonal crops from the canneries of Wisconsin to the fields of California. Mr. Torres currently provides government affairs and commercial development consulting services from his Harlingen, Texas, downtown office. Previously, he served three years as Executive Director of the San Benito (Texas) Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Torres served as district director in South Texas for Congressman Ruben Hinojosa for nine years and served three years on Capitol Hill for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and the House Small Business Committee.
Sergio Salazar, Management Consultant, joined Communities Unlimited in 2015 in Raymondville, Texas.
He has worked with environmental management systems for more than six years. He currently assists three community water and wastewater systems in Texas and has leveraged more than $14 million in community infrastructure financing last year. He also assists aspiring and existing business owners in starting and growing their small businesses by conducting initial assessments with clients to determine their needs, identify ing any problems and assess ing the best course of action to address those issues.
He received a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at Brownsville.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
- Mississippi State Coordinator
Shannon McCranie started as a Community Environmental Management Specialist and is now the Mississippi State Coordinator and is located in Southaven, Mississippi. Shannon joined Communities Unlimited in 2019.
She has worked with community development for more than two years. She is working with eight community water and wastewater systems and is working to leverage funding in four communities. She previously worked as an Environmental Chemist for a power company, where she acquired knowledge of wastewater procedures, treatment systems and analyses.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2015.
Job Titles:
- American Connection Corps Member
Sierra Poke joined CU in May 2023. She is a Management Consultant for the Entrepreneurship Team.
Sierra works with business owners to develop relationships and work with them in areas where they need extra assistance. She helps with HR, finance, outreach, and training, etc. Before coming to CU, Sierra was the Chief of Events, Engagement & Programs for Precipice IP, PLLC Technology Law Firm. Sierra has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Sierra lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, and will work in the NWA area.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
- Environmental Management Specialist for Lafayette
Stacey L. Scarce is a Community Environmental Management Specialist for Lafayette, LA. She assists Rural Community Water Systems with technical, managerial, and financial assessments to improve their infrastructure. Before coming to CU, she worked as an Executive Director for Our Neighbors Farm and Pantry in Safford, AZ.
Stacey has a BA in Elementary Education and a BS in General Studies from the University of Southwestern, LA. In Lafayette, LA.
Stacey came to CU in October of 2022.
Job Titles:
- American Connection Corps Member
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
Tami McKeon started CU as a Community Environmental Management Specialist in November 2022. She provides on-site technical, managerial, financial development and GIS mapping capacity and training to small environmental management systems. Before coming to CU, Tami worked as a Deputy Director at Grand Gateway.
She has a B.S. Degree from Oklahoma State University in Geography in Urban Planning.
Teresa Coleman started CU in November 2022 as a Business Consultant. She assists existing and aspiring business owners in starting their small business. She helps them develop financial forecasts and come up with a business plans to fit their needs. Before coming to CU, Teresa worked as an Employment Coordinator for A-Team Solutions (Army National Guard).
Teresa has a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Public Administration from Strayer University. Teresa lives in Oxford Mississippi.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Services Administrative Assistant
Teresa Vite, Environmental Services Administrative Assistant, joined Communities Unlimited in March 2021. She works directly for the Director of Environmental Services and Program Coordinator. Teresa is responsible for reviewing, analyzing and reporting data.
Before coming to Communities Unlimited, Teresa worked for the Rogers School District as a Secretary. Teresa holds a Bachelor of English Arts from the University of Arkansas - Fulbright College of Arts and Science Program as well as an Associates of Science in General Studies from Northwest Arkansas Community College.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director
- Senior Director of Environmental Services and Housing, Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Joined Communities Unlimited in 1997
He has worked with community development and community environmental management services for more than 32 years. He directly supports and directs staff in seven southern states in assisting more than 500 communities each year. He has been licensed by Mississippi as a certified water operator since 1990. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, in 1993.
He served in the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard, obtaining the rank of Sergeant with 10 years of service before being honorably discharged in 1992.
Job Titles:
- Community Resource Manager
Timeka Mayfield started CU as a Community Resource Manager in April 2023. Before coming to CU, Timeka worked in the medical field as a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional at ResCare Community Living and an Administrative Assistant for Common Spirit Health. She also has worked as a substitute teacher and a Foster Care Home Developer. She has a Bachelor of Science in Leisure Studies and Therapeutic Recreation from Grambling State University and a list of certifications, including Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional Training, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Training Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR), Satori Alternatives to Managing Aggression (SAMA) Training and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
Job Titles:
- East Texas Regional Coordinator
Tom Fulton, East Texas Regional Coordinator, based in Longview, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 2006.
He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 37 years. He currently assists nine community wa ter and wastewater systems in Texas and has leveraged more than $7.6 million in community infrastructure financing last year alone. He conducted seven training workshops last year.
He has been a licensed water and wastewater operator in the state of Texas since 1983. He has had a Class A Water license for Texas since 1993 and a Class B Wastewater license since 2009.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Advisor
Antonio (Tony) Manriquez, Environmental Services, joined Communities Unlimited in August of 2022. He has a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management and a minor in Biology, from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He has previously worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Park Manager. He is based out of Marfa, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Management Specialist
Job Titles:
- Area Director of Field Operations
Traci McQuary, based in Maben, Mississippi, joined Communities Unlimited in 2017. She was Mississippi State Coordinator and recently joined the Community Sustainability team.
She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 16 years. She currently assists 15 community water and wastewater systems in Mississippi and has leveraged more than $3.3 million in the last year in community infrastructure financing.
She received a bachelor of science degree in Educational Psychology with a minor in Counselor Education in 1992 from Mississippi State University.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Management GIS Specialist
Trent Neathery joined Communities Unlimited in May 2020 as a GIS Technician as part of the GIS Mapping program.
Trent works in rural communities collecting map points and creating maps and presentations for community water and wastewater systems. He also provides environmental and GIS solutions and technical training for rural communities. He previously worked in Customer Experience positions with J.B. Hunt Transport in Lowell, Arkansas.
Trent has a bachelor of science degree in Agriculture - Environmental, Soil and Water Science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Trent Thomason, MBA, joined the CU team in January 2023 as a Management Consultant. He has more than a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, successfully launching Fit Camp Austin and the Enlightened Eating seminars, featured on NBC, Mind Body Green, and UT television. Trent is well traveled, versed in Mandarin, and able provide clients of all backgrounds with robust, transformational consulting services, trainings, and technical assistance.
Before starting CU, Trent worked as an Event Logistics and Tour Manager for Aardvark Mobile Tours, Lime Media.
Trent has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas.
Wayne Fawbush served as a Program Officer with the Economic Opportunity and Assets Unit of the Ford Foundation for six years. His grant making concentrated on helping low-income families improve their livelihoods by creating wealth in their communities in ways that actually benefited them. Previously, he was executive director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund that helped communities and businesses in rural Vermont improve their economic base and sell forest and agriculture products into profitable, value-added markets. He served as Deputy for Program Operations for the Farmers Home Administration at the Department of Agriculture during the Clinton administration.
Wayne served for 16 years as a representative and senator in the Oregon Legislature, concentrating on economic development in rural areas. He also owned and operated a pear and blueberry farm in Hood River, Oregon, for 20 years. Wayne was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour in Vietnam. He earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon.
Job Titles:
- Community Environmental Services Program Assistant
William Thrasher came to Communities Unlimited in October of 2021.
He works in Community Sustainability for the Environmental team. William works with low-income and underserved communities to assist them with outreach and planning. William has experience working as a leader and has a background in public speaking and building relationships.
William received his B.S. in Sociology & History - University of Arkansas at Little Rock