Events

CEO of ABC Texas Mid Coast Chapter

Kristi Stevenson has been the President & CEO of the local chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors since 2014.
In 2018, after extensive research and with industry support, ABC was proud to announce the grand opening of the Mid Coast Construction Academy apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

Kristi is a 1999 graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station. She has been married to her husband, Neal, for almost 10 years and together they have four children.

Heiki Jenkins

Presidio La Bahia State Historic Site, 

Exploring opportunities at Presidio La Bahia: Reenactment, programs, volunteering, the quarters and history.

BIO:
Retired middle school teacher from San Antonio Independent School District, Heike taught 7th grade Texas history and 8th grade American history. She moved to the Goliad area about 6 years ago from the Strawberry Capitol of Texas, Poteet. Heike worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife at Mission Espiritu Santo for about 3 years then transferred to Presidio La Bahia with the Texas Historical Commission in January.

Vinicio “Lenny” Llerena, A.A.E., ACE

Executive Director

Victoria Regional Airport 

EDUCATION

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY   Daytona Beach, FL Master  of  Science  in  Aeronautics,  Specialization  in  Aviation  Safety, Aviation  Management, and Aviation Operations.

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY   Daytona Beach, FL Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science, Airline Pilot Concentration.

AIRPORT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE Mr. LLerena is the Executive Director of the Victoria Regional Airport in Victoria, TX. The Airport resides on 1,700-acres of the former Foster Air Force Base. Mr. LLerena leads, directs, and is responsible for the overall management of the Victoria Regional Airport.  This includes leadership and oversight of the business operations, administration, staffing, financial administration, community and government relations, marketing, air service planning and development, facilities construction and maintenance, and the safety and security of the Airport. Prior to joining the Victoria Regional Airport, he worked in the aviation industry in different capacities that include: New Braunfels Regional Airport (Airport Director),  Orange County/Orange County Airport (Director of Aviation),   The Louis Berger Group Inc. (Aviation Planner),   Birmingham Airport Authority (Operations Supervisor),   Executive Flight Line (Flight Instructor/Check Airman),   Wrightway Aviation (Flight Instructor/Check Airman).

AFFILIATIONS     

Past AAAE Board Member,   IAAE Board Member,   AAAE General Aviation Committee,    AAAE Diversity Committee,   U.S. Contract Tower Association Policy Board Vice-Chair,   AAAE South Central Chapter Past President,   Committee Chair Conference of the Americas,   Committee Chair FAA SW,   Past Chair FAA SW Region Conference,   Texas Airport Council Past President,   ERAU Alpha Omicron Alpha Aviation Honor Society (Alumni Committee)

HONORS

2012 Texas General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year,   Flight Fellowship and Leadership at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

FLIGHT EXPERIENCE

Commercial Pilot: Airplane Single and Multiengine Land/ Instrument Rating,   Certified Flied Instructor/ Instruments (CFII) 

Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst

Interim Superintendent ~ Deputy Superintendent, VISD

Randy Meyer serves VISD as the Deputy Superintendent and has been serving as Interim Superintendent since June 1^st. He is beginning his 32^nd year in education with 25 of those years in administrative and leadership positions. Meyer joined VISD as CFO in 2021. He has served as a principal in Gonzales and Luling and was the Superintendent of Sweet Home ISD. He is a home owner and resident of Victoria ISD and enjoys spending time with his three grown children.

“What’s New at Mid-Coast”

Ginny is a home-grown girl, having completed her education through VISD, Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria. She was a stay-at

home mom until her kids hit school age then she worked for 5 years at Victoria Christian School before accepting a position at Mid-CoastFamily Services.

She began as a Drug Prevention Specialist and still works to ensure her certification is current. She’s been CEO of Mid-Coast for more than 15 years

and has no intentions of going anywhere soon. She has one living daughter, two sons who have passed, and four grandchildren who might be the only

reason she would consider retiring. She is married to Johnny Stafford and they celebrated our 50th anniversary this year.

Adrian Cannady joined the Temple Economic Development Corporation team as President & CEO in September of 2018.  Previously, Adrian served as Vice President of
Marketing of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation for more than 15 years, where he was engaged in business retention and recruitment efforts.
 
Adrian attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. where he studied Civil Engineering and Political Science. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Science, and a Master of Science degree in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship from the University of Houston-Victoria. He is also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. 
 
Adrian has been recognized by Consultant Connect as one of North America’s top 50 economic developers.  He is a member of the International Economic Development Council as well as the Texas Economic Development Council where he serves as Vice Chairman of the board of directors.  Adrian has been a past appointee on Governor Greg Abbott’s Economic Incentives Oversight Board and is currently appointed to the Governor’s Texas Economic Development Corporation board where he serves as board Treasurer. He also currently serves on Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Hospital Advisory Board.  He enjoys the practice of economic development as well as the encouragement of its practice and does so, in part, through his service as an instructor at Texas A&M University’s Basic Economic Development Course.

While at West Point, Adrian played college football for the Army Black Knights where his great passion for the Army Team was kindled and still exists today.  He is active in the community through coaching youth sports and supporting the work of the church he attends. Adrian is married to Melissa and they have three boys: Dylan (21), Tristan (14), and Cortland (11).

John E. Zacek is the Chairman for Prosperity Bank’s South Texas Area, overseeing 30 banking centers and focusing on agricultural and commercial lending. He has a strong commitment to community service, having served on various boards, including the Victoria College Board of Trustees and the Victoria Livestock Show, Inc. Zacek's agricultural background and leadership have made him a prominent figure in promoting economic growth in Victoria and the surrounding areas.

Cally is a native Victorian.  She graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX with a degree in Business Administration.  She is a former President of Zarsky Lumber Company.  After selling the company, she worked for Kodiak Building Partners for a few years and is now retired for two years.  In her retirement, she serves on the Boards of Directors for Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company, based in Philadelphia, and for Builders (a lumber company) with locations in Colorado and Nebraska. She also volunteers with the Court of Six Flags and is the President of the Victoria 100 Club.

She used to be a member of the Victoria Rotary Club, in fact, she met her husband (Travis Fromme) of 25 years at Rotary.  They both served as President of the club and are both Paul Harris Fellows.  They have two adult children.  A son who is a junior at Baylor University and a daughter who works for Texas State Senator Charles Schwertner.

BRET BALDWIN, Senior Consultant
PERSONAL
 7th Generation Texan born in the Texas Hill Country
 Moved to Victoria in 1967, left in 1988, returned to Victoria in 2012
 Accepted Christ as his personal Savior and publically baptized (1977)
 Married (2000) with two college-age sons

ROTARIAN
 Past Victoria Northside President
 Presently serving Northside Rotary Board Member
 Sons RYLA participants and leadership roles
 Co-creator of UHV International Nights

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT and CONSULTING CAREER
 Executive Director for several globally ranked corporations
  o Total Energies (#23 Fortune Global 100)
  o Nestle (#96 Fortune Global 100)
  o Hilti Corporation (#5 Fortune 100 World’s Best Places to Work)
 Consultant Small Business and Organizational Development
  o Straet Global Consulting, LLC (formerly of Singapore)

EDUCATION
 Victoria High School
 Kollegium Spiritus Sanctus – Switzerland
 Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State) - BBA Management
 Arizona State University (Thunderbird Global School of Management - Global MBA
 National University of Singapore (Post-Graduate) Law Diploma

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
 Church Committees - Education, Missions, Personnel, Properties, and local outreach
 Upward Sports Ministry - Past Director, Coaches Commissioner, Referee
 Victoria ISD Board Trustee – Past Member
 University of Houston - Victoria – Past President’s Regional Advisory Board (PRAB)
 Chamber of Commerce – Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, China, Victoria, TX (Board)
 Northside Rotary - Past President and Board Member
 Little League - Past Coach

Rick Villa joined The Salvation Army on September 1, 2023 as Director of Social Services under Commanding Officer-Captain Kenny Jones. His professional background spans 39 years in public relations and most recently a 16-year career in Workforce Development with the local Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent agency. In addition, Rick served 6 years in management with the Communities In Schools affiliate agency operated by the Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent agency & 5 years in Disaster Response & Disaster Recovery for the Golden Crescent Long Term Recovery Group (GCLTRG). As GCLTRG Executive Director, Rick was successful in in securing grants with  national/state/regional/local disaster recovery funders for-Hurricane Harvey disaster in the amount of ($1,804,854.88) and Winter Storm Uri disaster in the amount of ($461,904.32).

As Director of Social Services at The Salvation Army, Rick is charged with public relations, grant writing, fundraising, training development, disaster services and management of Men’s Emergency Shelter for homeless/displaced men. In addition, Rick oversees management of new Life Enrichment Center that concentrates on comprehensive case management services to the most vulnerable populations.

Rick served among the founding board of directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as board treasurer for non-profit/faith based Golden Crescent Long Term Recovery Group along with serving as board member of the Golden Crescent Workforce Development Board.

Rick and his spouse Gracie have been married 41 years and blessed with 2 sons and 3 grandchildren. Rick & his spouse are active members of Jerusalem Family Praise Center and active in various church ministries. Rick is among the founding members of “Uniting Hearts” Music Festival which hosts the only annual interfaith community event free to the general public. Rick sincerely believes “Service is the pathway to real significance. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.” (The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren)

Region 3 Education Service Center

Martin’s role with Region 3 is of CTE Specialist. He provides Career and Technical Educational (CTE) support to the 32 school districts within Region 3. The goal of his role is to help districts enhance and or develop their CTE programs of study, and be a resource to educators and administrators.

He has over 20 years in education, starting his career as a special education teacher, but has spent most of his career as an academic counselor in secondary and post-secondary education. He found his passion with CTE in 2013 working for Lone Star College in the Woodlands. Prior to his current role, he was a Human Resources Administrator for Formosa Plastics in Seadrift.

Dr. Dorothy Victoria Thomas has over 29 years of experience in the healthcare field, beginning her journey by earning an Associate of Applied Science degree. After dedicating more than two decades to nursing clinical practice, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and proudly advanced to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

In 2020, she embarked on an exciting journey at the University of Houston-Victoria. A year later, had the privilege of stepping into the interim nursing program director role. She officially transitioned to the nursing director role in 2023. Each step of the way has been a rewarding experience filled with opportunities to influence the future of nursing education.

Dean Darla Strother has been an R.N. for 28 years. She obtained a BSN from Texas Tech University and a Master’s Degree Specializing in Nursing Education from Walden University. Her nursing background consists of Medical/Surgical, ICU, and Obstetrics. She has been employed by Victoria College since 2003 (21 years) and is currently the Dean of Allied Health and Director of Nursing.

Dr. Gajewskey (Guy-Yes-Key) has been a dedicated leader in the education profession since 2000, with a passion for fostering academic excellence and ensuring student success. He began his career as a Math and Science Teacher and has held numerous roles, including Curriculum Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, and for the past six years, Superintendent of Nursery ISD. His career spans both large and small districts, ranging from 103,000 students to as few as 150, providing him with a diverse perspective on the unique challenges and opportunities within the education sector.

Dr Gajewskey’s academic journey includes an Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science in Education from Sam Houston State University, a Master of Science from the University of Houston Clear Lake, and a Doctorate of Education from Texas A&M Texarkana. His learning and hands-on experience have paid exponential dividends in his journey to help our youth. 

A proud family man, Dr. Gajewskey is married to an educator and the father of three children who attend public school in VISD, Cuero ISD, and Nursery ISD. Under his leadership, Nursery ISD achieved the prestigious National Blue Ribbon award in 2022 for High Academic Performance, ranking in the top quarter of 1% in Texas (99.75th percentile). In 2023, he was nominated by the NISD Board of Trustees and honored as the Region 3 Superintendent of the Year.

A longstanding advocate for public education, Dr. Gajewskey firmly believes that a solid education is the key to a more prosperous future for all…And you don’t need trick plays to win the game. The fundamentals are tried and true and have withstood the test of time. These practices are the cornerstone of NISD. Today, he will share his insights regarding Nursery ISD and what makes NISD an exceptional place to obtain a quality education.   

Mike has been with Habitat for Humanity for sixteen years. He started his career in South Palm Beach,Florida in 2006 and continued his career in Winston Salem in 2016. Mike is married to Missy Campbell,
and they have two adult children, Kyle and Megan. Kyle is in Ft. Meyers FL. and Megan and her husband live in Beaumont TX.
Mike’s is committed to service to others and Habitat for Humanity is his calling. He makes every effort to serve those in need and tries to grow friendships and relationships through church and community.
Mike is excited about the opportunities to serve the Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity and to grow services throughout the entire service area.

George Gamez served just over 30 years with Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR), with 16 years in the field and 14 years as part of the leadership team in diverse administration roles. Throughout his career
in the field, he held several ranks including Driver, Lieutenant, and Captain, during which he spent 12 years riding the ambulance and was assigned to stations in South Dallas, an area known for
having the highest number of fires and medical emergencies. Chief Gamez promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief in 2012.
As Deputy Chief, he managed three Divisions: EMS, Communications, and 911 Dispatch Center, and Special Operations, which consisted of Aircraft Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, Swift
Water Rescue, HazMat, and Wildland.

Chief Gamez holds an associate degree in Fire Administration from Weatherford College and a bachelor's degree in Fire Administration and Emergency Management from Texas A&M San
Antonio. He is a graduate of the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy and recently completed The Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Program at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M. Born and
raised in Dallas, Texas, he comes from a family of six firefighters, including his two sons, who have also followed in his footsteps as firefighters for Dallas Fire-Rescue and Midlothian Fire
Department.

He will discuss his career, his job before joining the fire department (Burn Tech at Parkland Hospital), his experience with Dallas Fire-Rescue (911 and his experience in New York and Ebola), and how he became the Fire Chief for the Victoria Fire Department. He will also discuss the great things the Victoria Fire Department is doing and what they are working on for the future.

Sheila Collazo currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for Victoria ISD and brings more than three decades of experience in school innovation and transformation, including district, regional, and state leadership positions. Previously, she served as deputy superintendent in the San Antonio area and a state director responsible for the development and rollout of the teacher and principal evaluation systems for Texas. Ms. Collazo has developed numerous educational products and training resources for the Texas Education Agency.  With a firm belief in the power of quality teachers and school leaders, she works closely to incorporate research-based strategies that lead to increase practices and student achievement. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from the Texas A&M University System, and superintendent certification from Angelo State University.

Kathleen Card brings a lifetime of knowledge in the area of Hospice Care. Her dedication to both patients in Hospice Care, and the families affected by their loved ones' treatment, is poignant and will be the subject of her talk.

Brenda Serrata Tally, a Victoria native, is a dancer, arts educator, and choreographer dedicated to fostering young artists' creativity through dance. She is the owner and director of the Ballet Academy of South Texas and executive artistic director of Victoria Ballet Theatre, an honor company with Regional Dance America. Brenda holds an MFA in Dance Performance from the University of Iowa and a BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah. An award-winning choreographer, she has created over 20 original works for Victoria Ballet Theatre. She also teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston-Victoria and serves on several boards, including The Vine School, the Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Board, and both the national and southwest regional boards of Regional Dance America.

Join us for an engaging look beyond the stage as we explore the profound impact of Victoria Ballet Theatre on our community. From fostering young talent to driving economic and creative growth, VBT is more than performances—it's a force for collaboration, education, and cultural enrichment. Discover how the arts shape strong communities, how VBT partners with local organizations, and how you can play a role in sustaining this vital artistic legacy.

Christy Youker is the Assistant Director of Environmental Services for the City of Victoria. She also serves as the Executive Director of Keep Victoria Beautiful. Before moving to Victoria in 2021, she worked in the West Texas area in both the solid waste industry and environmental education. Christy earned an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Texas at Austin.