Alumni Advisory Board
Meet the 2024-2025 LU Alumni Advisory Board
President Emily (Everett) Allen '98, '04 has over 25 years of experience as an educator and is currently an Assistant Principal at Lumberton Intermediate School. She and her husband Chris reside in Sour Lake with their sons, Aaron, who is a freshman at LIT, and Andrew, who is a sophomore at Hardin-Jefferson High School. She is an active member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and serves on several community service boards and organizations. She enjoys watching her sons play sports, fishing, traveling, reading, genealogy, and supporting LU Basketball.
President-Elect Christopher Graham '90 is a native of Beaumont. He has been employed for over 30 years at ExxonMobil, beginning his career at the Beaumont Refinery right after graduation. While a student at LU, he was active in several organizations and served in leadership roles, including Sigma Nu Fraternity, Student Government Association, Blue Key National Honor Society, and an Orientation Peer Advisor. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was the recipient of the Otho Plummer Scholarship Award, the C.W. Bingman Service Award, and was a finalist for the C. Robert Kemble Award. After graduation, he has remained a volunteer for Sigma Nu serving as an advisor to the LU chapter for over 30 years, and has been a national volunteer for the last 17 years, including chairing the LU chapter's 50th and 60th anniversary celebrations. He has also assisted with the coordination of the All Greek Homecoming Reunion in 2006 and has served on the Lamar University Computer Science Industrial Advisory Board since 2008. Chris and his wife Amy (Huckaby) reside in Kingwood, TX with their son Nathaniel (Nate).
Director Dr. Larry C. "Doc" Acker '10 is a semi-retired higher education marketing, public affairs and development support professional. He earned an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Lamar University in 2010 while serving as the associate director for public relations and communications. In that role he was part of the team that planned and executed the marketing and public affairs campaign for the return of Cardinal football in 2010. Larry loved working closely with students, volunteering with the Lamar University WINGS program, pairing faculty and staff advisors with first-semester new students. He successfully chaired the committee for updating and modernizing the LUTV broadcasting/film laboratory and worked closely with local communities to create the Lamar University-themed mural at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport terminal. Larry and his wife Lori reside in Marshall, TX and have one daughter, Ashli, a media specialist, a son-in-law Kyle, who is an attorney in private practice, and Joseph, their grandson.
Director Johnny Alfred III '05 is an attorney that represents people who have been catastrophically injured in industrial accidents, chemical plant explosions, and motor vehicle crashes. He is also registered to practice law before the USPTO, where he represents individuals and startups in patent and trademark matters. A native of Port Arthur, Johnny graduated from Lamar University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2005. Upon graduation, Johnny worked as a project engineer for an international engineering firm while attending law school at South Texas College of Law. He attributes much of his professional success to the world class education he received at LU, particularly the College of Engineering. Johnny resides in Sugar Land, TX with his wife Amber and their children, where he is active in the community and a member of multiple professional organizations.
Director Kennetha (Robinson) Alvarez '09, '12 is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner currently practicing in Beaumont, TX. She and her husband Axel ’06 live in Nederland, TX with their four children. She volunteers with Junior League of Beaumont, SETX NP organization and Ubi Caritas Health Ministry Clinic. Kennetha’s attendance at Lamar University helped evolve her as a student and prepared her for various roles in healthcare, which inspired her to continue her education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. Serving the community and those who are under-served has been very rewarding for Kennetha. As a way to give back to the profession, she is currently a preceptor to future Nurse Practitioner students. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and spending quality time with her precious family.
Director Yolanda (Johnson) Avery '86, '91 is an educator at Port Arthur ISD. She and her husband, Alton, reside in Beaumont. They have two sons and their youngest is currently attending Lamar University. Yolanda graduated with a BS-Dance in 1986 and a M.Ed.-Counseling and Development in 1991. While attending LU, Yolanda was a member of the Lamar Dance Company, a member of Psalms 150 Choir and a member of the Eta Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She extensively volunteers in the community, state and nation, has an active Facebook food review page - Best Bites, and enjoys cheering on the Cardinals at sporting events.
Director Elise Becker (MBA) '05, '12 is the Inside Sales Manager at Arlanxeo in Orange, TX. Elise credits the lessons she learned at Lamar University for preparing her for her professional opportunities and fondly remembers her time spent in the College of Business. Elise is also a certified wedding and event planner with Simple Elegance and enjoys working with clients planning their special life events.
She currently resides in Bridge City, TX with her very spoiled rescued dog where she enjoys working on home projects, reading, visiting with friends, and is an active member of Bridge Point Fellowship. In her free time enjoys being actively involved with her family, especially her niece and nephews and all their various activities. She looks forward to serving with the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board and making a positive impact on the Lamar University community.
Director Usha (Balaratnam) Beckman '87 was born and raised in Malaysia and came to Lamar University in May 1983. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering in May 1987. She had a long and rewarding career with ExxonMobil and retired in January 2021 after 33 years of service. Her husband J.T. ’82, ’87 and their three daughters are all Lamar University graduates. Usha leads a local team of volunteers for Operation Christmas Child and is an active member of Beaumont Bible Church. She enjoys planning trips, seeing new places, spending time with her family, gardening and exercise classes at the Lakeside Center.
Director James Bienvenu '11, widely known as J, brings over a decade of experience in engineering and management, making significant contributions across various industries. Raised in Beaumont, Texas, J earned his B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Lamar University in 2011. He has shown exceptional leadership and strategic planning abilities in roles such as General Manager at Beaumont Manufacturing & Distribution, Megas Manufacturing, and Elite Thermal Blankets, LLC. J's expertise span’s reliability engineering, management, and process optimization. J has been married to his wife Taryn for seven years, and they have a delightful five-year-old daughter named Harper. This blend of professional dedication and family commitment exemplifies J's balanced approach to life and work.
Director Sam Blanda '08, BBA-Finance, is an owner of Jack's Pak-It in Beaumont. He resides in Beaumont and enjoys giving back to the community. He volunteers with Ubi Caritas and is a member of the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization. He credits much of his professional success to the preparation received in his business classes at Lamar University and looks forward to serving on the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board.
Director Hetty (Green) Brown ‘79 earned her BS in Health and Physical Education from Lamar University. She is a retired teacher with 35 years of experience, teaching students with physical and mental disabilities, with the major part of her work on the elementary level. After retirement, she worked six years for a non-profit organization, the Southeast Texas Food Bank. While at the food bank, she worked as a Retail Store Liaison, which included working with 28 local food stores in seven counties, accepting food donations, scheduling pick-ups and arranging deliveries to local pantries for them to be distributed to needy homes in their community. Her volunteer service includes two years with the Food Bank before employment and twenty plus years as a spiritual counselor through her church at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. She is a graduate of Beaumont Champions, a member of the Beaumont Localists, member of the Junior League of Beaumont, and a member of Beaumont Association of Retired Teachers. She is one of the administrators of a local Facebook page called Best Bites. This page supports local eateries by letting the community know through positive reviews, what these restaurants offer in hopes of generating more business for them, and it also helps boost our local economy. Best Bites has been active for six years and has over 18,000 members. She has been married to L.C. Brown, a Vietnam Veteran for thirty-three years, and has three adult children, and seven grandkids.
Director Meg (Baertl) Brown '15 is a family nurse practitioner at Neurocare of the South in Beaumont. She and her husband, Jarrod, live in Beaumont with their two cocker spaniels. Her bonus daughter graduated from the Dishman School of Nursing at Lamar University in 2021 and currently works in the ICU at CHRISTUS St Elizabeth. Meg is a past member of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board and is looking forward to serving another term. She founded PeriodPower Pantry in 2019 which is a local menstrual and hygiene pantry that distributes “period packs” to schools, women’s shelters, and to local non-profits. She is also the founder of the Southeast Texas 100 Mile Running Club. She is a member of the Oaks Historic District Board, The Art Studio, Inc. Board, The United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County’s the Local LINC steering committee, Southeast Texas Nurse Practitioner Association, Southeast Texas Coalition for the Homeless committee, Walk to End Alzheimer’s planning committee, Hispanic Proactive Coalition, Symphony League of Beaumont, and Junior League of Beaumont Sustainer. She is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Bridge City-Orangefield, 2020 Leadership Beaumont Alumna, a 2016 Southeast Texas 40 under 40 Honoree, and 2016 Houston Chronicle’s Salute to Nurses Top 150.
Director Godwin "Gerard" Celestine '91, '96 has 30 years of experience with Motiva Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. He currently serves as the Maintenance Support Manager. Gerard and his wife Tieraney live in the small community of Cheek outside of Beaumont. His community involvement includes CCD Youth Teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fannett and a 30+ year member with Young Men's Business League where he is serving as Past President. While attending LU, Gerard was a member of the Instrument Society of America, SGA, and Setzer Center Student Council. He and his wife enjoy tailgating and attending Lamar University Football games.
Director Jeffrey Darby '88 (BA in History and Minor in French) of Nederland retired from the U. S. Department of Labor in January 2023 following 33 years of service as an investigator in Beaumont. In addition to enforcing the dozens of laws he was sworn to uphold, Jeff held local, regional, and national union office for over 25 years during which he tried to keep the Department of Labor in compliance with the very laws they enforce. After retiring, Jeff founded JP Darby Services, LLC which offers consulting and mediation services to companies, individuals, law firms, and labor organizations. Married to Christy (Lindsey) Darby '91 (BS in Elementary Education) for 35 years, their three daughters and sons-in-law are also Lamar graduates. LU gave Jeff and Christy (both first-generation college graduates), their daughters, and sons-in-law the key that unlocked the doors to their careers.
Director Thomas Davis '15 (he/him/his) is a native of Port Arthur, Texas who resides in Beaumont. He is a professional wedding cake decorator and has worked in this industry for over 13 years. He graduated from Lamar University in 2015 with a B.B.A.-Marketing and Advertising Communication.
Thomas is a 2020 Recipient of the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization’s 40 under 40 Award. During the pandemic, he won OutSmart Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Face Mask Designs for the year 2020 and 2021.
Thomas’ hobbies includes making art for The Beaumont Art League, The Art Studio, and The Music Studio’s annual Art of Flowers Show. His artwork has been featured in different exhibits in all of these places including The Art Museum of Southeast Texas. He is a former member of the Beaumont Art League’s Board of Directors.
Thomas and his husband Josh Davis '11 '15 '19 (he/him/his) have been together 15 years and married for 7 years. Together, they are involved in raising funds for The American Cancer Society’s Cattle Baron’s Ball, Men Wear Pink, and have chaired the Relay For Life of The Greater Golden Triangle 2023 event. The couple have six dogs in varying sizes; a Great Dane, a Goldendoodle, a blue heeler, a one-eyed pug, a no-eyed pug, and a three-legged pug. They love traveling and making the most memories in life. Thomas’ motto is “Stressed spelled backwards is DESSERTS. Eat more cake!”
Director Celine Do '18, '22 is a HR Recruiter at Provost Umphrey Law Firm. She earned a BBA in management information systems and a MBA from Lamar University. As a student, Celine was a member of the Student Advisory Council to the Dean for the College of Business, Association for Information Systems, and Lamar University Catholic Student Center. In the community, Celine is a volunteer for Altus Hospice and is involved in helping with the teens at her church at Teen ACTS Retreats. Additionally, Celine is a 2022 Leadership Beaumont graduate. She loves traveling and giving back to the university, community, and her church.
Director Ryan Dollinger '14 is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He and his wife, Amber ‘21, live in Plano, Texas with their three children. While at LU, he was involved in Social Work Student Association, Charter President of the Lamar University Lions Club, and elected Vice President of Student Government Association. Ryan is active within his community and state as a member of Lions Club and Board Member for National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter. He currently is appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. Recently, he was also appointed by Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Cecile Young to serve on the Policy Council for Children and Families. Ryan contributes much of his success to the quality education and faculty at Lamar University.
Director Darren Erwin '21 is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Better Business Bureau Serving Southeast Texas. He has worked for the organization for the past 10 years serving in various roles as the Director of Operations and Director of Business Relations.
Darren holds an associate of arts degree in General Studies from Lamar Institute of Technology, a B.S.-University Studies from Lamar University, and an MBA from the University of Texas-Permian Basin. He is also a 2015 graduate of Leadership Beaumont, 2014 graduate of Leadership Southeast Texas, and is a member of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Mentorship Program.
Darren believes in giving back to his community and has served on various boards and committees. He has served on the Salvation Army Boy’s and Girl’s Club Advisory Council, Spindletop Rotary Club Board of Directors, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board, and the Leadership Beaumont Steering Committee. He is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Beaumont, Spindletop Center’s Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council, and the Junior Leadership Beaumont Steering Committee. Darren was also named one of the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Under 40 in 2016.
In his free time, Darren enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking, and live music.
Director Celena (Champagne) Green '99 is the Administrative Team Leader at Hargrove Engineers + Constructors and a representative of WHEEL (Women of Hargrove Embracing and Engaging in Leadership). She resides in Beaumont with her two children. She has fond memories as a member of Alpha Deta Pi Sorority and is currently the President of the Beaumont Alumnae Association of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Celena attributes her social and leadership skills to the time she spent and the people she met while at Lamar University.
Director Elohor (Okene) Jackson '20 graduated from Lamar University with her B.S in Chemical Engineering and minor in Chemistry and Mathematics. She works as a High-Pressure Copolymer Improvement Engineer for Specialty Plastics at Dow Chemical Company in Orange, TX. In addition, she is a Dow United Way volunteer, member of Global African Affinity Network, Women’s Inclusion Network, and the Lamar University Recruiting Team. During her time at LU, Elohor served as a Lamar University and College of Engineering Ambassador, and held leadership positions within SGA, National Society of Black Engineers, and Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. Elohor has a heart for missions where she travels to Kenya, Africa and India to build homes, visit orphanages, provide food, and participate in medical campaigns. She and her husband, Alphonso Jackson II, reside in Port Arthur, TX with their Goldendoodle, Jax and son Jo'el.
Director Judy (Walker) Linsley '67, '77 retired as Director of the Lamar University Center for History and Culture of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast. She was formerly Curator of Interpretation and Education at the McFaddin-Ward House Museum in Beaumont and Adjunct Instructor in the Lamar University History Department. She and her sister Ellen Rienstra '62, '80 recently completed a Centennial History of Lamar University. Judy’s connection with LU is multi-generational, as both parents, a sister, three sons, a niece and two nephews all attended or graduated from LU. A member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, she keeps in touch with other Zetas and old LU friends.
Director Donta Miller '18, '21 is a native of Hardin County. He and his wife Regina live in Beaumont, and they have two children and granddaughter. He and his family are longtime members of the One City Church in Beaumont. Donta graduated from Lamar Institute of Technology with an Associates Degree in 2018 and Lamar University with a Bachelors in 2018 and a Masters in Criminal Justice in 2021. Chief Miller has spent over 21 years in law enforcement. He is the number two in command of the law enforcement division at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Zena Stephens. He is responsible for planning and setting rules for the Sheriff's Office. Donta has a State of Texas Master Peace Officer and a Master Correction Officer Certificate. He has a strong compassion for having a positive relationship with the community and law enforcement. He holds Executive Board seats with the Federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Jefferson County Youth Academy (JCYA), and the Sabine Neches Chief Association (SNCA). He volunteers with Inspire Encourage Achieve/Ben's Kids (IEA) by speaking with juveniles weekly at Minnie Rogers Juvenile Justice Facility. He also volunteers his time in the community with his church outreach, One City Cares, by feeding and clothing the less fortunate citizens of Southeast Texas. He is a Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity member, where he actively engages in countless hours of community service throughout Southeast Texas. Also, he assists with coordinating with the public for Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office community relations events. Donta is passionate about recruiting people with a good heart to serve the community and understands true public services. He believes that education plays an essential role in the criminal justice system.
Director Matthew Minick '11 is a proud graduate of Lamar University with a B.S. in Political Science. After graduation, Matthew attended Texas Tech School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2014. From 2014 to 2020, he served as the Assistant County Attorney in both Liberty and Hardin County. In 2021, Matthew was elected and sworn in as the County Attorney of Hardin County, Texas. Matthew is humbled to have been awarded: (1) 2021 Ignite Award by the Crimes Against Women Organization; (2) 2022 40 Under 40 of Southeast Texas; and (3) 2024 G.O.L.D. Award by the Texas Tech Law Alumni Association. He continues to serve his community through fundraisers/events, educating local high school and college students, helping train law enforcement officers, and more. Matthew is married to Kaltrina (Harbuzi) Minick '11, a LU MPA graduate and former top-level Lamar University Women’s tennis team member. Matthew and Kaltrina live in Hardin County and have two future Cardinals, Connor and Chloe. Matthew is honored to be serving on the Lamar Alumni Advisory Board.
Director Nathan Mistric '12, '21 is a Technical Account Manager with AWC Inc. in Port Arthur serving the local petrochemical and refining industries with engineered solutions to help their operations run safely and effectively. He and his wife Megan (Fournerat) ’12 live in Nederland with their 3 children: Forrest, Maverick and AnnMarie. While at Lamar University, Nathan was active with Sigma Nu Fraternity serving in multiple leadership roles and on the Student Service Fees Committee. After graduation he has continued to serve as the Chapter Advisor to the Fraternity and enjoys all events his children are involved in.
Director Dennis Moncla ’89, ’94 graduated with an AAS in Food Service Management in 1989 and a BAAS in 1994 from Lamar University. He is the owner of Colorado Canyon miniature golf course and an award-winning bird, wildlife, and action photographer. Dennis resides in Beaumont with his wife, Jean, and they have two children, Michelle and Kelly. A dedicated supporter of LU Cardinal Athletics and a proud Lamar University alumnus, Dennis continues to stay engaged with the LU community.
Director Tatiana Morales Owens '93, '07, '14 is the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Port Arthur Independent School District (PAISD). With over 25 years of experience as a public-school educator in PAISD, she has served in various roles including Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and as Multilingual and Migrant Programs Director.
Tatiana earned a BA-Political Science (1993), a M.Ed.-Administration (2007), and a Ed.D.-Educational Leadership (2014) from Lamar University. She is certified in Texas as a teacher in various areas and levels, as well as a Principal and Superintendent. Her professional affiliations include membership in the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and participation in the Leadership Southeast Texas Class of 2016. She is also a member of the Symphony League of Beaumont. She has been recognized for her community work as a Hometown Hero by the Port Arthur News and was honored as one of the Inspirational Woman Recipients by the Office of Community Relations and Strategic Initiatives at Lamar University in 2023. Tatiana co-authored the chapter “Latinas Overcoming Challenges to Become School Leaders” in the book Latinas Leading Schools, published in January 2021. Her research interests encompass the status of Latinos/Latinas and English Learners in the United States, as well as women in leadership roles.
Tatiana and her husband Marc '18, and son J.P. reside in Port Arthur and are active members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
Director Johnny O'Connor, Ph.D. is the Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Lamar University. He has been with the university since 2014. Johnny has had 16 years of experience in Pre-K-12 education, both in teaching and executive level leadership positions, and has been recognized for his commitment and accomplishments in providing positive educational opportunities. He has degrees/certificates from Harvard University-Cambridge, M.A. (urban special education), Rice University (strategic marketing), Texas Southern University (M.B.A.), Southern University (B.S./M.Ed.), Texas A&M University (Ph.D.), and University of Texas-Tyler, Texas (superintendent certificate). Johnny serves as the 2024-2025 faculty representative of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board.
Director J.R. Richardson '92 is a native of Houston, TX and earned a BAAS degree from Lamar University.
He is currently serving as a Sr. Account Executive at Consolidated Communications in Katy, Tx. During his tenure at LU, J.R. received many awards and accolades through his sports career. He was Southland Conference Champion for 3 years in Track and Field specializing in Triple Jump, but also contributed to Long Jump, High Jump and Sprint Relays. He pledged Kappa Alpha Psi in the Spring of 1988 and later was Polemarch of his chapter. He served on the National Pan-Hellenic Council helping bridge the gap with all Greeks on campus.
After leaving college, J.R. started his career with the help of a fellow Lamar Alumnus at Dell Computers in Austin, TX. During his time, J.R. continued being active with Kappa Alpha Psi Austin Alumni and served as Polemarch several years later. He actively volunteered his time with the Special Olympics in bowling and served as a mentor with Big Brother Big Sisters. While serving and helping in his community, he became an active member with Lyons Jr. #290 Lodge P.H.A. Masons for and Cheops Temple #200 with the Shriners.
Today, J.R. serves on many boards in his community of Katy, TX. He is on the Board of Directors for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for the YMCA Katy locations, Board of Directors for the Katy ISD Education Foundation, Board of Directors for Katy Christian Ministries, Board of Directors for the Waller County Economic Development Council, Board of Directors for the Katy Area Economic Development Council, Board of Directors for the City of Katy’s Convention & Tourism Bureau, and is also a Chartered Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Katy- Fulshear Alumni Chapter.
J.R. continues to stay active with his alma mater by serving as a member of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board and is an officer of LU's Black Alumni Network. J.R. is married to LU Alumna Dr. Kaye Williams '91, '93, and she is the principal of Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, TX.
Director John Rollins ’12 is a proud graduate of Lamar University with a B.S. in Corporate Communication. John works as the Associate Director of Community Relations and Public Affairs at Lamar University. He gives back to the Southeast Texas community through service to several different local organizations. John is currently serving as the VP of Public Relations for the Press Club of Southeast Texas, and he serves as the Chair of the Hospitality Committee for the Rotary Club of Beaumont. John serves on the Steering Committee for the United Way Local LINC, and is also a staunch supporter of the arts in Southeast Texas, serving on the Advisory Board for the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. He is a past Chairman of the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization (’18-’19), a graduate of Leadership Southeast Texas (’16) and Leadership Beaumont (’18), a past 40 Under 40 recipient (’17), a Paul Harris Fellow recipient (’18), and a recent graduate of the BISD Community Ambassadors Program (’22). Spending time with family and friends is John’s favorite thing to do, but he also loves photography, traveling and volunteering in his community.
Director Terry Savoy-Hadley '95 retired from education after 23 years of service from Port Arthur Independent School District. Since her retirement, she has worked as a tutor with Beaumont Independent School District. She earned her bachelors degree from Lamar University in Applied Arts and Sciences and earned her Master of Education Degree in Administration from Prairie View A&M University. Terry serves as President of Martin Luther King, Jr. Support Group, and serves on the Executive Board of the Lamar University Black Alumni Network. She is also a published children book author, and a member of Phi Delta Kappa Sorority. She was named a 2021 Port Arthur ISD Teacher of the Year. Terry and her husband, Kerry Hadley, are both proud natives of Port Arthur, Texas.
Director Danielle (Hudson) Sutton '08 is a proud graduate of Lamar University with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies. She holds a teaching certification for elementary education. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Danielle married and moved to her husband Lloyd's West Texas hometown in 2008 to put her teaching degree to work. In 2016, she found herself back where it all started, in Beaumont. Now, a partially homeschooling mother of three, she facilitates the Blessed Moms of SETX Facebook group and is the Co-Founder and Outreach Director of 409family.com where she is connecting with over 6,000 local women and their families as she actively strives to help families root, grow, and bloom here in the 409. As a community volunteer and, now, business woman, she has also received recognition as a graduate of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce’s Beaumont Champions Class of 2021, Leadership Beaumont Class of 2022, and BISD Community Ambassadors Program Class of 2023. She was also named a 40 Under 40 recipient in 2022 from the Southeast Texas Young Professionals’ Organization, and a 2022 Lamar University Division of Strategic Initiatives and Community Relations Inspirational Woman. “See a need. Meet a need.” is a mantra she lives by and hopes to impress upon her children as she and her family continue to serve the Southeast Texas community.
Director Caralee (McDonald) Thompson '95 is the Program Manager for Children’s Miracle Network at the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation. She graduated with a B.S. in Communication from Lamar University in 1995. While a student at Lamar University, she actively participated in the Professional Communications Association, serving as both past president and board member, as well as the Cap and Gown Women’s Honor Society. As a native Southeast Texan, Caralee is also pleased to serve on the Board of Directors of the Beaumont Chamber Foundation, and is a member of the Press Club of Southeast Texas where she served as both past President and board member. She is a graduate of Leadership Beaumont Class of 1999 and is also a sustaining member and past board member of the Junior League of Beaumont. Caralee is a proud LU alumna and attributes her success to her time spent at the university and her outstanding professors who both challenged and mentored her. Caralee and her husband David ’07 reside in Fannett, TX and they have two adult children, Ainsley and Jack.
Director Travis Walker '24 is a Beaumont native and the Director of Community Relations at the United Way of Beaumont & North Jefferson County where he helps cultivate relationships with partners and grow the range at which the United Way can help the community. Travis earned his B.S. in Public Relations & Mass Communication from Texas State University in 2019. He comes from a long line of Cardinals and was proud to join them when he earned his MBA from Lamar University in 2024. Travis is the former Director of Auxiliary Programs at All Saints Episcopal School where he focused on building programs for children and contributing to the financial stability of the school. He spends his free time working out at CrossFit Beaumont and producing engaging content through podcasts and being a guest lecturer. Travis and his wife, Amber, reside in Beaumont with their twins, Jeffery and Natasha.
Director Shawn Webb-Locke '03, '12 a real estate professional, investor, and entrepreneur, graduated from Lamar University with a B.S. in Sociology in 2003 and a M.Ed. in School Counseling in 2012. She is a former BISD educator, an active member of the Beaumont Chapter NAACP, SAFE girls mentor organization, Pioneering Women, and serves on the community service committee of the Beaumont Board of Realtors. Shawn is co-owner of Seven Mobile Marketing, the area's only Black owned advertising company and the CEO of the Shawn Sold It Real Estate Team. Her team partners with other local minority owned businesses to provide education and resources to families striving to become homeowners in the Golden Triangle, is ranked in the top 10% of her company, and received the Top Team recognition for the Beaumont office in 2022. Shawn an involved alumna of Lamar University for many years and takes pride in attending Lamar Homecoming annually with her family and friends.
Director Jacob Wills '22 is Vice President of Business Development at Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union in Houston, TX. Jacob has been in the financial industry for over ten years, serving in numerous leadership capacities, including AVP of Branches, VP of Administration, and VP of Virtual Services. Jacob is a Southeast Texas native from Nederland, TX. Jacob has been actively involved with the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and various professional development organizations for many years. He has served as the Vice Chair and Chair for Leadership Beaumont, a Young Professional Advisor for the Cornerstone Credit Union League, a Steering Committee member for the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Beaumont Chamber Foundation and the Beaumont Community Players. Jacob was recognized as “40 Professionals Under 40” by the Southeast Texas EventsBook in 2015 and was honored as the Young Professional of the Year by the Cornerstone Credit Union League in 2019. In 2020, Jacob achieved the designation of Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor through the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Jacob began his pursuit of higher education at Lamar University in 2004 and after an 11-year hiatus, returned and obtained his BS in University Studies in May of 2022. During his time at LU, Jacob was a member of the Cardinal Singers, the A Cappella Choir, and the Opera Workshop. During his last semester, Jacob was awarded the Lavender Service Award by the LU Office of Strategic Initiatives and Community Relations. Jacob is a member of Pride Chorus Houston and an avid lover of street art and murals.