Tom Etheredge is a long‐time resident of Smithville, Texas, serving the city council (Place 2) for the City of Smithville. Born and raised in Central Texas, Tom developed his professional foundation over more than 30 years in the real estate and banking industries. From 1992 to 2003 he held senior positions at Texas‐based Guaranty Bank. From 2003 to 2016, he held executive roles at Forestar Group, a publicly traded real estate and natural-resources company based in Austin, Texas. He currently serves as president of an Austin-based real estate development and construction company specializing in affordable housing, build-for-rent single‐family homes, and traditional multifamily communities. Tom holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics (summa cum laude) from St. Edward’s University in Austin, and a graduate banking designation from the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He is actively engaged in his community and has supported various charities over the years, including serving on the board of the American Red Cross where he was Chairman of the Finance Committee and later Chairman of the Board.

Betty Voights joined the Career Tracks board in July 2024 during her final year as executive director of the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), an agency that provided programs for a ten-county region including economic and community development focused on small business, tourism, and transportation. Prior to CAPCOG, Betty spent six years at the Texas Department of Commerce managing small business development, rural communities initiatives, business finance programs, and business development. She began her career with the City of Harlingen in 1982 where she worked with the Mayor’s downtown committee to create the first Public Improvement District for a downtown, oversaw the City’s designation as a Texas Main Street City, and created a small business loan program using the city’s CDBG program funds . She completed the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in 1989. In 1990 she accepted the position as Manager of the Small Business Division at Texas Department of Commerce (TDOC) during which time she participated on the Texas Rural Economic Development Commission. After TDOC was downsized to Tourism and Business Development programs, Betty served as Assistant Director then Director of the Business Development Division. During that time, she helped develop the Global Communities Program and oversaw the agency’s business recruitment and finance programs. In 1996, she was hired as the second executive director of CAPCOG and grew the agency from 21 employees to a staff of 74 and introduced the Transportation & Economic Development planning process funded by TxDOT to serve the region’s small counties. *TDOC was abolished in 1976 and its programs moved to the Governor’s Office.

Joanna Morgan grew up in Nederland, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Economics, and then attended graduate school at A&M, majoring in Computer Science through the School of Business Administration. Her whole career was in Houston, in Information Technology management in multiple industries: manufacturing, retail, oil & gas and in government with Harris County. She and her husband Mike bought weekend property outside of Smithville in 1989 and retired here in 2000. Since living in Smithville, she has served on various boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Library Board, the Administrative Council at the Methodist Church and 12 years on City Council, as Council Member and as Mayor. She currently serves as a member of the Smithville Whole Health Partnership and on the Board of the Smithville Community Clinic in addition to serving as Treasurer on the Board of the Smithville Workforce Training Center. She and her husband have a son, daughter-in-law and grandson in Austin.

Willy Culberson attended College at the University of Houston, Houston, TX, and received a degree: in Psychology. Willy is a Professional Pilot and a Certified Flight Instructor in Helicopter as well as a Commercial Multi-Engine Airplane Pilot. Mr. Culberson is also a Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 , Master Army Aviator with 27 years of service and a veteran of Vietnam War and Desert Storm. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1996. Mr. Culberson, retired from his 2nd career as Rescue Pilot/ Director of Aviation Operations with Travis County STAR Flight after 21 years. Willy is a member of the Helicopter Association International and the Critical Incident Stress Management Team for Helicopter Air Ambulance Industry. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Central Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross, and as a Mentor for Blackshear, Barbara Jordon and Overton Elementary School's for the "I CAN" PROJECT. Willy currently serves on The Smithville Food Pantry Board as a volunteer. He is also a Member of Bastrop County Cares and Board Member for the Smithville Chamber of Commerce, Smithville Community Clinic and Friends of Smithville Veterans Memorial Park. Mr. Culberson wanted to join and serve on SWTC Board of Directors to continue to give back and help improve the lives and job opportunities of the citizens of Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties. Willy is married to Dr. Carla Emery-Culberson, and they have 2 adult children, Tamara and Patrick and a grandson, Jalen.

Jill Strube, Ph.D. (2001, Florida International University), has worked with Smithville leaders and community members to help bring over $12M to this small, rural, central Texas town since 2009. She was integral in establishing Smithville as a “Preserve America” historic town through the National Park Service in 2009, as a Texas Cultural District through the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2013, and as the “extra small community” winner of the It’s Time Texas Community Health Challenge from 2018-2021. She has coordinated public participation, grant efforts, and reporting for sidewalk infrastructure, Arts programming, way-finding signage, economic development, comprehensive planning, and Census work. The Smithville Workforce Training Center brings her sights on enhancing community talents and capacity into sharper focus and promises to provide a much-needed link between a skilled workforce and local business needs in Smithville and the surrounding rural area.

Jenny Jensen serves as the Director of Operations & Clinical Services at Aspen Hospice & Palliative Care, where she leads with compassion, professionalism, and a deep dedication to patient-centered care. With extensive experience in nursing and healthcare leadership, Jenny ensures that every patient and family served by Aspen receives the highest level of comfort, dignity, and support. Throughout her career, Jenny has worked in a variety of hospice and home-health settings, gaining a strong foundation in clinical coordination, regulatory compliance, and staff development. Her leadership approach emphasizes teamwork, empathy, and continuous improvement — qualities that have helped Aspen build a reputation for excellence and trust within the community. Jenny’s focus is on guiding her team to deliver exceptional care experiences while maintaining operational efficiency and quality standards across all programs. She is passionate about supporting both her patients and her colleagues, creating an environment where compassion and professionalism go hand in hand. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, engaging with her community, and finding ways to support others through meaningful service. Her dedication to people — both in and beyond the workplace — reflects the heart of Aspen Hospice & Palliative Care’s mission.

Jami Haney serves as the Vice President of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, where she leverages her extensive background as a business owner and executive to support the growth and success of small businesses in Bastrop County With experience working at the C-level, Jami has built and scaled brands, increased customer acquisition, and driven profitability across diverse business sectors. She has a strong track record of creating efficient marketing systems, operational frameworks, and mentoring entrepreneurs through key growth phases. In her role at the Chamber, Jami is passionate about helping small businesses thrive through strategic insights, actionable data, and authentic community engagement. She serves as a key liaison for Chamber initiatives, including advocacy, business development, and networking programs. Away from her professional work, Jami is committed to the local business ecosystem and community building in and around Bastrop — using her experience to foster connections, drive collaboration, and elevate the region’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Born and raised in far west Texas. Robert has worked for state and local government for over 25 years, extensively in economic & workforce development. Regarding workforce, he has been a member of several boards and committees over the years, in particular to education and workforce development as an Business Advisory Member to the following: School of Business, Wiley University; Career and Technical Education, Marshall Independent School District, CTE Programs; Workforce Development-Continuing Education, Lone Star College; College of Business, University of Houston, Victoria Campus; and an Ex-Officio Board Member, Representing Workforce to the A C T Texas Board. He has built or assisted with the design of several workforce/educational pipelines with several ISDs, colleges, private training schools and universities. The goal of developing a much-needed training program that assisted industry and labor. One of which is the WE Align, which facilitates essential communication between educators and local employers, ensuring that taught skills (supply) align with industry needs (demand), in Marshall Texas. He, with a member of TXDOT, and a member of the Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, developed a 2nd chance program for heavy equipment operators. This program was design (with redundancies, and multiple partners), develop and put into practice at Dallas Colleges – Cedar Valley Campus. The program was rated as one the best programs in the nation by the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. The industry partner, The Associated General Contractors, confirmed the program as a best practice training program. Lastly, he has developed or further developed programs for the State of Texas economic development and workforce agencies, and with many other communities throughout the State of Texas. Robert has been married to his beautiful wife, Aura Swinning for nearly 25 years. They have both made their home in the Central Texas area for the last 30+ years.

Daniel Hrna is a dedicated pharmacist based in Smithville, Texas, bringing a strong commitment to patient care and community well-being. Currently practicing with Luker Pharmacy Management Inc., he serves the Smithville region with expertise in pharmacy services. Prior to his current role, Daniel gained experience working in a hospital-based setting at a regional medical center, where his responsibilities included ensuring medication safety and supporting clinical teams in delivering high-quality care. His professional journey reflects a deep understanding of both community and clinical pharmacy environments. Daniel holds a pharmacy degree and has maintained his licensure to remain current with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices in medication management. Outside his professional life, Daniel is an active member of the Smithville community—engaging with local health initiatives and contributing to efforts that enhance access to pharmacy care.

Assistant Superintendent, Smithville Independent School District

Jace Jones is the current Chief Administrative Officer for Ascension Seton Bastrop and Ascension Seton Smithville. Jace joined Ascension Seton in June of 2021. Jace began his career in healthcare as a Practice Administrator with Community Health Systems (DeTar Healthcare System) in Victoria, Texas in 2012. In that role, he developed a series of best practices to bring quality billing standards and measures, and instituted the strategic plan between administrators, providers and the Board of Directors. Soon afterwards, Jace transitioned to the executive development program within Community Health Systems. His first role was as the Assistant Administrator for Detar Healthcare system, a 300-bed hospital in Victoria, Tx. While in this program, Jace’s leadership was recognized, and he was promoted regularly over the next several years. These promotions were a result of being a high performer and achieving local and corporate strategic goals. He held positions as chief operating officer at Abilene Regional Medical Center, a 231-bed acute care hospital, and chief executive officer at Brownwood Regional Medical Center, a 188-bed acute care hospital. In his most recent role, Jace was Chief Executive Officer at Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Some of his professional accomplishments include developing a family medicine residency program with Texas A&M Health Science Center, emergency room expansion from 28 to 40 beds, cancer center design and development, construction and leadership of a joint and spine center of excellence, secured capital and designed a new intensive care unit, brought robotic assisted orthopedic surgery to two markets, and recruitment of numerous physicians to the communities. Jace graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and then went on to get his Master of Public Health at Texas A&M Health Science Center, and Doctor of Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Jace and his wife Julie have two daughters, Emorie and Kenzie. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his family, play golf and travel. He also loves watching the Texas Longhorns play any sport.

Ms. Sharlene Scheler was born in San Antonio Texas. She and her husband Nelson are the parents of two daughters Kimberly Ann Scheler and April Scheler Rheams. She has two grandchildren. Sharlene graduated from the University of Texas School of Nursing Health Science Center of San Antonio. After a long history of hospital nursing Sharlene and Nelson moved to Smithville Texas where she is a Methodist Healthcare Ministries Wesley Nurse and practices community health nursing. She serves on the Smithville Community Clinic Board, Lions Club Board, and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), Methodist Church Board. Sharlene is very active in the Smithville community.