President - Connie Williams

Connie Williams is a project manager for the Health and Human Services Commission where she has taken the lead in implementing and managing adoptive couples marriage education programs for the well-being of adoptive children. She also directs a $4.5 million demonstration grant program for her agency. Connie has worked in state government for 25 years, including a variety of positions with the former Department of Human Services and the state Comptroller. She is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Texas. She is a native of Austin and holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas.

Connie has served EWTG in a number of different capacities. In 2006 alone, her many roles included President Elect, Mentoring Committee Chair, Strategic Committee Chair, Search Committee, Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, Conference Program Committee Co-Chair, Membership Committee, Executive Success Team Facilitator and member. She also served as a conference presenter and moderator at this year’s conference.
 

President-Elect - Susan Durso

Susan Durso is the general counsel for the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC). Prior to joining the newly formed commission in 2003, Susan was the general counsel for the Public Utility Commission of Texas for more than six years. She has also served the State of Texas by acting as legal staff for Speaker of the House James E. "Pete” Laney, Commissioner Jo Betsy Norton of the Texas Workforce Commission and Representative Steve Wolens. Susan is a fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation and a member of the Leadership Texas Class of 2006. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree and masters degree in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Susan is an active member of Executive Women in Texas Government and served on its board in 2003 and 2004. She lives in Sunset Valley, where she chairs the Board of Adjustments.

Vice-President - Carol Jackson

Carol Jackson retired from the United States Army in 1999 after 21 years of active duty service and earned a Legion of Merit for her dedicated service. After retiring from the military, Carol has continued her public service as a state employee and currently works at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts as a Program Administrator. In 2000 Carol joined EWTG and in 2006 she served as the co-chair of the Program Committee for the 20 Mentoring Committees. Carol also mentors another EWTG member, actively participates on an Executive Success Team and has served on the Community Service Committee in past years also.

Financial Officer – Clare Dyer

Clare is a Program Manager for the Texas Legislative Council’s Special Projects and Redistricting Section. She was 2006 EWTG Secretary-Treasurer, and served on the 2006 Finance Committee, Executive Director Search Committee, Development Committee, and Community Service Committee, and previously served in 2005 on the Silent Auction and Program Committees, the 2004 and 2005 Educational Events Committee, and chaired the 2002 Community Services Committee. She is also a member of an Executive Success Team and a graduate of the 2006 Class of Leadership Texas.

Secretary-Treasurer - Ardra Alexander

Ardra is the Manager of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program for the Texas Workforce Commission. She holds an MBA in Accounting and a BA in Business. Ardra has held the Treasurer position at several non-profit organizations. Currently, she is teaching QuickBooks Pro at ACC part-time. She served as the 2006 Conference Exhibit Committee Co-Chair and worked with the 2005 Conference Exhibit Committee.

Affiliates Director - Mary Castleberry

Mary retired from the Texas Department of State Health Services in June 2005 after a 27-year career of state service where she served as the Training Director, Training Specialist and Program Specialist with the Community Preparedness Division. She currently is employed by the Health and Human Services Commission as Staff Services Officer/Chief of Staff for the Deputy Executive Commissioner. Mary holds a degree from Bishop College in Education and received Special Education certification from Texas Woman’s University. She is past president of the Austin Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development, and past director for Women’s Ministry at the St. James Baptist church, where she currently serves as an adult and youth Sunday school teacher. Mary serves currently as Standards Chair for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and recording secretary for the Links, Inc. Mary is EWTG’s current Vice-President and Conference Chair and she served on the Member Services Committee. She is married and has one adult child.

Communications Director – Marci Spivey

Marci is a Division Information Analyst with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Her educational and professional background focused on research, analysis, advocacy and writing – in both scientific and sociological fields. Marci worked at the Department of State Health Services (and Texas Department of Health) and U.T.- Austin for six years; and she worked in the Expenditure Assistance and Audit section of the Claims division for two years before joining Special Projects and Operations. Prior to state service, she worked in business and non-profit organizations. She is a native Austinite and mother of one son, who attends the University of North Texas.

After attending several minicourses and getting to know EWTG members, she became a member in May 2004 and joined an Executive Success Team that has met (and evolved!) since that time. Marci continues to enjoy and learn from the monthly minicourses, luncheons, other member events, and her relationships with EWTG members.

Program Director - Joelyn Weeks

Joelyn has worked in both in state government and the private sector, and is now employed with DIR as the HR Lead for the Data Center Consolidation Project. Joelyn has been an active EWTG member for numerous years. Her previous board service includes Program Director in 1995, the first year of EWTG’s popular minicourses program, President-Elect in 1998, implementing the Executive Success Team program and EWTG President in 1999. She was also honored as the 2005 EWTG Woman of the Year.

Public Relations Director - Wanda Thompson