About the BOD
DeeDee Peterson, President:
DeeDee born and raised a Texas Girl. She lives in the Medina, Bandera County, area, where she continues her career in banking. She is employed by Texas Partners Bank dba Texas Hill Country Bank as Commercial Relationship Manager. DeeDee loves to volunteer in the community as much as possible, and enjoys working with Christian Job Corps. When she is not working or volunteering, she is spending time with her Husband, Cody, and two children, Kytlin, and Davis. They are members of Ridin' the River Cowboy Fellowship. She loves to serve others and her family.
Roberta Belanger, Vice-President:
Roberta was born in Michigan and grew up in the Panama Canal Zone. She relocated to Kerrville, Texas where she attended Schreiner University and began her career in banking. She moved to Boerne in 2003 where she is employed by Frost Bank as a Trust Administrator.
Roberta has held leadership positions in several non-profit organizations including the Hill Country Youth Ranch, the Boerne Public Library Foundation and The Old Jail Museum. When not spending free time with her family, Roberta enjoys attending arts & culture events in the Texas Hill County especially live music performances. She enjoys nature where she finds beauty in all of God’s creations.
Lynn Heckler, Secretary:
Lynn was the Lord’s instrument to begin CWJC of Kendall County in 2004. After six months of praying for how to help women become free from bondage and introduce them to Jesus Christ, the Lord brought her in touch with CWJC, a Woman’s Missionary Union program. Lynn retired from the Air Force in 1999 and since then has devoted her life to local Christian ministries. She served on the Ladies Ministry Council at First Baptist Boerne; as FBC’s Care Boerne outreach leader partnering with other ministries, and as a member of the Boerne Chamber’s Small Business Council. Lynn has a M.S. in Nursing and a breadth of experience in leadership and administration. She is married to former Boerne City Mayor, Dan Heckler. They are members of First Baptist Boerne.
Doris Bissonnette, Treasurer:
Born in Austin, Texas, Doris grew up in Boerne. She graduated Texas A&M University with an Accounting Degree and then earned her CPA and began a career in Industry Accounting as a Controller, Internal Auditor and Fraud Auditor in Houston. When Doris married Curtis, she set her career aside for full-time motherhood. The Bissonnettes returned to Boerne in 2003 to raise their family. Doris volunteered in various organizations in support of her children’s education and extra-curricular activities for 14 years. She also invested her time in leadership roles for the youth and women’s ministries at 1910 church. She currently attends Fireworks Church. Now an empty nester, Doris is able to pursue her calling to write and encourage women to know their identity in Jesus and discover who He created them to be. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve women through Christian Job Corps ministries.
Emily Swope, Director:
Emily gave her time, talent, and financial resources to help start CWJC and develop it into “the program” for women in the greater Kendall County area. She became involved in community service since the day she arrived in Boerne in 1979. Besides CWJC, Emily has led various boards including the Chamber of Commerce, Noon Rotary Club, Republican Women’s Club, Boerne Area Community Center, and Montessori School, and still supports numerous other community organizations. She was the San Antonio Assn. of Realtors “2008 Realtor of the Year” and the Boerne Chamber’s “2008 Business Woman of the Year.” Emily is married to Perry Edmonson and they are members of Summit Christian Church, San Antonio. Serving God, the needs of her family, and this community are paramount in Emily’s quest to fulfill the purpose God has for her.
Richard Elkins, Director:
Richard is a former Kendall County Commissioner, Director on both Boerne ISD and Greater Area Boerne Chamber of Commerce Boards, and numerous for-profit and nonprofit businesses for many years. Currently her serves on the following Board:
· Christian Job Corps Kendall and Bandera Counties
· GVTC
· Hill Country Regional Public Defenders Office
· Master Trustee of Texas Association of School Boards
Richard brings more than 40 years of business, engineering and financial experience to the CJC Board. He earned a BSEEE from IBM/University of Alabama, a Chief Information Officer Certification for Executives from Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Carnegie Mellon University, and Leadership Development Program Certification from the Center for Creative Leadership.
He and wife Pat reside in Bergheim. They have four children and are members of St. Joseph-Honey Creek Church in Spring Branch. He feels very privileged to serve CJC and our Community.