Embedded Files
Panelist Contact Information
Panelist Contact Information
Debbie Wieland
Education Foundation Director
Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
dwieland@texaslodging.com
Debbie is here to answer all your questions regarding partnering with colleges and high school Hospitality programs. Debbie can help facilitate partnerships with colleges and high schools that can lead to an increased pool of knowledgeable and prepared potential employee candidates for Texas hotels.
Compliments of https://texaslodging.com/our-team/
Eric Vicharelli
Education/Membership Manager
Texas Association of School Nutrition
eric@tasn.net
Will Francis
Executive Director
National Association of Social Workers Texas and Louisiana Chapters
wfrancis.naswtx@socialworkers.org
Will Francis, LMSW is the Executive Director for the National Association of Social Workers, Texas Chapter. He previously served as the Government Relations Director for the chapter, and has a background in early childhood, child welfare and education.
Will received a master’s in social work at the University of Texas, Austin in 2010 and a bachelor’s degree in English from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia in 1997. Will lived in Hong Kong and Singapore at an early age, and residing abroad helped him develop a love of travel and an appreciation for cultural diversity. He has a passion for promoting the profession of school work and believes strongly in supporting social justice through public awareness. He is married to a social worker who works as a therapist, and they have two young daughters and a son.
Will was selected as the 2018 NASW Gilman Wells Award Recipient for his successful track record representing Texas social workers and their clients at the Texas State Capital.
Compliments of https://www.naswtx.org/page/Francis
Dawn Abbott
Personal Finance Assistant Program Director
Texas Tech University
Abbott is from Whitehouse, TX and attended Texas Tech University as an undergraduate transfer student before working for the university.
“I love getting to know my students and teaching them about personal finance topics. My favorite thing to hear from students is, “Wow, I wish I had taken this class sooner!” because they learn so much valuable information.”
In her free time, Abbott enjoys traveling with her family! Their next big adventure is a trip to Egypt to see the pyramids and the Dead Sea.
Dawn Abbott offers some great advice to any students considering attending TTU Online: “DO IT! The flexibility of completing your education with a competitive university like Texas Tech is worth it. Students can access a variety of courses that might not be available locally, expanding their education and job opportunities.”
Compliments of Linkedin and Facebook
Andie Lee Gonzalez
Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Dr. Andie Lee Gonzalez is a native to South Texas. As a first-generation Latina college student, she was accepted to Michigan State University through the College Assistant Migrant Program where she received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. She then completed her Dietetic internship rotation program and her Master’s in Public Health from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. In 2018, completed her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University and in 2019 completed a certificate in Business Analytics from Michigan State University. Through her experiences Andie has developed a strong purpose and passion for public health, community, and nutrition. She is a leader and student at heart. In addition, she is a proud co-owner and Registered Dietitian at a local, woman owned private practice, Complete Nutrition Solutions and teaches at South Texas College department of Medical and Health Services Management.
Compliments of https://business.rgvhcc.org/
Heather Pickett
Foundation Director
Texas Restaurant Association
hpickett@txrestaurant.org
Heather Hughey Pickett volunteered her way into event planning and production. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Speech Communications and Spanish, she enjoyed a career in marketing and public relations in Austin and Houston before moving back to her hometown of Tyler in early 2001.
While working as the Director of Development for Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, Heather became very involved with the Junior League of Tyler, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association organizations. Volunteering went hand-in-hand with event planning as all fundraising events require creativity, logistical expertise and attention to detail. Heather’s event planning and fundraising volunteer positions led her to the East Texas State Fair where she assumed the role of Director of Presentation & Development. While with ETSF, Heather was responsible for creating the sponsorship program, recruiting entertainment and booking headline concerts that resulted in attendance growth and a renewed community affection for the ten-day event.
Heather served as chairwoman of the Junior League of Tyler’s Mistletoe & Magic shopping market, co-chaired the 25th anniversary Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala for the American Cancer Society and held multiple leadership positions on the Trinity Mother Frances Women’s Board and with Texas Rose Festival before moving her family to Dallas.
Heather joined 3015 at Trinity Groves in 2015 after working as the assistant director of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association. In 2018 Heather became a partner in the event and catering business and was named Vice President of Operations in 2019. She served on the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association board of directors as the Events Co-Chair, Medical City Dallas Kids Fit Advisory Committee and on the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation board of trustees as the Fundraising Co-Chair for several years before returning to the Texas Restaurant Association as the Director of the Texas Restaurant Foundation in 2022. In her current role, Heather leads the non-profit and workforce development arm of the industry association.
Compliments of The Texas Restaurant Association
Cody Sommerville
Chief Executive Officer
Texas Association for the Education of Young Children
cody@texasaeyc.org
Cody Summerville is the Executive Director of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC), a professional membership association that works to advance early childhood education and the early childhood workforce across Texas. He began his career as a kindergarten teacher and has served in a variety of roles within the early childhood programs, state government, and educational technology, each providing a unique opportunity to support the quality of early childhood education. During his time at the Texas Education Agency, Cody led the implementation of the Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five, which increased coordination and collaboration across multiple state agencies with early childhood programming and engaged over 10,000 Texans in statewide strategic planning efforts. Most recently, Cody served as the Senior Content Expert at Hatch Early Learning where he was responsible for designing child facing technology that supported data-driven instruction in prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. In addition to professional roles, Cody has served in several leadership roles such as Chair of NAEYC’s Young Professionals Advisory Council and Board Member for TXAEYC.
Compliments of https://texasaflcio.org/
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse