The Environmental Learning
Center’s overall operations are guided by leaders
from our community representing industry, government, business,
environmental entities and education.
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Bruce
Drury
A Lamar faculty member since 1971, Dr. Drury earned his doctorate from the University of Florida and master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Nebraska. He is the author of 10 publications in books and refereed journals and has made 18 presentations at scholarly meetings. His research interests focus on Brazilian public policy. In 1986-87, he taught in Malaysia on assignment by the Texas International Education Consortium. His courses include Introduction to American Government, American Foreign Policy, The Politics of Developing Areas, Asian Politics, and Latin American Politics.
In the community, Dr. Drury serves on the city of Beaumont's Keep Beaumont Beautiful Commission. He is also a member of the Big Thicket Association Board of Directors. He has been a mentor in the "I Have A Dream" program, was a member of the Beaumont Red Cross board of trustees, and has he chaired the Beaumont Independent School District's Strategic Planning Committee for Facilities.
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Carolyn
Motl
Carolyn is a graduate of Lamar University, Beaumont with a BA in Business Administration/Personnel Administration and a minor in Economics. She also holds two certifications: Certified Community Developer (CCD), University of Central Arkansas, Conway and Certified Community Researcher (CCR), University of North Carolina, Charlotte. In addition, she holds a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation from Toastmasters International. She earned special recognition for 1995 Top Sales and received an Entergy Elite award.
As a community developer for the Texas Gulf Division of Entergy's Economic Development Department, Ms. Motl's responsibilities focus on working with community leaders to help their communities prepare for business retention and expansion.
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Anthony Duben
Dr. Duben graduated from Marquette University in 1966 with a B.S. summa cum laude in chemistry, minor mathematics. He received a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Pennsylvania State University in 1970. He has taught at Rutgers University, Illinois Institute of Technology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Washington University of St. Louis, and Southeast Missouri State University. He is presently the Dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics, and a Professor of Chemistry at Stephen F Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX.
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Chay Runnel
A native of Nacogdoches, Chay Runnels returned to East Texas to serve as the Texas Forest Trail Regional Coordinator. She received both her bachelor’s degree in American Studies and her Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Texas at Austin.
As Texas Forest Trail Regional Coordinator, Chay works with 35 counties in East Texas to promote heritage tourism and Travel. She was recently certified as a Hospitality Instructor through the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
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Jerry Rashall
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Jim
Thompson
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Lewis Hiltpold
He serves on the Beaumont Ducks Unlimited board, Golden Triangle Coastal Conservation Association board, Beaumont Community Credit Union board and has served on The Three Rivers Council of the BSA, and the Beaumont A&M club board.
Outside of work he is an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoys scuba diving, bird watching, and gardening. He attends St. Marks Episcopal church.
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Keith
Stephens kstephens@campbellgroup.com
I am currently the Land Use Forester for Campbell Timberland Management
LLC in Jasper, Texas. My responsibilities include land management and
protection on 415,000 acres in Central East Texas. I am also the current
President of Deep East Texas Archaeological Society based out of Newton,
Texas and have held that position for the last two years. I am a licensed
Real Estate Sale Person. I served in the U.S. Navy (Sea Bees) 1969/1971
and served one tour in Vietnam.
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Lee Wheeler wheeler@setxcommercialproperty.com
A native
of Southeast Texas, Lee Wheeler uses his experience and knowledge of
the Southeast Texas area to provide aggressive representation of his
clients. Investment real estate and economic development are areas of
primary interest to Lee.
After graduating high school in Lumberton Lee joined the United States
Marine Corps and spent 10 years serving our great nation. Towards the
end of his tenure Lee acquired his Maryland Real Estate license and
worked in residential real estate for 2 years before he moved back to
Southeast Texas. Lee interviewed all of the local brokers and found
Foxworth Real Estate Company to be in line with what he was looking
for in a Commercial Real Estate Firm. In June 2003 he completed his
educational and experience requirements for his CCIM designation.
Lee is very active in the Beaumont Board of Realtors as well as serving
on the Board of Directors at DuPont Goodrich Federal Credit Union as
Treasurer. He also serves on the Commercial Investment Division Board
of Governors' for the Texas Association of Realtors.
Personally, Lee has two children; a daughter, Kendall and a son, Jake.
Lee is a fanatic about his bass fishing.
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Jim
Westgate
Dr. Jim Westgate earned his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988. He holds a master's in Biology from Southwest Missouri State University, a master's in Geology from the University of Nebraska and earned his B.S. in Geology from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA.
Dr. Westgate currently serves as Assistant Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Lamar University.
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Karen
Bourdier
Ms. Bourdier joined Entergy-Texas in September, 1996 as the manager
of the Economic Development Research Center. As manager of the center,
she supports the staff and Entergy-served communities in providing research
services, marketing materials, and the database of buildings and sites.
Prior to joining Entergy's Texas Economic Development group, Karen worked for Entergy-Texas as project leader for development of new computer systems. She graduated from Northwestern Sate University in Natchitoches, La. with a BS in mathematics and from Lamar University with an MBA.
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Linda
Brindle director@bigthicket.org
Ms. Brindle has a B.S. degree in Parks & Recreation/ Resources Management
from Slippery Rock State University with a background in parks administration.
Her experience includes a variety of parks, including Big Bend National
Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Yosemite National Park and Carlsbad
Caverns National Park. Other assignments involve work as administrative
associate, Dept. of Nursing, Lamar University and as Executive Assistant,
University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory.
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Maxine
Johnston
Maxine Johnstion attended Lamar Junior College and graduated from Sam Houston State University and University of Texas (MLS). Her experience includes Reference Librarian for the Mary and John Gray Library at Lamar University. She also served Lamar University as Social Sciences Division Head, Associate Director, and Director, 1955-88.
Big Thicket Association, President 1973-75 and 1994-98; Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter, Executive Committee (three-year term); Lamar Foundation Board (two year term) Honors: Texas Librarian of the Year (TX Library Association), 1974; Marjory Stoneman Douglas Citizen Conservationist of the Year, 1996 (National Parks Conservation Association; 1998 Citation for Distinguished Service and 2003 Award of Merit (TX Historical Commission).
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Wendy
Ledbetter
Ms. Ledbetter is currently serving as the Big Thicket Project Director
for The Nature Conservancy. She received an A.A.S in Fish & Wildlife
Technology from SUNY Agricultural and Technical College at Cobleskill
and her B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. She
was previously served as a park ranger and biologist with the State
of Florida and biologist with Tall Timbers Research Station. She served
with The Nature Conservancy's National Fire Initiative Program and has
served on fire operations for 20 years.
She has served on the planning committees for the 1996, 1999 and 2003 Big Thicket Science Conferences. She is a co-author of several publications. Her interests include longleaf pine ecosystem restoration, rare plant conservation and native plants.
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