ConnectRURAL

Senior Economic Development Loan Officer

Chris Ranniger

Chris Ranniger is a Senior Economic Development Loan Officer for Communities Unlimited (CU). On top of commercial loans, Chris also handles CU’s environmental lending. He meets with borrowers to develop relationships, helps them get all accurate documents, and ensures they are properly prepared for the loan process. He guides clients through the loan process and works with the loan committee to ensure that everything is ready for loan closing.

Chris has a retail management background and experience handling inventory and annual sales. Chris has a B.A. in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Chris works out of CU’s East Texas office.

Director of Community Sustainability

Russ Garner

Russ Garner started Communities Unlimited (CU) in January 2023 as a Community Facilitator on the Community Sustainability Team, promoted to Area Director for Field Operations and is now Director of Community Sustainability. He facilitates community members on projects and funding opportunities to help the communities. He coordinates with strategic partners to implement training and technical assistance to accomplish goals and outcomes for communities and partners with communities and businesses to find funding opportunities, tools, and resources to achieve needs in the community.

Russ has an M.P.P.A. from Mississippi State University and a research and rural development background. Russ received Professional Economic Developer certification from the Community Development Institute in October 2023. 

Area Director for Field Operations

Deanna O’Malley

Deanna O’Malley is the Area Director for Field Operations for Communities Unlimited (CU). She has a strong background in building relationships and working with communities. In her role, Deanna coordinates and facilitates with community members on projects and funding opportunities to help the communities. She coordinates with Communities Unlimited and other strategic partners to implement training and technical assistance to accomplish goals and outcomes for communities. She partners with communities and businesses to find funding opportunities, tools, and resources to achieve needs in the community.

Before coming to Communities Unlimited, Deanna worked for the Arkansas Department of Health, where she aided with community grants and provided guidance and technical assistance for the community. Deanna attended Kaplan University and Texarkana College. She resides in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Senior Community Facilitator

Kristy Bice

Kristy Bice, Senior Community Facilitator (T.L.L. Temple), joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in April 2023. She organizes communities for action through stakeholder engagement, resource mapping, and connecting local leaders with regional, state, and national opportunities across sectors like broadband, water, healthy foods, and small businesses. Kristy collaborates with CU staff to track progress, report outcomes, and celebrate successes while guiding communities toward prosperity. She also develops peer learning opportunities, provides one-on-one support to East Texas team members, and fosters strong networks to drive sustainable community growth.

Kristy started out at CU as a Community Resource Manager and was promoted to Senior Community Facilitator in 2025. She has a background in working for non-profits. Before coming to CU, Kristy worked as Senior Director of People Services at Goodwill. She has a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service. Kristy lives in Lufkin, Texas.

Area Director for Broadband

Catherine Krantz

Catherine Krantz started working at Communities Unlimited (CU) in November 2022. She is the Area Director for Broadband. Catherine manages the implementation of broadband strategy by developing and submitting grant proposals to ensure accessibility to infrastructure and funding for disadvantaged families in rural communities throughout CU’s footprint. Before coming to CU, Catherine worked as a Broadband Solutions Manager for Connected Nation. Catherine has a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a M.P.A Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.  

Management Consultant

Trent Thomason

Trent Thomason, MBA, joined the Communities Unlimited (CU) team in January 2023 as a Management Consultant. Trent helps small businesses identify potential issues and determine the best course of action. He builds relationships with clients, community leaders, and other community members to educate them on the tools CU offers. He helps businesses with funding and training opportunities.

He has more than a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, successfully launching Fit Camp Austin and the Enlightened Eating seminars, featured on NBC, Mind Body Green, and UT television. Trent is well traveled, versed in Mandarin, and able to provide clients of all backgrounds with robust, transformational consulting services, training, and technical assistance. Before starting CU, Trent worked as an Event Logistics and Tour Manager for Aardvark Mobile Tours, Lime Media. Trent has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas.

Community Resource Manager

Timeka Mayfield

Timeka Mayfield started Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Resource Manager (T.L.L. Temple) in April 2023. Timeka works with East Texas communities and helps bolster civic infrastructure across the area. She develops and maintains relationships with community members and businesses and assists them in finding resources and tools to achieve goals for their community.

Before coming to CU, Timeka worked in the medical field as a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional at ResCare Community Living and an Administrative Assistant for Common Spirit Health. She also has worked as a substitute teacher and a Foster Care Home Developer. She has a Bachelor of Science in Leisure Studies and Therapeutic Recreation from Grambling State University and a list of certifications, including Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional Training, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Training Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR), Satori Alternatives to Managing Aggression (SAMA) Training and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Regionalization Project Manager

Janelle Saucedo

Janelle Saucedo joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2022 and was promoted to Regionalization Project Manager in July 2025. In this role, she oversees and implements environmental projects that support regional sustainability and regulatory compliance. She provides on-site technical assistance to rural communities in Texas facing water and waste disposal challenges, offering support in project planning and utility management and administration. Her work helps ensure that small water and wastewater systems have the technical, managerial, and financial capacity to operate effectively.

Janelle began her tenure at CU as a Community Environmental Management Technician in East Texas and was promoted to Community Environmental Management Specialist in April 2025. Prior to joining CU, she worked as a Laboratory Technologist for QualTex Laboratories at BioBridge Global in San Antonio. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Riverside, and currently resides in Dallas, Texas.

Community Resource Manager

Yadira Hernandez

Yadira Hernandez started with Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Resource Manager in March 2024. Yadira works with Southeast Texas communities and helps bolster civic infrastructure across the area. She develops and maintains relationships with community members and businesses and assists them in finding resources and tools to achieve goals for their community. 

Before joining CU, Yadira was a Workforce Development Counselor and Grant Case Manager for Lamar State College – Port Arthur. She attends Lamar University working towards her Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science. Yadira lives in Port Arthur, TX. 

Community Housing Facilitator

Kamilah Tatum

Kamilah Tatum, Community Housing Facilitator, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in January 2025. She oversees client scheduling and the delivery of housing services, provides technical assistance and strategic planning, facilitates grant processes, and promotes housing products to rural communities. Kamilah focuses on serving the East Texas and Deep East Texas regions. 

Before joining CU, Kamilah worked as a Resident Caretaker for Heartis Longview Assisted Living in Longview, Texas, and spent several years in Human Resources with the United States Army Reserves. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from LeTourneau University.