Senior Director

Thomas Ricks

Tommy Ricks, Senior Director of Environmental Services and Housing, based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, joined Communities Unlimited in 1997.

He has worked with community development and community environmental management services for more than 32 years. He directly supports and directs staff in seven southern states in assisting more than 500 communities each year. He has been licensed by Mississippi as a certified water operator since 1990. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, in 1993.

He served in the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard, obtaining the rank of Sergeant with 10 years of service before being honorably discharged in 1992.

Environmental Services Area Director - West

Harold Hunter

Harold Hunter, the Texas Environmental Services Area Director located in Richmond, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 1994.

He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 38 years. He assisted 11 community water and wastewater systems in Texas last year and leveraged more than $33 million in community infrastructure financing. He conducted three training workshops last year. He regularly participates in the Texas Water Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (TWICC) with state and federal agency partners. 

Harold received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology/History from Ouachita Baptist University in 1973 and a master’s degree in Public Administration at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

Environmental Services Area Director – Central

Karen Conrad

Karen Conrad, the Environmental Services Area Director, located in Miami, Oklahoma, began at Communities Unlimited in 2007 as an Operations Management Specialist. She was promoted to Oklahoma Coordinator in 2017 and Area Director – Central recently.

She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 37 years. She has been a Certified Water and Wastewater Operator in Oklahoma and Missouri since 1980. She assists 10 community water and wastewater systems in Oklahoma and leveraged more than $3.9 million last year. She assisted in six water and wastewater operator training sessions. Karen received a master’s of business administration degree from Pittsburg State University in 1999 and a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University in 1993. She also attended the Water and Wastewater Technical School in Neosho, Missouri, and graduated with high honors in 1980. 

Environmental Services Area Director – East

Alexander Brandon

Alexander Brandon, Area Director for Environmental Services in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, joined Communities Unlimited in 2010, and was the first to be promoted to an area director position. 

Alexander has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 15 years. He currently assists more than 12 community water and wastewater systems in Mississippi and has leveraged more than $1.1 million in community infrastructure financing last year alone. He conducted four training workshops last year.  He has been a Certified Water Operator licensed by the State of Mississippi since 2003.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Mississippi State in 2001.  

Special Projects Area Director

Griffin Todd

Griffin Todd, Special Projects Area Director for Environmental Services, joined Communities Unlimited in 2017 as a Source Water Coordinator before being promoted to his current position.

Griffin is a certified Water Operator licensed by the State of Arkansas and has worked in the Southern RCAP seven-state region for over 4 years, supporting technical assistance providers working with over 500 communities each year.

Griffin Todd graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in public health.

East Texas Regional Coordinator

Tom Fulton

Tom Fulton, East Texas Regional Coordinator, based in Longview, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 2006. 

He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 37 years. He currently assists nine community water and wastewater systems in Texas and has leveraged more than $7.6 million in community infrastructure financing last year alone. He conducted seven training workshops last year.

He has been a licensed water and wastewater operator in the state of Texas since 1983. He has had a Class A Water license for Texas since 1993 and a Class B Wastewater license since 2009.  

Louisiana State Coordinator

Chris Brunson

Chris Brunson, Louisiana State Coordinator of Environmental Services located in Dry Prong, joined Communities Unlimited in 2001 as an Operations Management Specialist before being promoted in 2019.

He has more than 37 years of experience in community environmental management systems. This past year. Chris works in community outreach, and strategic planning in low-income and underserved communities, while collaborating with community leaders. Chris worked with 22 projects and leveraged $9.4 million for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects last year in Louisiana. He also presented six environmental training workshops. He holds Louisiana Class IV licenses in all five areas of water and wastewater. 

Arkansas State Coordinator

Brad Jarrett

Brad Jarrett, the Arkansas State Coordinator, is located in West Memphis, Arkansas, and joined Communities Unlimited in 2010. 

Brad conducted four Environmental Training Workshops to communities in Mississippi and in Arkansas last year and is currently assisting 14 community water and wastewater systems in Arkansas.  He leveraged more than $15 million in combined loan and grant funds to communities for infrastructure improvements last year alone.

Brad has received the Army Achievement Medal for his leadership to operations of the 212th Signal Battalion and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 2016. He attended Vincennes University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army School of Petroleum and Water Supply. 

Tennessee State Coordinator

Annie Chiodo

Annie Chiodo, is the Tennessee State Coordinator. She is located in Waynesboro, Tennessee. She joined Communities Unlimited in 2014.

Annie has worked with Community Environmental Management Systems for 20 years. She currently supervises and assists staff in Tennessee to ensure the development of critical, external, and professional relationships.  She is currently mentoring two new employees for Communities Unlimited. Annie holds a Class III Tennessee Water Treatment License and a Class II Tennessee Water Distribution License.

Alabama State Coordinator

Dinah Foreman

Oklahoma State Coordinator

Gaylene Riley

Gaylene Riley, Oklahoma State Coordinator, based in Atoka, Oklahoma, joined Communities Unlimited in 2017.

Gaylene Supervises and supports the CU Environmental Program and staff in Oklahoma to ensure the development of critical external professional relationships / partnerships within the State of Oklahoma and to ensure that CU technical assistance and training grants and contract metrics are achieved within budgeted perimeters. Previously, she worked for 35 years as a Rural Development Specialist at USDA-Rural Development. This past year, Gaylene worked with 22 community projects and leveraged $12.6 million in funding for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects in Oklahoma. She presented five NAWMA workshops addressing Asset Management Planning and Fiscal Sustainability, taking the training to an online platform after the first session.

She holds an Oklahoma Class D Operator license for both water and wastewater operations and a Class C Water Lab license for Oklahoma.

South Texas Regional Coordinator

Raul Gonzalez

Raul Gonzalez Jr., South Texas Regional Coordinator, based in Brownsville, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 2003.

He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 26 years. He currently works with 10 community water and wastewater systems and leveraged more than $4.9 million in community infrastructure financing in the last year. He assisted with two workshops last year and participated in two funding meetings. He responded to many USDA and Congressional direct technical assistance referrals. He has leveraged $500,000 so far this year.

He has been a certified Water Operator licensed by Texas since 1996.

West Texas Regional Coordinator

Kurt Grant

Kurt Grant is the West Texas Regional Coordinator. He supervises and supports over CU Environmental Program staff in West Texas and supports the CU Environmental State Director. He joined Communities Unlimited in May 2020 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist based out of Amarillo, Texas, where he assists community water and wastewater systems in Texas.

Kurt previously worked with the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission as a Local Government Services Specialist, where he served as contract City Manager for Timbercreek Canyon and as part of the Texas Revenue Recovery Association. He also administered and managed Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for various Panhandle region projects and trained for Grant Administration through the Texas Department of Agriculture. Kurt is working with 12 communities and conducted three training workshops in the last year.

Kurt has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and an associate’s degree in Business Administration from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. 

Mississippi State Coordinator

Shannon McCranie

Shannon McCranie started as a Community Environmental Management Specialist and is now the Mississippi State Coordinator and is located in Southaven, Mississippi. Shannon joined Communities Unlimited in 2019. 

She has worked with community development for more than two years. She is working with eight community water and wastewater systems and is working to leverage funding in four communities. She previously worked as an Environmental Chemist for a power company, where she acquired knowledge of wastewater procedures, treatment systems and analyses.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2015. 

Regionalization Project Manager

Lupita Ortega

Lupita Ortega, Regionalization Project Manager located in Brownsville, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in 2018. She previously worked for the organization as a contract disaster assistance technician in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

She worked with 12 projects and leveraged more than $2.2 million for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects last year. She completed four training modules at the Utility Management Institute-North American Development Bank in San Antonio, Texas. The modules were Planning, Designing and Implementing a Successful Utility; Financial Administration; Financial Planning and Leadership in the Utility.  

Community Environmental Services Program Assistant

William Morrison

Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist

Oliver de la Garza

Oliver De La Garza, Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist in Texas, began at Communities Unlimited in September 2018 as Assistant Director of Community Sustainability, where he coordinated recovery efforts in four communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. Oliver provides onsite technical assistance and training to rural community environmental management systems. 

Last year, Oliver worked with seven projects and leveraged $11.9 million in funds for community water and wastewater infrastructure development projects in Texas. He presented two environmental training workshops. He is the go-to technical assistance provider (TAP) in Texas for resolving issues with SAMS ID for rural utilities. 

Oliver previously served as Ombudsperson in the Texas Secretary of State’s office and served as a Child Support Officer II in the Texas Attorney General’s office. Oliver has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. 

Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist

Julie Hudgins

Julie Hudgins, Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Westville, Oklahoma, joined Communities Unlimited in 2018.

She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 24 years. She currently assists 13 community water and wastewater systems in Oklahoma and leveraged nearly $20 million in community infrastructure financing in the last year. She has been a certified Water and Wastewater Operator licensed by Oklahoma since 2019.

She received a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration and Finance Management from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.  

Senior Environmental Management Consultant

Richard King

Richard King, a Senior Environmental Management Consultant based in Bastrop, Louisiana, joined Communities Unlimited in 2001.

He has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 20 years. He is currently assisting eight community water systems in Arkansas and Louisiana and has leveraged more than $2 million in the last year. He holds a Class IV Louisiana Professional Water Operators license in the fields of Water Production, Treatment and Distribution.

He received an honorable discharge form the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973 after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Tony Manriquez

Antonio (Tony) Manriquez, Environmental Services, joined Communities Unlimited in August of 2022. He has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management and a minor in Biology, from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He has previously worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Park Manager. He is based out of Marfa, Texas.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Tonya Kendrix

Environmental Services Administrative Assistant

Teresa Vite

Teresa Vite, Environmental Services Administrative Assistant, joined Communities Unlimited in March 2021. She works directly for the Director of Environmental Services and Program Coordinator. Teresa is responsible for reviewing, analyzing and reporting data.

Before coming to Communities Unlimited, Teresa worked for the Rogers School District as a Secretary. Teresa holds a Bachelor of English Arts from the University of Arkansas – Fulbright College of Arts and Science Program as well as an Associates of Science in General Studies from Northwest Arkansas Community College. 

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Tami McKeon

Tami McKeon started CU as a Community Environmental Management Specialist in November 2022. She provides on-site technical, managerial, financial development and GIS mapping capacity and training to small environmental management systems. Before coming to CU, Tami worked as a Deputy Director at Grand Gateway. 

She has a B.S. Degree from Oklahoma State University in Geography in Urban Planning. 

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Stacey Scarce

Stacey L. Scarce is a Community Environmental Management Specialist for Lafayette, LA. She assists Rural Community Water Systems with technical, managerial, and financial assessments to improve their infrastructure. Before coming to CU, she worked as an Executive Director for Our Neighbors Farm and Pantry in Safford, AZ.

Stacey has a BA in Elementary Education and a BS in General Studies from the University of Southwestern, LA. In Lafayette, LA.

Stacey came to CU in October of 2022.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Robert Kelley

Robert Kelley, a Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Greenfield, Tennessee, joined Communities Unlimited in October 2020. 

Robert provides technical, managerial and financial assistance to rural water and wastewater systems in Tennessee. His previous work experience included serving as a Senior Wellsite Geologist for an oil and gas firm, where he provided clients with a detailed geochemical rock analysis and hydrocarbon gas analysis. He is PEC and H2S certified and is also trained as an Emergency First Responder. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Tennessee at Martin.  

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Ramon Rosales

Ramon Rosales joined Communities Unlimited in January 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Advisor.

Ramon has several years of experience working with the Military Highway Water Supply Corporation in Progresso, Texas. He has a background in managing financial plans and developing strategies as well as a list of other skills and experience. 

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Lucas Guinn

Lucas Guinn is a Community Environmental Management Advisor for Communities Unlimited, Environmental Team. He has around 21 years of experience working with water and wastewater.

Training Project Manager

Lorraine Magee

Lorraine Magee, Training Project Manager, is based in Monticello, Mississippi, and joined Communities Unlimited in 2018.

She is responsible for planning, developing and delivering training for the Environmental team, for the seven-state regions. She has worked with community environmental management systems for more than eight years. She currently assists 16 community water and wastewater systems in Mississippi and has leveraged more than $1.2 million in community infrastructure financing last year.

Lorraine earned a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. She obtained her MSDH Class C Water Operator’s Certification in 2019. 

Community Environmental Management Technician

Kayley Westbrook

Kayley Westbrook is a Community Environmental Management Technician for Communities Unlimited in Temple, Texas. She provides onsite technical assistance to small communities and/or existing water/wastewater facilities. She prepares and submits written reports detailing CU’s work in the communities. Before coming to CU, Kayley worked as a Retail Manager.

Kayley started CU in October of 2022.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Jorge Negrete

Jorge Negrete is a Community Environmental Management Specialist for Communities Unlimited. He assists Rural Community Water Systems with technical, managerial, and financial assessments to improve their infrastructure. Before coming to CU, Jorge worked with city stakeholders and engineers to find solutions to water sewer improvement in Webb County Colonias.

Jorge has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Minnesota, Mpls.

Jorge started CU in October 2022.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Janelle Saucedo

Janelle Saucedo is a Community Environmental Management Technician in East Texas. She provides onsite technical assistance to rural communities with water and wastewater issues and assists them with project planning, financing, and utility management and administration. Before coming to CU, Janelle worked as a Laboratory Technologist for QualTex Laboratories at Biobridge Global in San Antonio.

Janelle received a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of California at Riverside. Janelle lives in Dallas, Texas.  

Community Environmental Management Technician

Irma Schultz

Irma Schultz, Community Environmental Management Technician located in Tyler, Texas, began with Communities Unlimited in February 2021.

She assists in providing basic onsite technical assistance services to 15-20 small communities and small water/wastewater systems serving rural areas.

Irma graduated from Columbia Southern University with a bachelor of science degree in Occupational Safety and Health Administration in December 2018.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Cherub Alford

Cherub Alford is a Community Environmental Specialist for CU. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Louisiana, Monroe.

Cherub has a strong background in grant writing and project planning. She lives in Crossett, Arkansas, and volunteers for the Crossett Rodeo, where she has served as the Miss Crossett PRCA Pageant Coordinator since 2017. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Crossett Public School Education Alliance.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Chad Brown

Chad Brown, a Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Tyler, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited in February 2021. 

He provides technical, managerial and financial assistance to rural water and wastewater systems. He spent four years working with the City of Raleigh (NC) Public Utilities.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with the 2-13th Aviation Regiment in Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 173rd Airborne Brigade and in the 2nd Infantry Division as part of the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area in South Korea. He was honorably discharged in 2013. 

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Caroline Ingram

Caroline Ingram started Communities Unlimited in October 2021, as a Community Environmental Management Specialist.

She has a strong background in planning and Development and Wastewater treatment. Caroline graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2020 with a Master of Science, Geography.  

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Bria Hines

Bria Hines started Communities Unlimited in November 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. Bria lives in Alabama, where she works with CU’s communities and assists them with project management, financial, operational and project budgeting needs. Before coming to CU, Bria was a Senior Team Lead and Disability Support Specialist for Fisk University Academic Excellence and Student Performance (AESP).

Bria has a Master of Education from the University of Montevallo, Al.

Source Water Project Manager

Brett Capps

Brett Capps, Community Environmental Management Specialist, joined Communities Unlimited in January of 2022. 

He assists rural communities and organizations with water and waste water system compliance. He has strong technical skills.

Brett graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in May of 2021.   

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Bradley Pittman

Bradley Pittman, Community Environmental Management Advisor came to Communities Unlimited in November of 2021. Bradley graduated from Louisiana State University with a BS in Construction Engineering Technology.

He brings to CU several years of experience in problem-solving and planning. He also has experience working with water and sewer issues.  

Community Environmental Management Technician

Andrew Brooks

Andrew Brooks is a CU Community Environmental Management Technician. Andrew is a retired Air Force Veteran from San Angelo, Texas, where he lives with his three sons. Andrew spent six years in the Air Force as a Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician, focusing on Drinking Water, Wastewater, Hazardous Waste, and Air Quality. Andrew has an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Criminal Justice, has completed coursework in Technical Theatre through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is currently working on his Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Environmental Management and Technology.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Alex Goodyear

Alex Goodyear joined Communities Unlimited in October 2022 as an Environmental Specialist. Alex works with CU’s communities and water/wastewater facilities by providing technical assistance in Louisiana. Alex researches issues and develops solutions to make informed decisions to resolve local problems and alleviate local needs. Before coming to CU, Alex worked as a Loan Technician for the United States Department of Agriculture.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Christina Hope Hernandez

Christina Hope Hernandez joined Communities Unlimited in April of 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Technician.  Christina is based in El Paso, TX.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Allen Spradling

Allen Spradling came to CU in May 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Advisor for the Environmental Team.

Allen works with our communities to assist them with their water and wastewater needs. Before starting CU, Allen worked as a Water/Wastewater Operator for the town of Grubbs, Arkansas. Allen served in the US Air Force from 1988-1991 and attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Allen lives in Grubbs, Arkansas and works in the northeast portion of the state. 

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Deborah Brown

Deborah R. Brown joined Communities Unlimited in June 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. She provides technical assistance for water and wastewater management and assists municipalities with gaining access to capital.

Before starting at CU, Deborah worked as an Education Program Coordinator for Go Forward Pine Bluff. Deborah has a Master of Legal Studies from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources from The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Deborah lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Morgan Jones

Morgan Jones joined CU as a Community Environmental Management Technician in June 2023. She provides technical assistance for water and wastewater management and assists municipalities with gaining access to capital.

Before coming to CU, Morgan worked for the City of Jackson Police Department, where she was responsible for analyzing and submitting results for illegal substances. Morgan has a Master’s in Pharmacy from the University of Florida and a Bachelor’s in Biology from Jackson State University. Morgan will be working in the Jackson, Mississippi, area.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Cami Cullom

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Jessica Hester

Community Environmental Management Technician

Joshua Liggins