Environmental Services Director

Karen Conrad

Karen Conrad is the Environmental Services Director. Prior to becoming the Environmental Services Director Karen was the Central Regional Area Director for Environmental Services in Miami, Oklahoma and began at Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2007 as an Operations Management Specialist. She was promoted to Oklahoma Coordinator in 2017. 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.

Karen received a Master 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.  

West Regional Area Director

Harold Hunter

Harold Hunter, West Regional Area Director for Texas Environmental Services in Richmond, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) 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 and leveraged more than $33 million in community infrastructure for Texas community water and wastewater systems. 

 He conducted three training workshops in Political Science with a minor in Sociology/History from Ouachita Baptist University in 1973 and a master’s in public administration at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

East Regional Area Director

Alexander Brandon

Alexander Brandon, East Regional Area Director for Environmental Services for Communities Unlimited (CU). Alexander joined Communities Unlimited in 2010 and manages the business operations for Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Alexander has worked with community environmental management systems for more than 15 years. He has been a Certified Water Operator licensed by the State of Mississippi since 2003. He has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Mississippi State in 2001. Alexander lives in Brandon, Mississippi.

Central Regional Area Director

Brad Jarrett

Brad Jarrett, Central Regional Area Director joined CU in 2010.  Before becoming an Area Director Brad was a Community Environmental Management Specialist and the State Coordinator for Arkansas Environmental Services. Brad oversees our Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana Environmental Services Team in providing technical assistance and training to small communities and water/wastewater facilities.

Prior to starting at Communities Unlimited Brad served on the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He received the Army Achievement Medal for his leadership of 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.

Louisiana State Coordinator

Chris Brunson

Chris Brunson, State Coordinator – Louisiana Environmental Services located in Dry Prong, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) 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. 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.

Tennessee State Coordinator

Annie Chiodo

Annie Chiodo is the State Coordinator for Tennessee Environmental Services. She lives in Waynesboro, Tennessee. She joined Communities Unlimited (CU) 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 (inflow & infiltration) (inflow & infiltration) Tennessee Water Distribution License.

Alabama State Coordinator

Dinah Foreman

Dinah Foreman, the State Coordinator for Alabama-Environmental Services, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2015. Dinah has worked with Community Environmental Management Systems for over 26 years. She currently assists over 5 community water and wastewater systems in Alabama. Ms. Foreman conducted over 4 training workshops last year. She has been a Certified Water and Wastewater Operator licensed by the State of Alabama since 2013 and received her Wastewater certification in Louisiana in 1999. Dinah has been a certified environmental trainer since 2003. Dinah supervises and assists a staff of three in Alabama to ensure the development of critical, external, and professional relationships.

Oklahoma State Coordinator

Gaylene Riley

Gaylene Riley, State Coordinator for Oklahoma Environmental Services, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2017 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. Gaylene Supervises and supports the CU Environmental Program and staff in Oklahoma to ensure the development of critical, external, and professional relationships/partnerships within the State of Oklahoma are maintained.

Previously, she worked for 35 years as a Rural Development Specialist at USDA-Rural Development. She holds an Oklahoma Class D Operator license for water and wastewater operations and a Class C Water Lab license for Oklahoma.

Gaylene lives in Atoka, Oklahoma.

Arkansas State Coordinator

Tonya Kendrix

Tonya Kendrix started Communities Unlimited (CU) in January 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. She is now the Arkansas State Coordinator for Environmental Services. Tonya supervises and supports the Environmental Program staff in Arkansas. She also provides onsite technical assistance and training to rural community management systems with water and wastewater disposal problems and needs.

Before coming to CU, Tonya worked as a Home Health Nurse for Bradley County Medical Center. She also served as the Alderwoman for the City of Hermitage from 2014-2018. Tonya has a master’s in science of nursing from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Tonya lives in Hermitage, Arkansas. 

East Texas Regional Coordinator

Tom Fulton

Tom Fulton, State Coordinator East Texas Environmental Services, based in Longview, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2006. Tom supervises and supports a team that provides on-site technical assistance to existing water/wastewater disposal facilities in small rural communities that are experiencing operational, managerial, and/or regulatory compliance challenges with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act for wastewater permitting.

He has worked with community environmental management systems for many years. He has been a licensed water and wastewater operator in Texas since 1983. He has had a Class A Water license for Texas since 1993 and a Class B Wastewater license since 2009.

South Texas Regional Coordinator

Raul Gonzalez

Raul Gonzalez Jr. started Communities Unlimited (CU) as an Operations Management Specialist in 2003. In 2017 he was promoted to the State Coordinator South Texas for Environmental Services. Raul works with community water and wastewater systems in South Texas. He assists them in areas of financial and managerial capacity to maintain or obtain compliance. He establishes relationships with federal, state, and local officials, and project community leaders. Raul trains and mentors new Communities Unlimited Environmental field staff members.

He has been a certified Water Operator licensed by Texas since 1996. He attended Texas Southmost College, Brownsville, TX for Geological Mapping, Surveying, Architectural and Texas State Technical Institute, Brownsville, TX for the Auto CAD Program.

West Texas Regional Coordinator

Kurt Grant

Kurt Grant is the State Coordinator for West Texas Environmental Services. He supervises and supports Communities Unlimited (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. Kurt is 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 degree in business administration from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas.

Mississippi State Coordinator

Shannon McCranie

Shannon McCranie, Mississippi State Coordinator for Environmental Services, is in Southaven, Mississippi, and joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2019 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. Shannon is responsible for leading her 3-member team across the state of Mississippi in providing community environmental technical assistance and training to small communities and/or existing water/wastewater systems.

She has worked in community development for more than two years. She previously worked as an Environmental Chemist for a power company, where she acquired knowledge of wastewater procedures, treatment systems, and analyses. In 2023,

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

Regionalization Project Manager

Lupita Ortega

Lupita Ortega, Project Manager – Regionalization Environmental, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2018. Lupita ensures projects are met on time and provides technical assistance to small communities and/or existing small water/wastewater facilities in South Texas in areas of financial and managerial capacity to maintain compliance and sustainability.

Lupita also worked as a contract disaster assistance technician after Hurricane Harvey in Texas. 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 and Financial Administration.

Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist

Oliver de la Garza

Oliver De La Garza, Senior Environmental Management Consultant in Texas, began Communities Unlimited (CU) in September 2018 as Assistant Director of Community Sustainability, where he coordinated recovery efforts in four communities affected by Hurricane Harvey.

In March 2020, Oliver became a Senior Environmental Management Consultant. Oliver provides onsite technical assistance and training to rural community environmental management systems with water and wastewater problems. He assists systems with planning, financing, utility, and administration needs.

Oliver previously served in the Texas Secretary of State’s office as a Child Support Officer II in the Texas Secretary of State’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 Environmental Management Consultant based in Westville, Oklahoma, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2018, as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. Julie manages projects, handles deliverables, and provides water and wastewater support to communities. She assists operators, board members and other staff through technical assistance and training.

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 $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 is a Senior Environmental Management Consultant based in Bastrop, Louisiana. He joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2001 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. 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 eight community water systems in Arkansas and Louisiana and leveraged over $2 million last year. He holds a Class IV Louisiana Professional Water Operator license in Water Production, Treatment, and Distribution. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973 after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Quality Assurance Manager

Teresa Vite

Teresa Vite, Quality Assurance Manager, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in March 2021. She works directly for the Special Projects Area Director. Teresa is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and reporting data.  

Before coming to CU, Teresa worked as a Secretary for the Rogers School District. 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 as a Secretary for the Rogers School District Arkansas Community College. 

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Stacey Scarce

Stacey L. Scarce joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist in Lafayette, LA. She assists Rural Community Water Systems with technical, managerial, and financial assessments to improve their infrastructure. She is responsible for ensuring proper project implementation, reporting, administration, and planning of environmental projects.

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.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Robert Kelley

Robert Kelley joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2020 as an Environmental Service Manager. He later became a Community Environmental Management Specialist. Robert provides technical assistance for water and wastewater management and assists municipalities with gaining access to capital. He assists them in all areas of technical and financial compliance.

His previous work experience included serving as a Senior Wellsite Geologist for an oil and gas firm, where he provided clients with detailed geochemical rock and hydrocarbon gas analyses. He is PEC and H2S certified, and Tennessee’s rural water and wastewater systems trained as an Emergency First Responder. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Robert is based in Greenfield, Tennessee.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Lucas Guinn

Lucas Guinn is a Community Environmental Management Advisor for Communities Unlimited (CU) Environmental Team. He assists communities with their water and wastewater needs. He also provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity building assistance and training to small community environmental management systems.

Lucas joined CU in April 2022. He has around 21 years of experience working with water and wastewater. Before coming to CU, Lucas worked for Oklahoma Rural Water Association as a Water Circuit Rider. Lucas lives in Westville, OK.

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. 

Central Texas State Coordinator

Kayley Westbrook

Kayley Westbrook started Communities Unlimited (CU) in October of 2022, as a Community Environmental Management Technician for Communities Unlimited in Temple, Texas. In December 2023, Kayley was promoted to State Coordinator Central Texas- Environmental Services. In her role as the State Coordinator, Kayley coordinates with Central Texas employes to achieve goals set by the Area Director. She establishes relationships with systems that need assistance and works with her staff members to obtain the best solutions to meet the goals in her communities.

She makes sure that systems are meeting federal and state environmental regulations.

Before coming to CU, Kayley worked as a Retail Manager.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Jorge Negrete

Jorge Negrete is a Community Environmental Management Specialist for Communities Unlimited (CU). He assists Rural Community Water Systems with technical, managerial, and financial assessments to improve their infrastructure. He conducts data synthesis, research, and data collection for water and wastewater projects.

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 from the University of Minnesota. Jorge started CU in October 2022.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Janelle Saucedo

Janelle Saucedo joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2022. She 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. She makes sure that systems are meeting federal and state environmental regulations.

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 in Tyler, Texas, began with Communities Unlimited (CU) in February 2021. She assists in providing essential onsite technical assistant 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 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration in December 2018.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Cherub Alford

Cherub Alford is a Community Environmental Management Specialist for Communities Unlimited (CU). In her role, Cherub provides on-site technical assistance services to 15-20 small communities and/or existing small water/wastewater facilities serving rural areas, to address public water supply and wastewater disposal problems in the state. Cherub prepares research and provides reports detailing the technical assistance to each project community.

Cherub graduated from the University of Louisiana –Monroe in 2001 with a Major in Journalism. She has a background in communication, project planning, and funding. She has a passion for community development and growing rural communities.

Cherub lives in Crossett, Arkansas.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Chad Brown

Chad Brown, a Community Environmental Management Specialist based in Tyler, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) 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 for four years for four years 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.

Infrastructure Development Project Manager

Caroline Ingram

Caroline Ingram started Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2021 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist. In June 2023, she was promoted to Infrastructure Development Project Manager Region-4. In her position, Caroline manages projects seeking state revolving funds from pre-development to post-construction to ensure schedules are maintained and deliverables are produced.

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

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Bria Hines

Bria Hines started Communities Unlimited (CU) 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

Before coming to Communities Unlimited (CU) in January of 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Specialist, Brett worked as a Wellsite Geologist for Impac Exploration Specialties. Brett now oversees CU’s Personal Well Program as a Source Water Program Manager. Find out more about our Personal Well Program

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

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Bradley Pittman

Bradley Pittman, Community Environmental Management Advisor, came to Communities Unlimited (CU) in November of 2021. He assists communities with their water and wastewater needs and provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity building assistance and training to small community environmental management systems.

Bradley graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Technology. Bradley lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Andrew Brooks

Andrew started Communities Unlimited (CU) in July 2022 as a Community Environmental Management Technician. He provides onsite technical assistance to rural communities with water and wastewater issues and assists them with project planning, financing, and utility management and administration. He makes sure that systems are meeting federal and state environmental regulations. 

He 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. He 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 (CU) in October 2022 as an Infrastructure Development Project Manager Region-6. Alex assists in community environmental system project assignments and infrastructure development. He is responsible for assisting in community environmental system project assignments and infrastructure development milestone phases. Alex assists in the predevelopment and application processing for grants that benefit communities in EPA Region 6.

Before coming to CU, Alex worked as a Loan Technician for the United States Department of Agriculture. Alex lives in Breaux, Louisiana.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Nyla McCranie

Nyla McCranie joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2023. She is a Community Environmental Management Technician and is located in Alabama. Before coming to CU, Nyla worked as a Life Cycle Analyst for Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. Nyla has a B.A. in Chemistry with a minor in Sustainability.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Christina Hope Hernandez

Christina Hope Hernandez started Communities Unlimited (CU) in April 2023 as a Community Environmental Management Technician. She provides onsite technical assistance services to small communities and/or existing small water/wastewater facilities serving rural areas.

She prepares and submit written project reports, accurately detailing technical assistance activities provided to each project community, and research, develop, and submit to local community or utility decision-makers written reports, recommendations, feasibility studies, rate analyses etc.

Before coming to CU, Christina was a Case Manager for AYUDA, performing assessments on new clients. She attended El Paso Community College and studied Criminal Justice.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Allen Spradling

Allen Spradling came to Communities Unlimited (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. He provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity building assistance and training to small community environmental management systems. 

Before starting Communities Unlimited, 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 (CU) 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 Communities Unlimited (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. She assists communities with project planning, financing, and utility management and administration. Morgan also ensures that systems are meeting federal and state environmental regulations.

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

Lora “Cami” Cullom joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Environmental Management Technician in July 2023. 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. She makes sure that systems are meeting federal and state environmental regulations.

She has a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and Community & Regional Environmental Planning from American Public University. She has a strong background in Forestry Planning and residential irrigation. Cami carries an Irrigator License from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Cami works out of the South Texas Region.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Jessica Hester

Jessica Hester joins Communities Unlimited (CU) Environmental Services Team as a Community Environmental Management Advisor based in Trinity, Texas. She conducts research, prepares reports, and provides advice for meeting regulatory requirements and standards. Jessica conducts risk assessments and site inspections that help prepare regulatory approvals and environmental screenings. 

Jessica was a Water/Wastewater Operator for the City of Trinity, Texas, before coming to CU. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Everett University and has a Class C Certified Groundwater Treatment Operator and Class D Certified Wastewater Operator certificates. Jessica provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development training to small community environmental management systems.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Amy Ballard

Amy Ballard joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in February 2024 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, Amy was a Correctional Officer for Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility in Corinth, Mississippi. She has a Bachelor’s in Occupational Health and Safety from Columbia Southern University. Amy lives in Corinth, MS.

Community Environmental Management Specialist

Rebecca Manriquez-Fuentes

Rebecca Manriquez-Fuentes, Community Environmental Management Specialist, started with Communities Unlimited (CU) in February 2024. She provides technical assistance for water and wastewater management and assists municipalities with gaining access to capital.  

Before coming to CU, Rebecca worked in education for 18 years, most recently as a Language Arts Teacher for the Lewisville, Texas School District. She has a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Others Languages (TESOL) from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor’s in English from Sul Ross State University. Rebecca lives in El Paso, Texas.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Charlie Bishop

Charlie Bishop, Community Environmental Management Advisor, came to Communities Unlimited (CU) in March 2024. She assists communities with their water and wastewater needs and provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity-building assistance and training to small community environmental systems. 

Before joining CU, Charlie was a Pretreatment Program Specialist for the City of Denton, Texas. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Charlie lives in Fort Worth. 

Community Environmental Management Technician

Andres Villarreal

Andres Villarreal joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2024 as a Community Environmental Management Technician in West Texas. He provides onsite technical assistance to rural communities with water and wastewater issues and assists them with project planning, financing, and utility management and administration. He ensures that systems meet federal and state environmental regulations.

Before joining CU, Andres worked as a Field Tech for the High Plains Water District in Lubbock, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from Texas Tech University in 2012. Andres lives in Lubbock.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

Britton Howe

Britton Howe, Community Environmental Management Advisor, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in June 2024. He assists communities with their water and wastewater needs and provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity-building assistance and training to small community environmental management systems.

Britton has eight years of experience working with water and wastewater systems. He holds certifications as a Class A Water Operator, Class II Collections, and Class C Wastewater Treatment. Britton lives in Abilene, Texas.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Madeline Phillips

Madeline Phillips came to Communities Unlimited (CU) in July 2024. She is a Community Environmental Management Technician in Southeast Tennessee. 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. She makes sure that systems are meeting federal and state environmental regulations.

Madeline has performed environmental sampling and monitoring, and before coming to CU, she was a legal compliance manager and employee relations consultant. Madeline has a degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. She lives in Chattanooga.

Community Environmental Management Advisor

John Hudgins

John Hudgins joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Environmental Management Advisor in July 2024. He assists communities with their water and wastewater needs and provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity-building assistance and training to small community environmental management systems.

Previously, he was a water operator for the largest rural water district in Adair County for RWD #3 in Westville, Oklahoma. John has a degree in Environmental Health and Safety Management from Northeastern State University. He will work with CU’s Environmental Team in Arkansas.

John lives in Stilwell, Oklahoma, and his mom is CU’s Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist Julie Hudgins.

Community Environmental Management Technician

Alexis Nank

Alexis Nank joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in August 2024. She is a Community Environmental Management Technician in Alabama. She provides onsite technical assistance to rural communities with water and wastewater issues and assists them with project planning, financing, utility management, and administration. She ensures that systems meet federal and state environmental regulations.

Alexis has a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Troy University and a Bachelor of Science in General Biology. She lives outside Montgomery, Alabama