Community Infrastructure Director

Karen Conrad

Karen Conrad is the Community Infrastructure Director. Prior to becoming the Community Infrastructure Director, Karen was the Central Regional Area Director 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 water and wastewater 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 Community Infrastructure in Richmond, Texas, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 1994. He has worked with community management systems for more than 38 years. He has assisted 11 water and wastewater systems in Texas and has leveraged more than $33 million in community infrastructure funding for Texas community water and wastewater systems.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology and History from Ouachita Baptist University, which he earned in 1973. He also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Additionally, he has conducted three training workshops.

East Regional Area Director

Alexander Brandon

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

Alexander has worked with community 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.

Special Projects Area Director

Gaylene Riley

Gaylene Riley, Special Projects Area Director for Community Infrastructure, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2017 as a Community Infrastructure Management Specialist. In her role, Gaylene provides support and training to CU’s Infrastructure Team and also manages several of the federal grants, ensuring staff stays on track in meeting deliverable requirements. She was promoted to the Special Projects Area Director position in October 2024.

Previously to that, Gaylene was CU’s Oklahoma State Coordinator, a role she had held since 2021. Before joining CU, 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.

Louisiana State Coordinator

Chris Brunson

Chris Brunson, State Coordinator – Louisiana Community Infrastructure 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 working in community 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 community infrastructure training workshops. He holds Louisiana Class IV licenses in all five areas of water and wastewater.

Community Infrastructure Consultant

Annie Chiodo

Annie Chiodo is a Community Infrastructure Consultant at Communities Unlimited (CU). She lives in Waynesboro, Tennessee. She joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2014.  Annie has worked with Community Management Systems for 20 years. She specializes in providing onsite technical assistance and training to rural water and wastewater systems. She helps communities address challenges related to planning, finance, utility operations, and administrative needs. 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 Community Infrastructure, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2015. Dinah has worked with Community Management Systems for over 26 years. 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 community infrastructure trainer since 2003. Dinah supervises and assists a staff of two in Alabama to ensure the development of critical, external, and professional relationships.

Arkansas State Coordinator

Tonya Kendrix

Tonya Kendrix started with Communities Unlimited (CU) in January 2023 as a Community Infrastructure Management Specialist. She is now the Arkansas State Coordinator for the Infrastructure Team, where she supervises and supports a four-member staff. 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. 

West Texas State Coordinator

Kurt Grant

Kurt Grant is the State Coordinator for West Texas Community Infrastructure. He supervises and supports Communities Unlimited (CU) Infrastructure staff in West Texas and supports the CU State Director. He joined Communities Unlimited in May 2020 as a Community 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 Community Infrastructure, is in Southaven, Mississippi, and joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2019 as a Community Management Specialist. Shannon is responsible for leading her three-member team across the state of Mississippi in providing community technical assistance and training to small communities and/or existing water/wastewater systems.

She previously worked as an Environmental Chemist for a power company, where she acquired knowledge of wastewater procedures, treatment systems, and analyses. Shannon received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2015.

Central Regional Area Director

Julie Hudgins

Julie Hudgins, Area Director for our Central Region, is located in Stilwell, Oklahoma. She joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2018. Julie has worked with Community Management Systems for over 28 years, with 15 years’ experience as a Chief Financial Officer and four years as General Manager of a Utilities Authority. She supervises and supports the staff in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana to ensure the development of critical, external, and professional relationships/partnerships are maintained.

Julie has been a Certified Water and Wastewater Operator licensed by the State of Oklahoma since 2019.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and majoring in Finance Management from University of Arkansas in 1995.

Senior Infrastructure Management Consultant

Richard King

Richard King is a Senior Infrastructure Management Consultant of Community Infrastructure based in Bastrop, Louisiana. He joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in 2001 as a Community Management Specialist. Richard has worked with community management systems for more than 20 years. He holds a Class IV Louisiana Professional Water Operator license in Water Production, Treatment, and Distribution. Richard 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 Perez

Teresa Vite-Perez, 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 as well as an Associates of Science in General Studies from Northwest Arkansas Community College. 

Community Infrastructure Management Specialist

Stacey Scarce

Stacey Scarce joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2022 as a Community Infrastructure 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 community infrastructure 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.

Tennessee State Coordinator

Robert Kelley

Robert Kelley joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2020 as an Infrastructure Manager. He later became a Community Management Specialist and is now the Tennessee State Coordinator. 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, managerial, 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.

Oklahoma State Coordinator

Lucas Guinn

Lucas Guinn is the Oklahoma State Coordinator for Communities Unlimited’s Community Infrastructure Team. He oversees and supervises the Oklahoma staff and continues to provides onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development capacity building assistance and training to small community 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 Infrastructure Team’s seven-state region. She has worked with community management systems for more than eight years. She currently assists 16 community water and wastewater systems in Mississippi.

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 Poston

Kayley Poston started at Communities Unlimited (CU) in October of 2022 as a Community Management Technician in Temple, Texas. In December 2023, Kayley was promoted to State Coordinator Central Texas – Community Infrastructure. In her role as the State Coordinator, Kayley coordinates with Central Texas employees 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 regulations.

Community Infrastructure Management Specialist

Jorge Negrete

Jorge Negrete is a Community Infrastructure 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.

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 infrastructure 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 Infrastructure Management Specialist

Cherub Alford

Cherub Alford is a Community Infrastructure 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 Infrastructure Management Specialist

Chad Brown

Chad Brown, a Community Infrastructure 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.

Community Infrastructure Management Specialist

Bria Hines

Bria Hines started Communities Unlimited (CU) in November 2022 as a Community Infrastructure 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 is the Source Water Project Manager for the Infrastructure Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). In his role, Brett oversees CU’s Personal Well Program. Find out more about our Personal Well Program. He joined CU as a Community Infrastructure Management Specialist in January 2022.

Previously, Brett worked as a Wellsite Geologist for Impac Exploration Specialties. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in May 2021.

Community Infrastructure Management Advisor

Bradley Pittman

Bradley Pittman, Community Infrastructure Management Advisor for the Infrastructure Team, 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 management systems.

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

Infrastructure Development Project Manager

Alex Goodyear

Alex Goodyear joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2022 as an Infrastructure Development Project Manager. Alex assists in community system project assignments and infrastructure development. He is responsible for assisting in community 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 Infrastructure Management Advisor

Allen Spradling

Allen Spradling came to Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2023 as a Community Infrastructure Management Advisor for the Infrastructure 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 management systems. 

Before starting at 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 Infrastructure Management Specialist

Deborah Brown

Deborah Brown joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in June 2023 as a Community Infrastructure 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 Infrastructure Management Technician

Morgan Jones

Morgan Jones joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Infrastructure 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 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 Infrastructure Management Technician

Cami Cullom

Lora “Cami” Cullom joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Infrastructure 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 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.

East Texas State Coordinator

Jessica Hester

Jessica Hester is the East Texas State Coordinator at Communities Unlimited (CU) for the Community Infrastructure Team. In her role, Jessica coordinates with East Texas employees 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. Jessica makes sure that systems are meeting federal and state regulations.

Before coming to CU, Jessica was a Water/Wastewater Operator for the City of Trinity, Texas. 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.

Community Infrastructure Management Specialist

Amy Ballard

Amy Ballard joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in February 2024 as a Community Infrastructure 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 Infrastructure Management Specialist

Rebecca Manriquez-Fuentes

Rebecca Manriquez-Fuentes, Community Infrastructure 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 Infrastructure Management Specialist

Andres Villarreal

Andres Villarreal joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2024 as a Community Infrastructure Management Technician in West Texas. In 2025 he was promoted to specialist. 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 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 Infrastructure Management Advisor

Britton Howe

Britton Howe, Community Infrastructure 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 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 Infrastructure Management Advisor

John Hudgins

John Hudgins joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Community Infrastructure 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 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 Infrastructure Team in Arkansas. John lives in Stilwell, Oklahoma, and his mom is CU’s Oklahoma State Coordinator, Julie Hudgins.

Community Infrastructure Management Specialist

Alexis Nank

Alexis Nank joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in August 2024. She is a Community Infrastructure Management Technician in Alabama. In 2025 she was promoted to Specialist. 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 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

Community Infrastructure Management Advisor

Andy Callaway

Andy Callaway joined the Infrastructure Team in Oklahoma as a Community Infrastructure Management Advisor in October 2024. Before joining CU, she worked as a wastewater operator at Inframark. Andy spent over 20 years with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), including 12 years in the Operator Certification Program, where she served as the Complaints Coordinator for the Water Quality Division. She also spent nine years in ODEQ’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), primarily conducting environmental reviews.

Andy holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from Northeastern State University. She lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Community Infrastructure Management Advisor

Kelly Harmon

Kelly Harmon, Community Infrastructure Management Advisor, joined Communities Unlimited’s (CU) Oklahoma Team in December 2024. In this role, she supports communities with their water and wastewater needs by providing onsite technical, managerial, financial, and infrastructure development assistance, as well as capacity-building training for small community management systems. 

Before joining CU, Kelly served as a Municipal Deputy Court Clerk. Prior to that, she dedicated 15 years to the Town of Mountain Park, where she held several key positions, including City Clerk/Treasurer, Court Clerk, and Water Superintendent. She also earned a Class C Water and Wastewater license during her tenure. Kelly currently resides in Altus, Oklahoma. 

Administrative Assistant

Rachel Sartin

Rachel Sartin, Administrative Assistant, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2024. She initially started as the Front Desk Coordinator and was promoted to Administrative Assistant in September of that year. In her current role, Rachel is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and reporting data, as well as assisting the Community Infrastructure Director.

Before joining CU, Rachel worked as an Automotive Claims Representative for American National in Springfield, Missouri. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from Drury University and currently resides in Rogers, Arkansas.

Senior Infrastructure Management Consultant

Emily Hoskin

Emily Hoskin joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Senior Infrastructure Management Consultant in July 2025. She serves on CU’s Oklahoma Community Infrastructure Team. With more than 15 years of experience in infrastructure compliance, Emily specializes in providing onsite technical assistance and training to rural water and wastewater systems. She helps communities address challenges related to planning, finance, utility operations, and administrative needs.

Prior to joining CU, Emily held multiple roles at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, most recently as an Environmental Programs Specialist IV in the Water Quality Division. In that role, she served as a statewide subject matter expert on Surface Water Treatment and Disinfection By-Products, developed external training programs, and led compliance initiatives across numerous systems. She also worked with Chloeta — a Native American-owned firm providing specialized solutions for government and commercial clients — as a consulting subject matter expert on PFAS contamination.

Emily holds a Master’s degree in Water Policy and Resource Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health Science, both from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

South Texas State Coordinator

Gloria Reyes

Gloria Reyes became the South Texas Coordinator for Communities Unlimited’s (CU) Community Infrastructure Team in September 2025. Gloria supervises and supports a two-member staff in South Texas while providing onsite technical assistance and training to rural community management systems with water and wastewater disposal needs.

Before coming to CU, Gloria served more than 30 years with USDA Rural Development as a Loan Specialist, where she managed the Water and Environmental Program and the Community Facilities Program for South Texas. Her responsibilities included conducting site visits, reviewing rate studies, completing loan applications, and underwriting for water supply projects. She worked closely with community leaders and stakeholders to ensure regulatory compliance while helping secure funding for essential infrastructure improvements. Gloria lives in Edcouch, Texas.

Community Infrastructure Management Specialist

Libby Messick

Libby Messick, a Community Infrastructure Management Specialist, joined the Infrastructure Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) in November 2025. In her role, Libby provides technical, managerial, and financial assistance to rural water and wastewater systems across Tennessee.

Prior to joining CU, Libby was a Project Director for the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, where she managed the Calhoun Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. She also worked as an Environmental Transportation Specialist with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Libby holds a Master of Science in Forestry (Wildlife) from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Auburn University. She resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.