BOARD CHAIRPERSON

Jill Strube, Ph.D. (2001, Florida International University), has worked with Smithville leaders and community members to help bring over $12M to this small, rural, central Texas town since 2009. She was integral in establishing Smithville as a “Preserve America” historic town through the National Park Service in 2009, as a Texas Cultural District through the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2013, and as the “extra small community” winner of the It’s Time Texas Community Health Challenge from 2018-2021.

She has coordinated public participation, grant efforts, and reporting for sidewalk infrastructure, Arts programming, way-finding signage, economic development, comprehensive planning, and Census work. The Smithville Workforce Training Center brings her sights on enhancing community talents and capacity into sharper focus, and promises to provide a much-needed link between a skilled workforce and local business needs in Smithville and the surrounding rural area.

Board Co-Chair, Community Volunteer

He attended College at the University of Houston, Houston, TX, and received a degree: in Psychology. Willy is a Professional Pilot and a Certified Flight Instructor in Helicopter as well as a Commercial Multi-Engine Airplane Pilot.

Mr. Culberson is also a Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 , Master Army Aviator with 27 years of service and a veteran of Vietnam War and Desert Storm. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1996.

Mr. Culberson, retired from his 2nd career as Rescue Pilot/ Director of Aviation Operations with Travis County STAR Flight after 21 years. Willy is a member of the Helicopter Association International and the Critical Incident Stress Management Team for Helicopter Air Ambulance Industry. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Central Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross, and as a Mentor for Blackshear, Barbara Jordon and Overton Elementary School's for the "I CAN" PROJECT. Willy currently serves on The Smithville Food Pantry Board and as a volunteer. He is also a Member of Bastrop County Cares and Board Member for the Smithville Chamber of Commerce, Smithville Community Clinic and Friends of Smithville Veterans Memorial Park.

Mr. Culberson, wanted to join and serve on SWTC Board of Directors to continue to give back and help improve the lives and job opportunities of the citizens of Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties.

Willy is married to Dr. Carla Emery-Culberson and they have 2 adult children, Tamara and Patrick and a grandson, Jalen.

BOARD TREASURER

Joanna Morgan grew up in Nederland, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Economics, and then attended graduate school at A&M, majoring in Computer Science through the School of Business Administration. Her whole career was in Houston, in Information Technology management in multiple industries: manufacturing, retail, oil & gas and in government with Harris County. She and her husband Mike bought weekend property outside of Smithville in 1989, and retired here in 2000. Since living in Smithville, she has served on various boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Library Board, the Administrative Council at the Methodist Church and 12 years on City Council, as Council Member and as Mayor. She currently serves as a member of the Smithville Whole Health Partnership and on the Board of the Smithville Community Clinic in addition to serving as Treasurer on the Board of the Smithville Workforce Training Center. She and her husband have a son, daughter-in-law and grandson in Austin.

Board Secretary, Edward Jones Investments

Board Member, Healthcare Seton Ascension Medical, Caldwell County

Board Member, Community Volunteer

Board Member, Medical - Aspen Hospice

Board Member, Ascension Seton

Jace Jones is the current Chief Administrative Officer for Ascension Seton Bastrop and Ascension Seton Smithville. Jace joined Ascension Seton in June of 2021.

Jace began his career in healthcare as a Practice Administrator with Community Health Systems (DeTar Healthcare System) in Victoria, Texas in 2012. In that role, he developed a series of best practices to bring quality billing standards and measures, and instituted the strategic plan between administrators, providers and the Board of Directors.

Soon afterwards, Jace transitioned to the executive development program within Community Health Systems. His first role was as the Assistant Administrator for Detar Healthcare system, a 300 bed hospital in Victoria, Tx. While in this program, Jace’s leadership was recognized and he was promoted regularly over the next several years. These promotions were a result of being a high performer, and achieving local and corporate strategic goals. He held positions as chief operating officer at Abilene Regional Medical Center, a 231 bed acute care hospital, and chief executive officer at Brownwood Regional Medical Center, a 188 bed acute care hospital. In his most recent role, Jace was Chief Executive Officer at Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Some of his professional accomplishments include developing a family medicine residency program with Texas A&M Health Science Center, emergency room expansion from 28 to 40 beds, cancer center design and development, construction and leadership of a joint and spine center of excellence, secured capital and designed a new intensive care unit, brought robotic assisted orthopedic surgery to two markets, and recruitment of numerous physicians to the communities.

Jace graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and then went on to get his Master’s of Public Health at Texas A&M Health Science Center, and Doctor of Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Jace and his wife Julie have two daughters, Emorie and Kenzie. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his family, play golf and travel. He also loves watching the Texas Longhorns play any sport.

Board Member, Towers Nursing Home, Regency Heath Care Administrator

Ex Officio Board Member, SISD

Dr. Bethany Logan is the Director of Curriculum for Smithville ISD. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University and Texas A&M University.

Dr. Logan has been in education for over 20 years and has taught PreK-12th grades in addition to being a campus and district level administrator. Her passion is student learning and creating opportunities for all students to achieve and excel in their areas of interest.

Board Member, Skilled Trades/Retail, Texas One Stop, Fayette County

Board Member, Smithville Wesleyan Nurse Program

Ms. Sharlene Scheler was born in San Antonio Texas. She and her husband Nelson are the parents of two daughters Kimberly Ann Scheler and April Scheler Rheams. She has two grandchildren. Sharlene graduated from the University of Texas School of Nursing Health Science Center of San Antonio. After a long history of hospital nursing Sharlene and Nelson moved to Smithville Texas where she is a Methodist Healthcare Ministries Wesley Nurse and practices community health nursing. She serves on the Smithville Community Clinic Board, Lions Club Board, and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), Methodist Church Board. Sharlene is very active in the Smithville community.

Board Member, Bastrop Economic Development

Board Member, Capital Area Council of Governments