Ruth Villarreal, of Mission, is the owner of Ruth Villarreal Insurance Agency. She is a board member of the South Texas Independent School District, and has participated as a sponsor for many Hidalgo County charitable and community organizations including the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, the Diabetes Awareness Fair, as well as various school and community food drives. Villarreal received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston.
Shirlene J. Samuel, D.O., of Austin, is a board-certified pediatrician at Austin Regional Clinic. She is a member of the American Association of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association. Additionally, she serves in the children’s ministry at Red Rocks Church Austin and has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Review Committee for two years. Samuel received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from A.T. Still University. She completed her residency at Oklahoma State University.
Chris Putnam, Ph.D., of Spicewood, is a licensed marriage and family therapist associate at HiveZen Family Therapy. He is a member of the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, National Alliance for Children’s Grief, Texas Funeral Directors Association, and Association for Death Education and Counseling. Putnam received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from Ottawa University, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration from Northcentral University.
Bobby W. Marek, M.D., of Brenham, is an Internist at Baylor Scott & White – the Brenham Clinic. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the Texas Medical Association. Additionally, he is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Washington-Burleson County Medical Society. Marek received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch
Surendra Varma, M.D., of Lubbock, is the executive associate dean for graduate medical education at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and is a Grover E. Murray Professor and Ted Hartman Endowed Chair in Medical Education at TTUHSC. He is an associate editor for Advances in Pediatrics, editorial board member for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, and a member of the American Pediatric Society, Society for Pediatric Research, Endocrine Society, and the Council on Graduate Medical Education for the Health Resources & Services Administration.
Gabrielle Rich, D.O., of Big Spring, is an obstetrician and gynecologist with the Scenic Mountain Medical Group. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Medical Association, and the Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center. Rich received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Tulane University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University.
Mindi McLain, of Amarillo, is a partner and attorney with Wright Law TX, PLLC. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Amarillo Area Bar Association, and Texas Panhandle Women. Additionally, she serves on the West Texas A&M University Enterprise Center Executive Council and is vice president of the Board of Directors of the Texas Panhandle Regional Development Corporation. McLain received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.
Taylor Gillig, of Arlington, is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of The Cookery. He is a United States Marine combat veteran and served as an Infantry Officer in Afghanistan. He is a member of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Professional Chapter of the Adam Smith Society, American Legion, and The Elks. Gillig received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California – Santa Barbara and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Strategy from Southern Methodist University.
Celeste Caballero, M.D., of Lubbock, is a pediatrician with Covenant Medical Group. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Medical Association. Caballero received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.
Michael Burley, of Southlake, is currently the Regional Administrator for Region VI at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Prior to his current appointment, he served in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of Presidential Personnel. Burley received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Clemson University.
