Our Board of Directors
We exist to whole-heartedly serve our members!
Judge Keith Umphress
Jack County - ARCIT Board President
Keith Umphress currently serves as the Jack County Judge. He was elected into office by the voters of Jack County and sworn in January of 2019. In this capacity, he serves as the presiding officer of the commissioner court, which is made up of four county commissioners. Keith is currently serving in his 5th year as Jack County Judge, Chairman of North Texas Regional Planning Commission, Chairman of the 271st District Juvenile Justice Committee and President of the Association of Rural Communities in Texas.
A former State Trooper, Keith began his work in public service with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 1990 where he worked as a Highway Patrolman in Parker and Wise counties. After devoting nearly a decade to the State of Texas, Keith began his career in Mortgage Banking.
Prior to being elected as Judge in 2019, Keith served as the Precinct One Commissioner for Jack County from May 2015 - November 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M University and a Master in Legal Studies University of Oklahoma Law School. While at Texas A&M, Keith was a member of Squadron 4 in the Corp of Cadets.
Keith and his wife Karen live on their ranch in Jack County. They have 7 children and 4 grandchildren.
Keith Whitfield
City Manager, City of Italy - ARCIT Board Vice-President
Keith Whitfield served as city administrator for city of rosebud for eight and half years, city manager for city of Daingerfield two and half years, four months for city of marlin. Currently serving as city administrator for city of Italy Texas. Served on board of directors for Central Texas Water Supply and Heart of Texas Council of Government. Keith has been married to Janice for 27 years. Has a son Darrell, daughter Keauna and granddaughter Deja.
Bert Cunningham
City Manager, City of Bowie
Bert has been involved in City Government for over 40 years serving in several capacities both elected and appointed including Council Member, Mayor Pro-Tem, Mayor, Chairman of the Bowie Economic Development Corporation, and now as City Manager. He has overseen many projects in his tenure including the expansion of Amon Carter Lake, the building of an electric substation, the building of both a Water Plant and a Wastewater plant on the same site, a multi-million-dollar sewer line project, and the rebuilding of bridges on two main thoroughfares in Bowie. He owned three private businesses during his tenure in elected office and has worked for a corporation after selling most of his businesses to them. His best asset is the experience he has gained over the years of managing the operations of these ventures and the employees who made them all successful. He has also served on several local and statewide boards as well as local civic clubs. Bert has a wife, Toni, and two grown children.
Kim Little
Executive Director, Coleman EDC
Kim Little is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Coleman and has been employed in Coleman since 2015. Little has been working in the Economic Development and Hospitality industry for 27 years. She has worked for the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce, served on the board for the Marfa Chamber of Commerce and also served as the Executive Director of the Murray County Development Authority and Chickasaw Country Marketing Association from 2003-2014. Kim serves on the WCTCOG Business Development Loan Program committee, serves as an officer for the Circle C Cattlewomen and manages the Coleman County Youth Activity Center/Goree Expo Center. Little previously served as Chair of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association and Oklahoma Lakes & Trails Organization. Kim attended Oklahoma State University majoring in Agricultural Communications.
Mark Meuth
Bastrop County Commissioner, Pct. 3
Mark is currently serving as Bastrop County Commissioner for Precinct 3. He was first elected to the position in November 2016. He worked for Texas Department of Transportation for 29 years before retiring on October 2017. He was a transportation specialist and was involved in designing and maintaining roadway, bridge, maintenance and construction projects, developing budgets and analyzing data for cost analysis.
Dawni Seymore
Mayor, City of Ballinger
Rhett Parker
City Manager, City of Post
J Rhett Parker currently serves as the City Manager in Post, Texas. He has been in local government since 2001 where he began his career serving as City Secretary in Ralls, Texas. He later moved to Cameron, Texas to serve as their City Manager for eight years. He is proud to be home in West Texas where he was born and raised. His passion has always been fighting for small cities needs and concerns. As an Eagle Scout he always believes in leaving a place better than where you found it.
He works closely with SPAG, South Plains Association of Governments serving on several committees for the region pertaining to grants, solid waste, and economic development. He serves as vice president of WTCMA, West Texas City Managers Association and the Post Rotary Club.
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from West Texas A&M University. GO Buffs! He has a CPM, Certified Public Manager diploma from Texas Tech University and an MPA, Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas in Arlington.
Rhett and his wife Stacy have two teenage daughters that keep them very active in the community.
Ramon Maza
Regional Sales Manager, Data Flow System
Ramon Maza is an Army Veteran who has been in the Water/Wastewater industry for over 12 years. Prior to working in the Water/Wastewater industry, Ramon served as a Director of Operation for 18 years for a sausage company based in Ohio. Currently, he is the Regional Sales Manager for Data Flow Systems – the only manufacturer of SCADA in the United States. Ramon attended and graduated from the University of Texas in Dallas in 2003.
Daniel Tejada
Executive Director, ARCIT
The Honorable Mayor Daniel M Tejada has an extensive career in public service. He began, in 1981, taking on the responsibility of registering voters, going house to house to encourage citizens to vote. He has been elected to serve as Alderman, Councilman, and Mayor in the City of Floresville.
Along with elected positions, Mr. Tejada has been appointed Chair of the Floresville Electric Light and Power System, President of the Floresville Economic Development Corporation, and Chair of the Riverbend Development Corporation.
He has received several Congressional Certificates of Recognition for his work in Floresville. Also, has been recognized by the Chamber of Commerce for his “Outstanding Contributions to the City of Floresville.” Mr. Tejada has been featured in the Texas Town and City Magazine for his City leadership. Recently, he was honored to serve as Grand Marshal of the Peanut Festival Parade.
Mr. Tejada has served on the Texas Municipal League Board of Directors. Currently, he serves as Executive Director of Association of Hispanic Municipal Officials, a Texas Municipal Affiliate.
Mr. Tejada has earned his BBA from the University of the Incarnate Word, with a focus on Business Management. He has studied International Business Management at St Mary’s University. He is a retired Human Resource Manager with ATT Communications.
In April of 2024 Mr. Tejada took on a new role as Executive Director of the Association of Rural Communities in Texas and is working along side the board and membership to build a positive experience for all rural communities and counties in Texas.