Meet Our Board of Directors

"The most important facet of membership in ARCIT is the respect and attention ARCIT has garnered for rural Texans, with the State Legislature and the state agencies in Austin. As a combined voice our members are heard in the same way as the Texas mega-cities."

Carolyn Gibson, El Campo CDC

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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 Daingerfield - ARCIT Board Vice-President

Bert Cunningham, City Manager, City of Bowie

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.