Newly appointed Arc of Texas Board Member Ed Lallo with Kathleen McCartney and Deanna Bell on the streets of A Coruña, Spain. Lallo and his wife Adrienne accompanied friends McCartney and Bell, a product manager at Dell with Spinal Cerebellum Ataxia, on a weeklong adventure through Spain. Photo: Adrienne Lallo
The Arc of Texas, a recognized leader in promoting, protecting and advocating for the human rights and the self-determination of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has named Gulf Seafood News Editor Ed Lallo to its Board of Directors.
Lallo, Media Relations and Editorial Director for the Gulf Seafood Institute and the CEO of Newsroom Ink, and Debbie Wilkes, owner of Dallas-based D.R. Wilkes Consulting, will take their place as the newest members of the statewide Board when it meets the first week of December.
Lallo and Wilkes join Barbi Beard-Wolfe, Himesh Gandhi, and David Horton who were reappointed to the Board during the last meeting.
“The Arc of Texas believes all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have strengths, abilities and inherent value and are equal before the law,” said Lallo. “It is just common sense that everyone be treated with dignity and respect. I will work hard to ensure that happens.”
Lallo, whose team founded Louisiana Seafood News for Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, has been involved with providing healthcare information to Texans with HealthNewsTexas.com, a site his company operates as a public service.
Since its founding in 1950 by parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, The Arc of Texas has been instrumental in the creation of numerous programs and services available to more than half-million Texans.
“Today The Arc continues to advocate for including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of society,” said Wilkes, whose company provides quality support to individuals with disabilities. Photo: DR Wilkes Consulting
“Today The Arc continues to advocate for including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of society,” said Wilkes, whose company provides quality support to individuals with disabilities. “As a statewide consultant in the area of special education instruction, transition, post-secondary education, employment and self-advocacy, I enjoy my work with students, families, school districts and employers to help individuals become connected to their schools and community so that they can achieve their highest potential.”
Wilkes is also an Associate of the Institute for Person Centered Practices, a collaborative initiative between Texas Center for Disability Services at the University of Texas and the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University.
“I am proud to work alongside the board of directors to promote, protect, and advocate for the human rights of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Amy Mizcles, Executive Director of the organization.
The Arc of Texas envisions a world where Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are included in their communities and where quality supports and services are available to meet their needs and choices.
“We welcome the addition of our two new Directors,” said Charlie Huber, President of the Board. “We are an organization in transition and the challenges are great. I am sure both will step up to ensure the success of our mission so that we can continue to assist those with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the State of Texas.”
The Arc of Texas Board of Directors:
- Charlie Huber, Sugar Land, President
- Carol Maxwell, San Antonio, Past-President
- John E. Schneider, Plano, Vice-President
- Terri Schonfeld, Lone Oak, Secretary
- Nancy Lepley, Houston, Treasurer
- Kendra Kerbow, Ft. Work, TXAdvocates President
- Steve Enders, San Antonio, Local Chapter ED Representative
- Barbi Beard-Wolfe, Weatherford, Director 1
- Himesh Gandhi, Sugar Land, Director 2
- David Horton, Corinth, Director 3
- Edward Lallo, Austin, Director 4
- Lettitia McPherson, San Angelo, Director 5
- Cynthia Peacock, Houston, Director 6
- Charles Weisinger, Shertz, Director 7
- Debbie Wilkes, Dallas, Director 8
- Lucero Perez, Austin, Board Fellow
- Molly Bell, Austin, Board Fellow
- Amy Mizcles, Austin, Executive Director and Staff Liaison
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