Leadership

Staff

Lydia Tate, Executive Director

Lydia Tate has happily called Waco home since 2011, after spending most of her life in the Houston area. After graduating from Houston Baptist University with her degree in Music Education, she was offered an opportunity to expand her passion for women’s ministry via Sigma Phi Lambda as their first national Executive Director. There she honed her skills in organizational management and expanded her knowledge of the nonprofit sector. She is inspired by her return to working full time in women’s ministry at CWJC and looks forward to great things in her role as Executive Director. She would love to share conversation with you over a warm beverage and chat about the mission of CWJC and how you can be a part of this great organization’s vision. Lydia can also be found singing, playing piano, playing board games, and serving at her church, Calvary Baptist. She also enjoys life with her husband, David, their three sons, and their amazing dog, Cami.

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Sara Aguirre, Programs Director

Sara is a CWJC Alumni from Waco, TX. Sara graduated with her Bachelors in social work from Tarleton State University. Sara has served the Waco community since 2006 in various roles and capacities such as STARS Mentoring Project, Grace House Women’s recovery home, and MHMR. She has worked with families in the foster care system and families with open CPS cases through the Department of Family Protective Services in various roles assisting with investigations, Family Base Safety Services, Conservatorship, Family Group Decision Making, and Psych Hospital liaison for children in foster care. Sara is an active member of Antioch Community Church where she has served in the youth ministry, overseas missions, and guest services. Sara is passionate about working with individuals who have experienced trauma and who want to be equipped, empowered, and transformed by the healing power of Jesus. Sara enjoys going to ball games, traveling, learning, and having meaningful conversations over a cup of coffee!

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Dana Bohn

Dana Bohn, Bookkeeper

Dana has lived in Waco most of her life and shares an active church life with her husband at Highland Baptist Church where he is a deacon. Their son and new daughter-in-law live locally and are also at Highland, which is a tremendous blessing to Dana. Dana holds a BA in Accounting from Baylor University and was a plant controller in the manufacturing industry for almost 20 years. Here she lived a vibrant work-life with prayerful Christian coworkers. After the business moved to Houston, she decided to leave the corporate world and thought she would do some volunteering. God moved in her life and brought her to CWJC for what she thought would be teaching an Excel class. In 2016, she joyfully accepted a position as CWJC’s part-time bookkeeper. Dana loves seeing the impact CWJC makes in the lives of the sweet ladies who come through the doors and enjoys the relationships she has with CWJC staff. Dana also serves in similar capacity as a part-time bookkeeper for other area businesses. Dana enjoys helping others with their businesses, attending weekly Bible study, spending time with her family, and traveling with her husband.

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Board of Directors

Mike Pool, President

Mike Pool has been a Schlotzsky’s franchisee in Waco for over 25 years, proudly running two restaurants that have supported many great causes in the area. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and a big Red Raider fan, as are his two sons, Nathan and Jared, and his wife, Kristen. Mike is a member of First United Methodist Church of Waco, where he has served on several committees. Mike enjoys playing golf and being on the lake with friends and family.

Karen Willis, Vice President

Karen Willis is happy to be back “home” in Waco after many years of living out of state. She has always loved volunteering and is quickly getting immersed into the Waco community and at her church, Columbus Avenue Baptist. She is currently teaching the Computer Skills classes at CWJC and feels blessed to be a small part of empowering the incredible women in the program. Karen and her husband, Richard, enjoy traveling and have three grown children.

Nancy Gupton, Secretary

Nancy Gupton is the Resource Development Director of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.  She has worked in the Waco community for over 30 years in marketing, business relations and fundraising.  For the past 14 years, Nancy has been with American Guaranty Title in Business Development prior to joining the Waco Chamber team.

Nancy graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising.  She has been an active volunteer in our community and a longtime volunteer of the Waco Chamber.  For the past 14 years, Nancy has been a volunteer of the Waco Chamber of Commerce’s Total Resource Campaign and served 8 years as one of the division chairs for the TRC. Nancy and her husband, Wade, reside in China Spring area.  They have two sons, Will and Robert.

Nancy currently serves on the board for the First United Methodist Church of Waco, Christian Women’s Job Corp (CWJC) and the China Spring ISD Education Foundation.

Kelly Karnei, Treasurer 

Kelly Karnei graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio with BBA in Accounting. She went on to obtain her license as a CPA and began her career with Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells. After working in the public sector, she worked for Red McCombs in San Antonio before moving to Waco in 1997. Since that time she has worked part-time, been a stay at home mom, and served on several boards within the Midway ISD as treasurer. She loves serving her community. Kelly and her husband Clifton have been married for 32 years and have 3 grown children, Kyle 25, Cassie 23, and Corey 21.
Carol Dugat

Carol Dugat

Carol Dugat is a native Wacoan who has served in the Waco community since the late 1980’s on Boards of Directors with Mission Waco, Grassroots, and Right Track Ministries. Her past Waco Trib blog, “What Do You Want” was fueled by her own passion to see East Waco set forward with a makeover. Carol’s deepest passion is to pour out her own spiritual knowledge to anyone who is open to receiving. Carol found herself a young mother at the age of 17 in need of a GED and a supportive network. That blessing came to her through a stenography course that set her on a pathway to work her way up to Executive Assistant to the CEO of Neighborly, formerly The Dwyer Group, where she served for 20-years. Carol’s heart for CWJC roots in her own journey of receiving hope and support through career building education. She hopes her journey can inspire the women of CWJC Waco. Carol now enjoys semi-retirement life, caring for her mother, and sharing life with her daughter, her 3 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand-daughters.

Alexia English

Alexia English, affectionately known as “Lexi,” has worked at Baylor University for the past 16 years where she enjoys serving and mentoring students and watching them blossom from caterpillars into butterflies. Lexi received her bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and her master’s degree from Houston Baptist University. Lexi has served on various committees at Baylor and has advised several student groups. Lexi is the First Lady of Greater Bosqueville Baptist Church in Waco and she is active in various ministries which are committed to community service. Outside of church, she volunteers her time with a performing arts group, Portraits, Inc. and is an active member of the Waco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she serves the greater Waco community. Lexi enjoys music, traveling, coordinating group trips, and fellowship with friends and family. Lexi is married to Ronald and they have 2 sons, Rahlil and Rahsiah, and a host of “adopted” daughters and sons and grands.

Laura Graves

Laura Gillen Graves graduated from Baylor University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.  After teaching in La Vega ISD and Waco ISD, Laura made the decision to be a stay at home mom.   She has three sons and is married to her husband of 27 years, Berry.  Community service is close to her heart and she has served on many boards and committees across Waco.  Her church home is First Baptist Church Woodway.

Diane Jenkins

Diane Jenkins has been active in the Waco work and volunteer community for more than 40 years and currently works as a commercial and residential broker. Diane previously retired from American Red Cross Blood Services where she served as long time Senior Texas Territory Manager, managed the Gallon Donor’s Club and donated many gallons of blood.

Diane is active in the community and enjoys networking. She’s an officer of Women of Waco and is past president of the Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce where she continues to volunteer. She is married to her husband of 28 years, Bart, and they reside in Woodway. They have one son, Jade Hunt. Her church home is First Baptist Woodway. She loves spending time with her family and friends.

Howard Rolf

Howard Rolf is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Vanderbilt University, and is a retired Baylor University Professor of Mathematics. He is a member of First Baptist Church, Waco where he serves as a deacon and trustee. He has four children and eight grandchildren. Some of his more rewarding volunteer experiences have been mentoring at North Waco Elementary School (no longer exists), and joining FBC college students on their spring break mission trips.

He supports CWJC because it changes lives. Each year he contributes one of his woodworking projects to the CWJC Basket of Hope silent auction.

Ellen White

Ellen White has been a member of the Waco Community for over 40 years. As a  longtime resident, her vast knowledge of the area, passion for helping others, and her love for working with people led her to real estate. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ellen was the Head Coach of the Baylor Equestrian team.  Ellen built a first-class facility during her tenure and the team quickly rose to one of the top in the country. Under her leadership, the Baylor Equestrian team won a National Championship and three Big 12 Titles-they were ranked No. 1 in the nation when she retired. When  Ellen is not working hard for her clients, she actively participates in leadership positions at her church, Columbus Avenue Baptist, and serves on the boards of Southern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and Christian Women’s Job Corps of McLennan County. Ellen also dedicated over 10 years to Keep Waco Beautiful and countless hours volunteering with the Waco Junior League. Ellen has a degree in Economics from Baylor University. Ellen and her husband, Greg, a Baylor law professor, have raised two children in the Waco area and are proud to call McLennan County home.

Cindy Gough, Past President 

Cindy Gough is a Realtor with Camille Johnson, Realtors and loves her community and helping clients as well as helping others in her community. She spends many hours serving her community and is involved in her church at Highland Baptist in Waco. Cindy has served on multiple Boards in different agencies across the Waco area. Cindy is a big Baylor Bear fan and loves spending her time off with her family and her grandkids, Barron and Dawson.

 

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At the center of what we do is our adoration of Jesus, the message of Christ, and His sacrifice for us.  CWJC Leadership is guided first by our love of God and wanting to serve His Kingdom. If you have never experienced the great love of Christ in your life, please reach out to us and we will show you how to know Him more in your life.

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