Team & Board Members

Team Texas

• • • • • Advisory Board Member

       

Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC)

• • • • • • Executive Committee
          • Mentorship Program
          • Future Leaders Training Program
          • Forward Planning Committee
          • Communications Committee
          • Conference Committee
          • Economic Development Sales Tax Committee
          • Education Committee
          • Membership Committee
          • Political Action Committee
          • Workforce Development Committee

         

International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

• • • • • • International Advisory Committee

Texas Midwest Communities Network (TMCN)

• • • • • Board Member

       

The High Ground of Texas

• • • • • Board Members

       

West Central Texas Council of Governments

• • • • • Chair, Economic Development Advisory Board

       

Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC)

Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC)

YTexas

Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC)

Business Retention Expansion International (BREI)

Texas Food Processors Association (TFPA)

Misty Mayo is a highly respected economic development professional with over 30 years of experience in economic development, executive management, strategic planning, and marketing. Mayo is proud to lead the 2023 International Economic Development Organization of the year as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA).  She is a Master Economic Development Practitioner and in 2022 was awarded the honor of being a Top 50 Economic Developer in North America.

Mayo is the strategic force, driving the DCOA’s efforts to recruit and retain companies for the Abilene region. Since assuming the role as President and CEO in August of 2019, Misty has led the DCOA to approve and support over 40 company expansion projects; assisting new industry growth and existing company expansions and bringing in over $3.4 billion in company commitments for capital investment to Abilene.

Under her leadership, the DCOA has reached new heights having been recognized as a Top 14 City in the United States for Community Impact Project; Number 8 Mid-Sized City in the Nation for Economic Development; and most recently, receiving the prestigious Community Economic Development Award from the Texas Economic Development Council, and the International Economic Development Council’s Economic Development Organization of the Year.

Prior to assuming her role in Abilene, Mayo served in Texas as the President and CEO of the Boerne/Kendall County Economic Development Corporation and as Executive Vice President of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. Throughout her career, Mayo has led efforts to create jobs through strategic locations for companies like: Great Lakes Cheese, Bridgestone Bandag, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Amazon, Becton Dickinson, Medtronic’s Diabetes Therapy Headquarters, The Capital Group Companies, as well as Allstate and PETCO’s shared services centers, and many more.

An honors graduate of West Texas A&M University, Misty was inducted into the WTAMU Communications Hall of Fame in 2016. She holds numerous certificates in economic development and non-profit management, and serves on a variety of Boards, including serving as a national volunteer for Chi Omega Fraternity. Mayo serves as a contributing member of the Advisory Council Board Member of Team Texas and Executive Board Member, Vice President and future Chair of the Board of Directors for the Texas Economic Development Council.

Misty and her husband relocated to Abilene from the San Antonio area. They have three children and a grandbaby. Mayo was raised as an “Army Brat”, living in many states and countries, but was fortunate and proud to spend most of her life as a Texan.

Julie Johncox is an accomplished economic developer and government relations leader. As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for the Development Corporation of Abilene, she cultivates the vision for the organization, implements new strategies, collaborates with partners and guides the performance of the team. She also oversees capital improvement projects, strategic initiatives, and daily operations.

Julie has an exceptional track record of leadership having served in roles at the local, state and federal levels. She previously held leadership positions in economic development for the Texas State Comptroller, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and she served as the executive for economic development organizations in Amarillo, Texas and New Mexico.

With extensive experience launching initiatives that involve collaborating with community partners and government leaders, she has implemented multi-faceted statewide and regional programs.  Julie discovered a passion for development and commercial real estate projects, including acquisition, planning and historic preservation.

She has extensive leadership training in economic development including being a certified community developer and holds a community development certificate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, she also has a degree in journalism and public relations from Southwest Texas State University. In addition, she has served on a variety of noteworthy boards, including the Texas Downtown Association, Leadership Women, and currently serves on the PAC Committee for Texas Economic Development Council, International Committee for International Economic Development Council and on the Texas Midwest Communities Network.

Regi McCabe-Gossett is the Controller for the Development Corporation of Abilene and oversees the DCOA’s accounting, reporting, and financial deal structure and compliance.

Regi has more than a decade of experience managing business and organizational finances in industries including healthcare, government, and insurance. Before joining the DCOA team, Regi was the Business Manager and Privacy Officer for the Texas Midwest Surgery Center and previously served as Senior Insurance Accountant for Parkway Advisors and as an accountant and business manager within the Hendrick Health System.

Regi has a bachelor’s degree in finance, a master’s degree in accounting, and a master’s degree in composition and rhetoric from Abilene Christian University. He is highly involved in the Abilene community and has served on a variety of nonprofit and civic boards, including the United Way of Abilene and the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council.

Brock New is passionate about helping businesses and people thrive. As Vice President of Business Development for the Development Corporation of Abilene, Brock develops and implements strategies for business attraction and expansion projects.

Brock’s background in marketing and sales combined with his experience serving people in the nonprofit sector gives him a personal approach to business development.

Brock was previously the Director of Business Development and Marketing for the Abilene Industrial Foundation, a DCOA partner organization and part of the DevelopAbilene team. He also has experience as an account executive in the merchant services industry and worked as a prevention specialist for Serenity House of Abilene.

Brock is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council’s Future Leaders Training Program and has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Abilene Christian University.

Lindsay Dennis serves as the Vice President for the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA), leading the organization’s efforts to support the expansion of local industry, including the Business Retention and Expansion Program, as well as Workforce initiatives. Her expertise in building relationships with existing businesses and working on the expansion of primary job employers is critical to her role at DCOA.

Prior to moving to Abilene, she worked to attract businesses, as well as supporting existing industry with local business recruitment and retention efforts in the Central Texas region for almost 10 years. In her previous role she served as the Deputy Director of Economic Development for the Seguin Economic Development Corporation.

With economic development successes at both the State of Texas, and in local communities, Lindsay has assisted with business retention and expansion efforts for companies such as, Caterpillar Inc., Niagara Bottling, and Teijen Automotive Technologies.  Lindsay also served in roles representing the Office of the Governor-Economic Development and Tourism Department under two administrations. In this role, she worked within 60 Texas counties and marketed Texas as one of the world’s premier business locations.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.  Lindsay has served on numerous regional boards and has been active in workforce boards in the State of Texas.  She is a member of Texas Economic Development Council, International Economic Development Council, Business Retention and Expansion International, Southern Economic Development Council, and serves as a board member for the Highground of Texas.

Akane Thaxton brings a diverse range of business operations skills to the Development Corporation of Abilene team.

As the Finance Manager, Akane manages the DCOA’s financial reporting and offers support with contract compliance, records management, and the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program.

Akane is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council’s Future Leaders Training Program and has a bachelor’s degree in human communication with an emphasis on organizational communication from Abilene Christian University.

She serves as a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations, including KACU Radio, Keep Abilene Beautiful, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Rick Jones knows the ins and outs of warehouse facility operations. He has more than 20 years of experience specializing in construction and renovation project oversight, heavy equipment operation, and purchasing.

Rick has been the Facilities Manager for the Development Corporation of Abilene since 2016. He serves as a supervisor for capital improvement projects and manages DCOA-owned properties.

Before joining the DCOA team, Rick spent 16 years in commercial construction and management and is trained in fire science and hazardous materials response.

With a foundation in public relations and marketing, Ashley Whitmer is the Manager of Marketing & Brand Management for the Development Corporation of Abilene. Ashley is responsible for managing marketing initiatives, implementing strategy and visioning efforts, and delivering special projects.

Ashley has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communication strategy from the University of Mississippi and helped launch the Women in Business chapter in Oxford, Mississippi.