ETCOG Announces Regional Award Recipients for Exemplary Contributions to East Texas

Many of our communities have properties that are abandoned or underutilized because of suspected environmental contamination from past uses. These properties are commonly referred to as “Brownfields.” Redeveloping a brownfield site does more than change the look of a property; it strengthens the health, economy, and spirit of the whole community. Through ETCOG’s Brownfield Site Reuse & Revitalization Program, local governments and property owners can receive no-match funding to assess and plan for the safe reuse of vacant or underused sites. Projects can include environmental studies, market analyses, community engagement efforts, and much more, that set the stage for growth while protecting public health and the environment. Every successful project begins with identifying potential sites. If your community has a property that could be brought back to life, now is the time to act. Find details and a site nomination form at www.etcog.org/brownfields-program .

This is an announcement shared from Texas Water Development Board

Today, the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announced the award of Civic Marketplace as the technology platform for COGWORKS, its cooperative purchasing arm. The partnership will leverage cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence to support regional purchasing for rural communities, school districts, and local governments across the East Texas region, state, and nationwide. For more than 50 years, ETCOG has supported East Texas through regional planning, coordination, and shared services. COGWORKS was established in response to member demand for dependable cost-control solutions that serve jurisdictions of all sizes through competitively awarded cooperative contracts. This collaboration strengthens COGWORKS by improving shared buying, administrative coordination, and visibility into contract activity, enabling members to operate more efficiently while meeting procurement requirements. “This partnership supports our responsibility to ensure rural communities, schools, and local districts can access purchasing programs that deliver measurable savings and efficiencies,” said David Cleveland, Executive Director of ETCOG. “COGWORKS allows participants to benefit from collective buying power and shared procurement expertise through a program they know and trust.” Civic Marketplace will partner with ETCOG to activate and operate COGWORKS on its digital platform, in order to expand participation and deliver measurable value to member agencies across East Texas. Through its purpose-built technology platform, proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) agentic, solutions, and hands-on program enablement, Civic Marketplace will support contract visibility, supplier onboarding, entity activation, and ongoing program analytics at no cost to member agencies. “This partnership demonstrates ETCOG's commitment to building a strong, sustainable cooperative purchasing ecosystem for East Texas,” said Al Hleileh, CEO and Co-Founder of Civic Marketplace. “Our goal is to help COGWORKS increase utilization and transparency of cooperative contracts, elevate local businesses, and deliver regional efficiency.” “Civic Marketplace was born in East Texas, with deep roots in the cities of Longview and Tyler,” added Ron Holifield, Co-Founder and President of Civic Marketplace. “Our partnership with COGWORKS is both a homecoming and a new wellspring for these communities, bringing together collaborative purchasing and cutting edge technology to help local government entities better serve their residents.” As COGWORKS continues to grow, ETCOG and Civic Marketplace will work together to expand contract offerings, support supplier participation, and provide members with the tools and information needed to use cooperative purchasing effectively. About Civic Marketplace Civic Marketplace is the AI procurement platform built for local governments and free for every SLED entity to use. By removing cost as a barrier, we make it easier for cities, counties, and school districts to modernize how they buy goods and services without adding strain to already tight budgets. Our platform connects government buyers to a network of pre-approved suppliers, ensuring every contract meets compliance and quality standards from the start. We're especially committed to expanding access for historically underutilized businesses, helping local governments support regional suppliers and strengthen the communities they serve. Procurement doesn't have to be slow, complicated, or expensive. Civic Marketplace is backed by venture investment and built to prove it.  Learn more at civicmarketplace.com

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the East Texas Council of Governments for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the program's high standards, including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. It is awarded to the East Texas Council of Governments Operations Division, which includes David Cleveland, Executive Director; Wendi Horst, Operations Director; and Operations team members Gini Blackwell, Sloane Bodle, Trish Branham, Christy Cross, Rita Hitt, Kelly Horn, Elizabeth Jones, DeAnn Jordan, Glenda Lamothe, Michaela Marotta, Jennifer Nicholson, Staci Reynolds, Cori Rhodes, Susan Schooley, Kim Scott, and Christine Weems. "I am impressed with the consistent excellence and professionalism of our Financial Operations Team! They produce excellent results for the East Texas Region every single day! When one considers the fact that they help manage well over 100 different federal and state funding streams, you can begin to understand why I am thrilled they continue to receive objective substantiation of their work every year they are recognized with this prestigious GFOA award!" said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. "This award is a tribute to our team's commitment to transparency, accuracy, and integrity in financial reporting. Earning this award for 24years in a row is a milestone we are incredibly proud of. While we celebrate this incredible streak, we remain focused on the future and upholding the values that have earned us this recognition and become the standard in everything we do," said ETCOG Operations Director Wendi Horst. ETCOG's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report can be viewed at www.etcog.org/financials . About GFOA The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 25,000 members and the communities they serve.

Everyone deserves equal access to housing opportunities. During Fair Housing Month, ETCOG joins the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in raising awareness about housing rights and protections under the Federal Housing Act and the Texas Fair Housing Act. These laws ensure that individuals can rent an apartment, buy a home, or obtain a mortgage free from discrimination based on: Race Religion National Origin Color Familial Status Disability Sex What to Do If You Experience Housing Discrimination If you believe you have been discriminated against, you have one year from the date of the incident to file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division. 📞 Call: 888-452-4778 🌐 Visit: tdhca.state.tx.us/fair-housing For concerns related to TDHCA-monitored properties, you can also submit a complaint: 📞 Call: 800-525-0657 🌐 Visit: tdhca.state.tx.us/complaint.htm By knowing your rights and taking action against housing discrimination, we can work together to ensure fair and equal housing opportunities for all Texans!

The East Texas Area Agency on Aging (ETAAA), a program of the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG), is inviting the public to review and comment on our 2027 to 2029 Area Plan. ETAAA serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Planning and Service Area 4, a fourteen-county region in East Texas. The Area Plan outlines our strategy to strengthen the Aging Services Network and address the needs of people age 60 and older, family caregivers, and individuals with disabilities. It also guides how we plan, coordinate, and oversee services supported by the Older Americans Act and other state and local initiatives. Our mission is to serve as the region’s leader in advocating for and delivering services that enable older adults to live independently, with dignity and purpose, in their homes and communities. Our vision, “Age Well, Live Well, ” reflects a person-centered approach focused on better choices, improved health, and access to nutritious food. We call it “Serving One Senior at a Time.” The 2027–2029 Area Plan is guided by a needs assessment incorporating data, service trends, and stakeholder input. Key priority needs include access to home- and community-based services, caregiver support, transportation, nutrition and food security, social isolation, healthcare access and chronic disease management, and improved service coordination and system navigation. How to share your input Public comments will be accepted through April 26, 2026 . Submit comments by mail or email: Mail: Area Agency on Aging, 3800 Stone Road, Kilgore, TX 75662 Email: Colleen.Halliburton@etcog.org

Top: Debbie Bryan, Judge AJ Mason, Laura Hill, Sandra Kooker, Dr. Robert Haberle, Officer Brady Gould Bottom: Brookshire Grocery Company representatives Rachel Gee, Chris Jennings, and Mark Lawrence, and Officer Rachel Duraso with ETCOG's Director of Public Safety, Stephanie Heffner At its 109th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) presented eight regional awards recognizing individuals and organizations whose work strengthens communities across ETCOG’s 14-county region. “In East Texas, the people who contribute the most are often the ones who don’t ask to be noticed…first responders who run toward danger, volunteers who keep showing up, and leaders who build cooperation across city and county lines. During our regional awards ceremony, it was our honor to confer eight awards this year in recognition of the extraordinary dedication and leadership of those making a real difference in the lives of the people they serve,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. With approximately 100 special guests, elected officials, legislative representatives, and staff in attendance, ETCOG’s board chairman, Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley, led the meeting held at the Whitehouse City Center. Awardees and a summary of their achievements are as follows: REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR (Two Recipients) This award recognizes first responders who have rendered extraordinary service, putting their lives on the line for our safety while performing their duties as peace officers, firemen, EMS and dispatchers, DPS officers, and troopers. Officer Brady Gould, Whitehouse Police Department On the morning of January 29, 2026, Officer Gould responded to a residential structure fire in Whitehouse and arrived to find the home already engulfed. Neighbors reported an elderly woman was still inside. After encountering heavy smoke at one entry point, Officer Gould moved to another door, entered the home, and crawled beneath smoke that had dropped close to the floor, without protective equipment, to locate the resident. He guided her through the smoke-filled home and safely out. Fire officials later indicated the woman likely would have lost consciousness within minutes if help had not arrived. ETCOG recognized Officer Gould for decisive, selfless action under life-threatening conditions. Officer Rachel Duraso, Longview Police Department On September 1, 2025 (Labor Day), while off duty with her family at Hugh Camp Memorial Park in Liberty City, Officer Duraso heard gunshots and recognized an immediate threat nearby. Without her issued police equipment, she moved her children to safety and ran toward the danger, confronting and disarming an armed suspect. She then provided first aid to victims and assisted until additional responders arrived. She later supported the investigation, which resulted in an arrest and capital murder charges. ETCOG honored Officer Duraso for extraordinary courage and calm leadership in a high-risk situation. She was later recognized with the Medal of Valor by the Longview Police Department, along with congressional recognition from the office of U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran. REGIONAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD (Two Recipients) This award is designed to honor an East Texas citizen who has contributed to the well-being of the East Texas Region. Debbie Bryan, Smith County Volunteer Retirement did not slow Debbie Bryan’s commitment to public service. It redirected it. After retiring from the University of Texas System, Bryan became actively involved with the Smith County Office of Emergency Management, volunteering her own time and resources to strengthen preparedness across the region. She has participated in more than 75 emergency preparedness events, connecting directly with more than 4,000 residents to help families prepare for emergencies and access critical resources. She also helped coordinate training opportunities through Texas Ready, expanding access to state-recognized preparedness training, and prioritized outreach to vulnerable and underserved residents, including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged households. Sandra Kooker, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Volunteer For Sandra Kooker, community service looks like long miles and early mornings because in East Texas, animal welfare is increasingly a regional challenge. Since 2021, Kooker has volunteered with the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center (LACAC), an open-admission facility serving animals across Gregg County and surrounding communities. As shelters elsewhere have reduced intake or closed, LACAC’s role has become even more essential and more strained. Kooker meets that need as a primary volunteer driver for LACAC’s transport van, making thousands-of-miles round-trip journeys to partner organizations such as North Shore Animal League America (New York) and The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue (Tennessee). In 2025 alone, she completed dozens of transports. With trips that carried up to 30 animals, she helped facilitate the rescue and rehoming of hundreds of dogs and cats, while also creating space for LACAC to continue serving the region. REGIONAL CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD The Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year award honors a corporate partner in East Texas who has contributed to the well-being of the Region. Brookshire Grocery Company (Tyler, Texas) In East Texas, corporate citizenship is measured by what a company does when communities need stability and essentials, especially under pressure. ETCOG recognized Brookshire Grocery Company for consistent, practical investment in the well-being of the region’s cities, nonprofits, schools, and families. During natural disasters, severe weather, or economic hardships, Brookshire’s is known for stepping forward decisively. The company keeps stores open, when possible, reopens quickly, and supports relief efforts with food, supplies, and logistical assistance in coordination with local leaders and organizations. ETCOG also highlighted the company’s long-term impact through local employment, economic stability, and sustained community engagement, often delivered quietly and without fanfare, but felt across the communities it serves. REGIONAL COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD The Regional Committee Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a sustained, dedicated commitment to ETCOG efforts and activities. Laura Hill, City of Longview (ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee) The work of regional cooperation happens where plans become action, inside the committees that bring local leaders and technical experts together to solve shared problems. ETCOG honored Laura Hill for sustained, high-impact service supporting regional collaboration. With more than 30 years in public service, Hill brings steady leadership and deep experience to ETCOG’s work. Since 2022, she has served as Chair of the Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee, helping guide the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan with a focus that extends beyond disposal to source reduction, reuse and recycling, and long-term planning. Under her leadership, the committee has helped evaluate projects, review proposals, and shape funding recommendations to advance regional goals such as reducing waste headed to disposal, curbing illegal dumping, keeping household hazardous waste properly managed, and strengthening long-term environmental quality. Hill has also supported broader regional priorities, including America250 coordination efforts and assisting with the Point-in-Time count, strengthening efforts to understand and support unhoused populations across multiple counties. REGIONAL SHINING STAR AWARD* The Regional Shining Star Award is designed to recognize people who have provided exceptional support or invaluable partnership to the East Texas Council of Governments. *This is not a standard ETCOG award given annually, but at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Dr. Robert Haberle, Workforce Solutions East Texas Board Some leaders do not just serve a program. They shape its impact over decades. ETCOG presented the Regional Shining Star Award, reserved for rare, above-and-beyond service, to Dr. Robert Haberle for long-term leadership supporting ETCOG and Workforce Solutions East Texas. Since joining the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board in 2011, Haberle has helped guide a workforce system operating at a significant scale, with a budget of just over $60 million, providing no-cost services to employers and job seekers. In the past year alone, Workforce Solutions East Texas supported more than 81,000 businesses and job seekers, provided nearly $1 million in job training scholarships, helped thousands of unemployment claimants return to work, and subsidized child care for more than 9,000 families, alongside investments in childcare quality and support for small child care providers. Dr. Robert Haberle was appointed to the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board by the region’s Chief Elected Officials, through Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis, and has held multiple leadership roles, including Workforce Centers Committee Chair, Vice Chairman, and Board Chairman. He served six years as Chairman (October 2016 to September 2022), helping strengthen collaboration with the CEO Board, and he continues to lead key subcommittee work supporting new workforce centers in Longview and Tyler. He also represents East Texas statewide and nationally as Vice Chair of the Texas Association of Workforce Boards and as the region’s representative to the National Association of Workforce Boards. His public service also includes serving as Mayor of Jacksonville (2005–2011) and representing Jacksonville on the ETCOG Board of Directors. REGIONAL STATESMANSHIP AWARD The Regional Statesmanship Award recognizes a local, state, or federal official who has demonstrated valuable, dedicated service to regional cooperation. Camp County Judge AJ Mason Regional progress depends on leaders who build trust and keep cooperation moving, even when much of that work happens behind the scenes. ETCOG honored Camp County Judge AJ Mason with the Regional Statesmanship Award for dedicated service supporting regional cooperation and for leadership grounded in fairness, transparency, and respect. Nomination comments described Judge Mason as a leader who listens closely, engages directly, and ensures community members are heard, approaching decisions with an even-handed commitment to the common good. ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland also recognized Judge Mason’s behind-the-scenes service as an ETCOG Board officer and Executive Committee member, noting his willingness to serve across subcommittees and contribute detailed program knowledge where it matters most. Judge Mason is also respected among his peers, including service as Chief Elected Officials–Rural Transportation Planning Organization (CEO-RTPO) Vice Chairman over multiple consecutive terms, an additional example of a servant-minded approach that earns trust across the region.

ETCOG will honor regional citizens and organizations who exemplify excellence in performance and innovation and contribute to the quality of life within the communities that comprise our 14-county region. The awards listed below will be conferred at ETCOG’s 109th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, March 19th, at The Whitehouse City Center in Whitehouse, Texas, from 11:45 am to 2:00 pm. Award criteria and recipient information are as follows: REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Officer Brady Gould, Whitehouse Police Department Officer Rachel Duraso, Longview Police Department Two recipients have been selected to receive the Regional First Responder of the Year award. This award recognizes first responders who have rendered extraordinary service, putting their lives on the line for our safety while performing their duties as peace officers, firemen, EMS and dispatchers, DPS officers, and troopers. REGIONAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Debbie Bryan, Smith County Volunteer Sandra Kooker, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Volunteer Two recipients have been selected to receive the Regional Citizen of the Year award. This award is designed to honor an East Texas citizen who has contributed to the well-being of the East Texas Region. REGIONAL CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD Brookshire Grocery Company – Tyler, Texas The Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year award honors a corporate partner in East Texas who has contributed to the well-being of the Region. REGIONAL COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD Laura Hill, City of Longview, ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee The Regional Committee Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a sustained, dedicated commitment to ETCOG efforts and activities. REGIONAL SHINING STAR AWARD* Dr. Robert Haberle, Workforce Solutions East Texas Board The Regional Shining Star Award is to recognize people who have provided exceptional support or invaluable partnership to the East Texas Council of Governments. *This is not a standard ETCOG award given annually, but at the discretion of the Board of Directors. REGIONAL STATESMANSHIP AWARD Judge AJ Mason, Camp County The Regional Statesmanship Award recognizes a local, state, or federal official who has demonstrated valuable, dedicated service to regional cooperation. “We are excited to host our regional awards ceremony, where we will recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals, elected officials, and organizations that have made a positive impact on our region,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “This year’s ceremony will feature eight awards—more than we’ve ever presented—highlighting the extraordinary dedication and leadership of those who are making a real difference in the lives of the people they serve. We look forward to gathering the ETCOG Board to honor these outstanding members of our community and to showcase their achievements.” Details of the award recipient's contributions and photos will be sent following the meeting.