BRANCH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jason Thomas
|
Jason Thomas serves as the Chair of ACT-SO. The primary goal of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize and reward youth of African descent who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence. Jason is currently a Capital Projects Manager with Trinity Industries.
Jason has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an MBA from Goizuetta Business School at Emory University. Jason Thomas serves as the Treasurer and chairman of the ACT-SO Program. He is a member of Concord Church and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. |
Michael Golson Sr.
|
He is currently the CEO of M. Anthony Golson and Associates and a retired Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
Michael has an extensive background in the investigation of complex criminal organizations, critical incident management, violent crime investigation, bombing and large scale arson investigations. He is involved in various service organizations. Mike is an active member of Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. |
Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley
|
Dr. Odom-Wesley is the Chair of the Health Committee for whose responsibility it is to work to promote, protect and maintain the health of African Americans, assess the health needs of the community and advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment and research for all Americans;
Barbara has worked in the health information management (HIM) profession since 1969. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, TX. She earned her PhD at Texas Woman’s University. Currently, she serves on the Arlington City Council, District 8. She is also president of Medpro Consulting Services and has held many leadership positions in various health professional and civic organizations. After volunteering at the district and state levels, she was elected to the national Board of directors for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and served as president in 2002. Dr. Odom-Wesley is a published author and sought-after speaker. She is an active member of Covenant Church Colleyville and founding, charter member of the Arlington Graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. |
Andrea W. Cooper
|
Andrea W. Cooper is the Legal Redress Chair whose responsibilities include investigating all cases reported to the branch and supervising all litigation in which the Unit becomes engaged.
Andrea W. Cooper is a seasoned practitioner who has worked extensively in the public and private sectors. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas and is also licensed to practice in federal court. Ms. Cooper graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism, and earned a Juris Doctor from Cornell University School of Law in Ithaca, New York. She served as an Asst. District Attorney for Tarrant County and an Asst. Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (formerly INS). She later managed the nation-wide Immigration Department of a mid-size firm and thereafter opened her private practice. Andrea attends Cornerstone Baptist Church and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. |
Terri Gaston
|
Terri Gaston is the Chair of the Armed Services/Veterans Affairs Committee where she works throughout the year to address the needs and concerns of U.S. Veterans in our community. She is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where she served for almost 5 years.
Terri works at Baylor Surgical Hospital in Fort Worth as a Registered Pharmacist. She is also a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Terri is an active member of St. John Church in Grand Prairie. |
Tia Cole
|
Tia Cole is originally from Omaha, Nebraska where she was top of her class all throughout school, a challenge, honor roll, honors, and AP student, and the first in her family to complete a college degree. Tia has always known that education and the power thereof would be her focus from a very early age. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education & Human Sciences with a focus on Secondary Education and English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Later, she received her Master’s Degree in English. She has created curriculum and programs as well as hired, trained and supervised tutors and instructors.
She has now made her way to Tarrant County College Northwest Campus is Fort Worth, Texas where she currently works as an Instructor of English. In this position, she teaches, and she serves on several committees and councils in addition to her role as discipline leader and mentor. Her passions are for empowering others through education, promoting critical thinking, independence, conscientious leadership, and life-long learning. In the Fall of 2016, Tia decided it was finally time to Launch The Cole Lab taking on clients such as the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. This entrepreneurial pursuit is committed to being your development destination for education, literacy, leadership, and employment. The focus of this company is on programming, curriculum design, coaching/training, and facilitating self-sufficiency. The website is on the way. And, you can learn more about what The Cole Lab can do for you at www.facebook.com/yourdevelopmentdestination . In addition to being Education Chair of the Arlington NAACP and launching her development business, Tia serves as a board member for the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation, and she is an immediate past board member of the Ladder Alliance and BRIDGE Fort Worth. Tia Cole is deeply committed to change through engagement and action. |
Duane Braxton
|
Duane L. Braxton is a Human Resources Specialist with the Department of the Army.
Duane earned a BBA in Business Administration from the Virginia State University. Duane is Life Member of Blacks In Government (BIG), having served in many leadership roles in that organization including Regional Director on the National Board of Directors, Regional Council President, Region VI, and Chapter President of the North Texas Chapter. He is a member of One Community Church in Plano and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. |
Bill Wilson
|
Billy Wilson has served as a professional educator for over 25 years, 18 yrs. in Arlington ISD. His roles have varied from coaching and teaching to administration.
He has served as Youth Works coordinator for 10 years and Youth Council Advisor for two years. He also served as president of the Arlington branch of the National Association of Black School Educators for four years. He supports various youth groups such as ACT-SO and the District Cultural Awareness Committee which seek to enhance cultural identity and empowerment. Billy is a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. |