Background & Bio Born and raised in Oplin, Texas and a 1984 Clyde graduate, Darrin Black’s Big Country roots run deep. After high school, Black jumped straight into the plumbing business and joined the Abilene Fire Department a few years later. Serving the fire department three days a week, and plumbing on his days off, Black worked to gain his master plumber li- cense … [Read more...]
Abilene Influencers: Celina Gamez
Background & Bio Celina Gamez is an Abilene native and graduate of Abilene High. She’s also a 2015 graduate of Abilene Christian University and has been employed at Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas for the last decade. Gamez worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for about a year but otherwise her entire career has been at Workforce … [Read more...]
Abilene Influencers: Trish Dressen
BACKGROUND & BIO Abilene is so much a part of Trish Dressen that it seems strange, even to her, that Abilene isn’t part of her address. She, her husband, Jeff, and their three children live in Buffalo Gap. Trish makes the short commute every morning to Abilene where she is the executive director of the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, a position she … [Read more...]
Abilene Influencers: Alex Russell
Alex Terrell Russell grew up in Abilene, attending Wylie schools through middle school, until she moved to Nashville with her mom. She began college at the University of Tennessee but transferred to Texas Tech University and graduated in 2014. She had a political science internship lined up in Fort Worth when her grandmother, Abilene restaurant owner Sharon Riley, sat her down … [Read more...]
Abilene Influencers: Tim Smith
Background & Bio Tim Smith was born and raised in Abilene, and he and his wife, Pam, met as students at Mann Middle School. He graduated from Abilene High in 1987. After earning a degree in political science and spending some time in Houston, he and Pam returned to Abilene 16 years ago. He’s worked as probation officer and as a project manager with Pearson Digital … [Read more...]