The Arc of Texas State Office Staff Directory

Administrative Offices

Mike Bright, Executive Director

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 102
mbright@thearcoftexas.org
Mike oversees all operations of The Arc of Texas, represents The Arc to a wide variety of public bodies, works with local chapters to strengthen The Arc's presence statewide and serves as the primary staff liaison to the board of directors.

Governmental Affairs Department

Mike Bright, Executive Director

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 102
mbright@thearcoftexas.org
In addition to his role as The Arc's executive director, Mike is also the team leader for the Governmental Affairs Department. He has more than 30 years of experience in advocating for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mike and his team work closely with HHSC, DADS, the Texas Education Agency and other state health and human services agencies to help shape policies that impact the lives of people with disabilities.

Amy Mizcles, LMSW, Director of Governmental Affairs

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 106
amizcles@thearcoftexas.org
Amy, who serves as The Arc of Texas' lead lobbyist, works with members of the legislature and state agency staff to improve policies and programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Amy works closely with volunteers to ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families can share their personal stories with decision-makers at the local, state, and national levels. She also provides training on legislative advocacy and health and human services enterprise systems issues, in addition to working with the criminal justice and education systems.

Dawn Choate, Governmental Affairs Specialist

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 104
dchoate@thearcoftexas.org
Dawn provides support to the Director of Governmental Affairs and key volunteers. She works with the Director to improve policies and programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Specialist recruits, coordinates, and supports The Arc of Texas volunteers to facilitate their involvement in advocacy activities at the local, state and national levels.

State Operations Department

Camille Atkins, Director of State Operations

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 109
catkins@thearcoftexas.org
Camille manages the operations of the state office, which includes human resources, the accounting and finance functions, developing the budget, and maintaining the computer system. She also oversees the household recycling operations.

Vacant, Accountant

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 108
The accountant is responsible for payroll, accounts payable/receivable and the accounting of the employee benefits. She supervises the receptionist/membership coordinator position. She also provides support to the Director of State Operations/CFO.

Victor Becerra, Receptionist

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 100
secretary@thearcoftexas.org
The receptionist greets visitors at The Arc's state headquarters, answers the phones, oversees the incoming and outgoing mail, and coordinates the lending library.

Casey Fincher, State Operations Assistant

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext.122
cfincher@thearcoftexas.org
Casey provides support to the State Operations Department staff including the Director of State Operations and the Accountant and assists planning and implementation of Board meetings.

Development Department

Lisa Rivers, Development Director

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 116
lrivers@thearcoftexas.org
Ms. Rivers oversees all development functions for The Arc of Texas. She coordinates fundraising mail appeals, special events, foundation and corporate grant requests, and individual donation requests. She also coordinates development activities of the Board of Directors. Ms. Rivers has many years of experience in development, social services, and as a special education teacher.

Roxanne Young, Development Assistant

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext.123
ryoung@thearcoftexas.org
Roxanne provides administrative support to the Director of Development in development functions and the Real Life program.

Family Support Services Department

Rona Statman, J.D., Director of Family Support Services

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 112
rstatman@thearcoftexas.org
Rona is an attorney who oversees The Arc of Texas grant projects and family support services including The Arc of Texas Master Pooled Trust, the Inclusion Works project and Information and Referral. She supports the Texas Advocates board, conference and Peer to Peer Grant. She developed and updates the It’s a New IDEA manual, provides training on IDEA and also works on education policy issues with the Texas Education Agency and the legislature.

Chris Oglesby, Master Pooled Trust Manager

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 105
coglesby@thearcoftexas.org
Chris manages The Arc of Texas Master Pooled Trust, a trust fund that provides people with disabilities an ongoing source of money for supplemental wants and needs. Chris is responsible for assisting families in establishing trust accounts, keeping up with current Medicaid regulations, approving and reporting trust disbursements, communicating with attorneys, judges and the bank about trust issues and educating local Arc chapters and other interested groups about the benefits of the trust.

Dee West, Master Pooled Trust Coordinator

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 113
dwest@thearcoftexas.org
Dee is responsible for handling the day-to-day administration of The Arc of Texas Master Pooled Trust including disbursement requests, communicating with trust beneficiaries and primary representatives, processing additional checks, and entering new joinder agreements.

Tamara Thomas, Master Pooled Trust Specialist

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 121
tthomas@thearcoftexas.orgZ
Tamara provides administrative support to the Master Pooled Trust Manager and Trust Coordinator.

Tanya Winters, Coordinator of the Texas Advocates Peer-to-Peer Project

1-800-252-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 120
twinters@thearcoftexas.org
Tanya oversees the implementation of the Texas Advocates Peer-to-Peer project activities in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. The project provides workshops for Self Advocates on self-advocacy, Local Leadership Academies, Person Directed Planning and supporting local self-advocacy organizations.Tanya also represents Texas Advocates on state-level committees and before state agencies and the Legislature.

Chapter Services Department

Chris Rodriguez, Director of Chapter Services

1-800-259-9729 or (512) 454-6694, ext. 110
crodriguez@thearcoftexas.org

Chris provides technical assistance, training and other support to The Arc’s local chapters. He works with chapter volunteer and staff leaders in the areas of membership, Board training, planning and compliance with affiliation requirements. Chris also organizes new chapters and staffs the Chapter Services Committee.