Board of Directors

Jamie Benson

Jamie Benson grew up in Longview and graduated from Longview High School. Her career began with Southwestern Bell Telephone in Dallas, where for over 20 years she held various management titles. She currently works for The Hospice of East Texas as the Community Outreach Coordinator and has been with them for over six years. Jamie and her family attend Mobberly Baptist Church where she volunteers in various roles. She and her husband Brian have two daughters, Taylor and Maci. Jamie has a true passion for working with the elderly and educating caregivers and other family members on how to provide the best care for their loved one with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

Cassandra "Sandi" Brenton

Sandi (Cassandra) Brenton is a Certified Dementia Care Specialist.  She holds a Bachelors Degree in Theology and has completed work toward her Masters in Clinical Psychology.

She was caregiver to her mother with Parkinson’s Dementia and her father with Alzheimer’s until they passed away.

Sandi currently is a facilitator for two Caregivers Support Groups. In addition to the work Sandi performs for Alzheimer’s, she also volunteers for the Bereavement Department of the Hospice of East Texas.

Cammie Camp, R.N.PRESIDENT

Cammie Camp currently resides in Longview, Texas and is the Clinical Admissions Director at Longview Hill. She serves as President on East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance (ETAA) Board. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Tarleton State University.

Prior to joining Longview Hill, Cammie has served as Regional Director of Marketing with Skilled HealthCare, Regional Director of Quality Assurance with 22 Acquisitions, ZA Consulting and Total Health Care Consultants. She has been Director of Nursing, Risk Management Director and Director of Rehabilitation Services in several facilities owned by those companies. She is also a Certified Operating Room Nurse and has served as Director of the Women’s Unit at Community Psychiatric Center Millwood Hospital. Cammie has served on multiple other boards including Adult Protective Services of Smith County. Cammie is currently on the planning committee for REACH. Cammie is an alumni of Leadership Tyler and participates in the selection team for each year’s class. Cammie has been honored by being selected Marketer of the Year with Skilled HealthCare and Genesis HealthCare.

Cammie enjoys travel, hunting for antiques, history, cooking and scrapbooking. Cammie’s proudest accomplishments include her marriage of over 40 years to Mike, her 3 grown sons and 11 amazing grandchildren.

LaDarius D. CarterVICE PRESIDENT

LaDarius Carter, along with his wife Trista and their two sons, resides in Marshall, Texas. LaDarius has served on the ETAA Board since 2018. LaDarius, a licensed minister, currently serves as the Chaplain and Volunteer Coordinator for LifeCare Health Services.  LaDarius is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University and has served the East Texas community as a member of several service organizations since his time in college. Currently LaDarius also serves on the Board of Directors for the Harrison County Historical Museum, Harrison County Child Welfare, and the Marshall / Harrison County Literacy Council. From 2015 to 2017 LaDarius served the City of Marshall as an elected City Commissioner.

Julia L. FritzSECRETARY

Julia L. Fritz currently resides in Longview Texas and is the community liaison for Heritage Hospice in Kilgore, Texas. She was the business development director for Heritage At Longview for 12 years. Julia is one of the founding board members of the East Texas Alzheimer Alliance and also serves as a board member for the Gregg County Adult Protective Service (APS) and the East Texas Senior Citizen Coalition (ETSCC). Julia is a member of Growing Valley Baptist Church, the wife of Ronnie Fritz and the mother of five Deldrick, Ronnie Jr., Bryan, Breana and Britney. In her spare time Julia enjoys reading, writing, listening to old albums and spending time with family and friends.

Beth GodseyExecutive Director

Beth began working full-time as Executive Director of the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance in July, 2019.  She received her Master’s Degree in Business from LeTourneau University.  Although born and raised in Longview, Texas, Beth and her husband, Mike, have lived in Hallsville the past 30 years, and they have three children and three beautiful granddaughters.

Beth is a board member of the Hallsville Area United Fund, serves on the City of Hallsville Culture/Heritage Committee, and is also the part-time Executive Director of the Hallsville Education Foundation where she has been involved the last 18 years.  She enjoys camping, beach trips to Florida, running 5Ks and half marathons, and spending time with her family.

Dana Grant, CPA, PC

Dana Grant currently resides in Longview, Texas and is a Certified Public Accountant with her own firm. She received her bachelor’s degree in Financial Planning from Texas Tech University. Dana is a member of First United Methodist Church in Longview. She is active in several booster clubs at Longview High School. Dana is married to Mark Grant and has four children, Matthew, Garrett, Samuel and Caroline. In her spare time Dana enjoys reading, traveling, college football and spending time with her family.

Beth Hawthorn

Stacey Holder, M.D.

Stacey Holder was born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas. After graduating magma cum laude from Texas A&M University, she attended medical school at University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston where she graduated with distinction becoming a member of the AOA Honor Society. She completed her medical training in Internal Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital. She worked for two years in a private practice affiliated with Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas before moving to East Texas. Dr. Holder moved to Longview 13 years ago and lives here with her husband and two daughters. She started working part time in hospice which expanded her interest in palliative and end-of-life care. She is currently board certified in Internal Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is very active in the lives of her children and dedicates much of her free time to school activities such as PTA, band booster club, the Longview Independent School District Foundation, and teaching Junior Achievement. In the community she is a member of 100 Women Who Care as well as an active board member of the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance.

Dorothy Horne

Dorothy Horne, a retired first grade teacher, is a freelance writer, author, speaker and contributing columnist and blogger for the Longview News-Journal. She was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. Dorothy and her late husband, Byron, were married in 1977 and moved to Longview from Dallas in 1986. He was diagnosed in 2011 with early onset Alzheimer’s disease and died in May of 2018 at age 69.

Dorothy wrote columns about their journey throughout the course of Byron’s illness to help raise awareness about the disease, and also to share about God’s grace and provision in the midst of it. In 2015, she self-published a collection of these columns in her first book, “Glimpses of Grace: Walking in Hope through Alzheimer’s and Ordinary Days.” (A second collection of columns chronicling the remainder of their Alzheimer’s journey will be published in late 2020.) Also in 2015, Dorothy was humbled and honored to receive 1st Place in AAA Blogs in the annual TAPME (Texas Associated Press Managing Editors) Excellence in Journalism Awards state conference.

Dorothy remains passionate about advocating for and finding ways to help caregivers and their loved ones with Alzheimer’s. She feels blessed to be part of this dedicated and hard-working group of volunteers serving on the ETAA Board.

Dorothy has two daughters and four grandsons. She enjoys being with her family and friends, reading, writing, trail-walking, cycling and traveling.

Find her blog at www.dorothyhorneauthor.com and https://www.news-journal.com/blogs/reader/glimpses_of_grace/.

Kristen J. Ishihara

Kristen is an elder law attorney with the firm of Ross & Shoalmire. She is an accredited Veterans Affairs Attorney, a member of the National Association of Elder Law attorneys and licensed to practice in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Kristen is married and has two children – Lucas & Brianna, both seven years old.

Kristen Ishihara is humbled and honored to represent the citizens of Longview as the City Council Representative for District Four, having been elected in 2014 and now serving her second term.

Kristen and her family are members at Winterfield United Methodist Church. Kristen is the past President of the Zonta Club of Longview and the Junior League of Longview. Kristen is a mentor for Partners in Prevention, a board member for Longview Regional Medical Center and a founding board member of the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance and Longview PAWS.

Lori Ivey

Lori Ivey is a native of Longview, Texas and began her artistic journey in 2008 when she picked up her first camera. After operating a successful portrait studio for over a decade, the evolution of her career took her into commercial photography and then helping businesses flourish through creative mediums (marketing, graphic, and web design).

She has worked with restaurants, boutiques, salons, and large corporations to enhance their customer engagement. She is a lover of coffee, wine, growing things, my Goldendoodle Oliver, reading, yoga, and traveling.

Steve Jones

Bio Coming Soon

Betty Kirkindoll

Betty Kirkindoll is a native of Houston, Texas and moved to Longview in 1982. She worked in various aspects of  mortgage banking until her retirement in January of 2017 and has worked part time at First Christian Church since June of 2017.

Betty is a member of First Lutheran Church and is active in a bible study group and WELCA. She has been involved with numerous other charitable organizations including Longview Community Ministries, Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network, Meals on Wheels and Junior Achievement. Betty was also a member of The Pilot Club of Longview and has volunteered for Ally Fest and the Longview’s Annual Balloon Race.

Betty has been married to her husband, David, for 19 years. Her family includes her son, Kirk Carlisle, and wife, Jessica; stepson, Stacey Kirkindoll and wife, Michelle, and grandchildren, Luke Kirkindoll, Ava Kirkindoll and Anna Carlisle.

Kendal Land, M.Div.

Reverend Kendal Land was called to the First Presbyterian Church (FPC) of Longview in July, 2014. He previously served as head pastor for First Presbyterian Church of Arkadelphia, Arkansas for nearly nine years and First Presbyterian of Russellville, Kentucky for three years.

A lifelong Presbyterian and Shreveport, Louisiana native, Kendal received his Master’s of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia in 2003. Kendal and his wife, Lauren, met while in college at Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers) and have three children: twins, Jackson Camper and Carlisle, and Evangeline “Evie” Claire. An avid outdoors man and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) graduate, Kendal enjoys fishing and hiking and an occasional 5K. He is an amateur craft brewer and expert handyman and chef at the Land home. He is also an award-winning crawfish eater and dancer.

During his tenure in Arkansas, Kendal completed Leadership Clark County and was actively involved with Arkansas Presbytery, Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, Mo-Ranch, while serving as board member for Group Living, Inc., and coaching t-ball. Since moving to Longview, Kendal has become involved with Grace Presbytery, Newgate Mission and CASA and has served as a board member with the Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville, Texas. He participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership Longview class.

Shelly Longacre

Shelly grew up in Greenville, Texas where she lived for thirty plus years and worked in Banking as well as the Government Aeronautics Contracting Business.   During her time in Greenville she served on the Board of Directors of the Hunt County Family Services Center for those affected with Mental Disabilities.  Shelly and her husband, Richard, moved to the East Texas area in 2005, and Shelly has been working in the Senior Health Care Field in Admissions and Marketing since that time.   In 2010, Richard’s insurance business brought them to Longview.  Shelly and Richard attend Grace Creek Church where they serve on the First Impressions Team as Greeters.   She is the mother of two children, Jason aged 37, and Lauren, aged 30.   Lauren married William Angeletta in 2013, and she and Will, as well as Jason, reside in Garland, Texas.

Shelly currently works for Arabella Senior Living of Kilgore as the Community Relations Director, where she is responsible for Sales and Marketing, and Public Relations.    Shelly also follows out her passion of helping others by serving on the Longview Area Texas Oncology Foundation Committee, as well as serving as a founding member, and President of the East Texas Silver Citizens Coalition (ETSCC).   She is also involved with the Healthy Aging Coalition of East Texas (HACET).

Shelly loves working with people and is extremely passionate about those affected by Dementia and Alzheimer’s.   Her passion for helping those with Memory Care issues stems from the fact that her maternal grandmother had dementia, and now one of her aunts has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past fifteen years.   Helping those affected by Memory Care issues, as well as helping their Care Givers is very important to her, and she feels extremely humbled to be able to assist by serving on the ETAA Board.

Morgan Patel

Morgan is a resident of Longview, Texas, and is the Director of Nursing for Oceans Behavioral Hospital.  Oceans provides immediate inpatient care for patients suffering from mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s.  Morgan received her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Texas at Tyler and is currently taking classes to earn her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner license from Walden University.  Morgan is the wife to Janti Patel and the mother of Jagger and Riya Patel.  Morgan enjoys trips to Destin, Florida, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family.  Morgan is a member of the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance because she wants to spread the word to people in need the resources available, as well as, be a part in developing new resources for such a vicious, heartbreaking disease.

James "Jim" Sawyer, M.D., FACPDIRECTOR AT-LARGE

Dr. James Sawyer lives in Longview with his wife Nancy and retired from active medical practice in January 2017. He continues to serve as a consultant to the Medicare Center of Diagnostic Clinic of Longview (DCOL) and to the DCOL IT department on a limited basis. Dr. Sawyer graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1973, then earned his M.D. from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1976. Dr. Sawyer then moved to Houston to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine where he remained on faculty for 2 years prior to his move to Longview in 1982. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the Texas Medical Association. He is active at Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview. He volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Alliance of East Texas, Refuge International, and Meals on Wheels through Trinity Episcopal Church.

Jennifer Smith, DDSTREASURER

Jennifer Smith currently resides in Longview, Texas and is the Chief of Dental Services at Wellness Pointe. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from Loyola University New Orleans and her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. Jennifer is a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and East Texas Dental Society.  She serves as Treasurer on East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance (ETAA) Board. Jennifer is an active member of the Junior League of Longview and New Beginnings Church and on the Board of Directors of the East Texas Literacy Council. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, exercising, hiking, watching sports, and spending time with her dogs.

Nona Snoddy

Nona Snoddy is a lifelong resident of Longview, Texas and is a Special Education Teacher for Longview Independent School District. She received her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sociology from East Texas State University now Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. Prior to becoming an educator, Nona gained extensive experience in the professional fields of recreation and mental health. Nona was a supervisor at Broughton Recreation Center with the city of Longview and a qualified mental health professional for Sabine Valley MHMR. Nona currently serves on the Community Advisory Council for Bancorp South, Longview City Council for District Two, member of National Education Association and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Nona is a member of Parkview Missionary Baptist Church where she enjoys singing in the choir. Nona loves working with children and adults, spending time with family, watching sporting events and being a public servant. Nona and her husband Melson have been married for 32 years and have two beautiful daughters Roshundalyn and Rikki Snoddy.

Nelda Strong

Nelda Strong is a proud native of Longview and has been a resident here for much of her adult life other the years spent in Austin. She and her husband, Jack Strong moved back to Longview after his retirement in the year 2000.

Nelda graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.S. Degree in Education. She spent most of her career in public, private, and for-profit education. She was a classroom teacher and later became the director of a private school. Nelda pioneered the first all-day kindergarten in Trinity School of Texas, and brought Sylvan Learning Center to this area in 1984. She has also received training for mediation, and has conducted support groups of teen agers with divorced parents. Nelda was appointed to the Board of Regents of East Texas State University, at which time the board accepted the idea to join the Texas A&M system and it became Texas A&M, Commerce. She was on the founding board of Children’s Advocacy Center- Martin House. She is a sustainer in Junior League Longview, a member First United Methodist Church Longview, and was a board member of Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Dallas. Nelda’s proudest involvement is being on the board of East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance.

Nelda’s joy in life is family. She is the mother of two married daughters, five biological grandchildren, a foster grandson, and four step families. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family, life-long friends, and continuing to honor the memory of her beloved Jack, who died with Alzheimer’s in 2015.

Lori Tooker, PT

Lori is a Texan born and raised. Lori has over 21 years of practice and 28 years of experience in the field of Physical Therapy. After completing undergraduate work at UNT and Texas A&M, she graduated PT school from UT Southwestern Medical Center in 1997.

She moved to East Texas and began working in the acute care hospital setting at Good Shepard Medica Center. She was a staff therapist and soon became director of the wound care center. Lori then transitioned to inpatient rehabilitation. Next, Lori spent several years in outpatient sports medicine  and industrial rehabilitation in Tyler Tx. Finally, she returned to Longview and entered the field of home care as co-founder and owner of a contract Physical Therapy company. That experience eventually led to development and part ownership of a “therapy only” certified home health agency in 2000. Following the sale of that organization, she stayed in home care and became director of Therapy services for 2 large home care organizations in Longview before co-founding/owning a multi discipline contract therapy company. In Feb 2017 she became the sole owner, CEO of IPE Therapy Contracting & Consulting providing contract PT/OT/ST for the north east Texas territory. She remains a full time Physical Therapist. Her specialties are in the field of geriatric home care and vestibular rehab.

She is surrounded by loving friends and amazing co-workers who make it possible to provide the very best home care in East Texas. Lori is active in her community volunteering, participating or donating to events and local organizations including Hwy 80 Rescue Mission, East Texas CASA, Neal McCoy’s ETAN, AMBUCS, Drive 2 Remember, and the Longview Wine Festival benefiting East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance, just to name a few. She has been on the Board of ETAA since 2016 and feels it is her calling to use her leadership skills and tenure in the medical community to make an impact toward improving care and resources for local east Texans and their caregivers suffering with Alzheimer’s and dementia related diseases.

Cameron Williams

Cameron Williams resides in Longview, Texas and since 2016 has been the co-owner of GYMBOX Fitness in Longview and Texarkana. In addition to his regular job, Cameron is also the Founder and Director of Drive to Remember, a nonprofit who proceeds benefit the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance. Cameron earned his Bachelor of Science in human resource development with a minor in business management from the University of Texas at Tyler.

With a personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease due to his father’s late diagnosis, disease progression and passing in 2016, Cameron has a remarkable understanding of the disease and knows firsthand how Alzheimer’s can affect not just the patient but the entire family.

Cameron feels it is an honor to serve our community with such a wonderful group of individuals as an ETAA board member. His personal goal in this endeavor is to create more awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and to assist in enriched treatment programs for those families already affected. He believes that together, with knowledge and care, we can make a positive difference in the lives of East Texans.