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Economic Development Staff

Michael Barnhill
409-839-2809 (Beaumont)
936-760-7080 (Woodlands)
tbarnhi@entergy.com

Mr. Barnhill came to Entergy Texas in 1994. He currently serves as Director of Economic Development and Real Estate. As director, he oversees a staff of one secretary, two industrial recruiters, three community developers, one trade show coordinator, and one research analyst. His responsibilities include management of the three economic development programs: Domestic Recruiting, Existing Industry, and Community Development/Teamwork.

Recently Michael’s responsibilities expanded to include oversight of real estate for Entergy Texas. In this role he oversees a budget of over $10 million for space planning, leasing, operations and maintenance of Entergy’s facilities. These facilities include land and over 1,000,000 square feet of space. In addition, Michael is responsible for business relationships with economic development allies and community leaders.

Michael is very active in Entergy’s communities serving as Vice Chairman of the South Montgomery County Woodlands Economic Development Partnership, board member for Greater Conroe Economic Development Council, board member and executive committee member for Education for Tomorrow Alliance, immediate past Chair of Montgomery County United Way, member of North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Advisory Council, member of Texas Community Development Institute Advisory Council, board member of Partnership of Southeast Texas Board, chairman of board for Edison Museum, board member for Texas Economic Development Council, and chair elect for Leadership Montgomery County Board.

A native of Mississippi, Barnhill joined the Entergy System in 1981. Prior to his current position, Barnhill served as Director of Strategic Planning for Entergy, a role that included facilitating senior management's long-term direction for Entergy. Barnhill, a certified public accountant, also has financial expertise from his position as an officer with a Jackson, Mississippi real estate development company and his work with Ernst & Whinney Certified Public Accountants (now Ernst & Young), a "Big 8" accounting/consulting firm. Barnhill holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MBA from Loyola University.

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John Tarver
936-760-7083
jtarver@entergy.com

Mr. Tarver brings 24 years of success in economic development and marketing to the Entergy Texas team. He is experienced in establishing and developing economic growth and planning programs within retail, commercial, wholesale and industrial markets. He has developed and coordinated new and innovative programs pertaining to alternate energy sources, community relations, rate design, real estate development, business retention and marketing. His experience includes working with cities, economic development allies and chambers of commerce throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in relation to planning and development of projects for economic growth. John graduated from Lamar University with a degree in marketing in 1978. He is a Certified Economic Developer and is a member of International Economic Development Council, Texas Economic Development Council and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.

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Carolyn Motl
409-981-3883
cmotl@entergy.com

Ms. Motl joined the economic development department in 1989. She manages the Team City program for about 15 communities and the Teen Team City program for several school districts. Carolyn's responsibilities focus on working with community leaders to help their communities prepare for business retention and expansion. Carolyn has worked in numerous positions and departments for over 30 years with the company, including T&D Engineering, Training, Corporate Planning and Marketing.

Carolyn is a graduate of Lamar University with a BA in Business Administration/Personnel Administration and a minor in Economics. She also has several certifications: Certified Community Developer (CCD), University of Central Arkansas and Certified Community Researcher (CCR), University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In addition she has completed the three-year Economic Development Institute and serves on numerous Boards, including: Chair of the International Community Development Council, Chair of the Texas Rural Leadership Program Board, Board Member of Association of Texas Leadership Programs and the Southern Economic Development Council. She also holds membership in the Texas Economic Development Council, serving on several committees and serves as Year I class director and advisory board member for the Texas Community Development Institute.

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Danielle Scheiner
281-362-4610
dschein@entergy.com

Danielle Scheiner joined Entergy Texas in the summer of 2007 after serving for six years as the Director of the Lake Conroe Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), where she was responsible for promoting tourism in the Conroe / Lake Conroe Area. 

Danielle coordinates the Team City program in 19 communities in the western part of the Entergy Texas service area. She has specialization in the areas of tourism development, event planning and coordination, community relations, management, marketing, analysis, strategic planning and public relations. She has served in a number of trade organizations including the Texas Travel Industry Association and the Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus, where she served on the Board of Directors. She has served as President of the Central Texas Bluebonnet Travel Council, as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Texas Forest Trail Region, and as a member of the Lake Conroe Tourist Council. Danielle currently serves on the Board of Directors for the following: Leadership Montgomery County, Conroe Main Street, Burleson County Industrial Foundation and the Sam Houston State University Small Business Development Center. She volunteers for Montgomery County United Way as a member of both their Community Impact Committee and Disaster Task Force. Danielle is also a member of the Texas Economic Development Council and the Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus.

Danielle received a BS in Recreation, Parks & Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M University in College Station. She is a certified hospitality training instructor through the TAMU Extension service. Her previous work experience includes employment with the State Preservation Board for six years, serving in various capacities as manager of the Capitol Visitors Center, event coordinator at the Capitol, and as an assistant to the Senate liaison.

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Kim McMurray
409-981-2745
kmcmurr@entergy.com

Kim McMurray joined the Entergy Texas economic development group in February 1998, but his face is far from new either to Southeast Texas or to the company. Kim has lived in the Beaumont area for 30 years and joined Gulf States Utilities (now Entergy) in 1979 as a communications representative. He was manager of Texas communications when he moved into his new position in early 1998.

Kim now manages the Team City community development program for about a dozen cities and towns in Southeast Texas. Team City helps participating communities retain and attract businesses and jobs. Kim also provides communications support for the Texas economic development group. He worked as a political writer and editor for the Beaumont Enterprise for 10 years before joining the utility company.

Active in the community, Kim is 2005 president of Beaumont Main Street, the city’s downtown development organization; serves on the Leadership Southeast Texas Advisory Council and is program co-chair for 2004-05; is an advisory director for the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce; vice president of the Beaumont Chamber Foundation that oversees Leadership Beaumont; and is on the board of Beaumont’s Edison Museum.

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Rick Hatcher
936-760-7069/ 281-362-4069
chatche@entergy.com

Rick Hatcher has been with Entergy Texas for twenty-seven years and has held various positions with the company including operations, marketing, customer service and economic development. For sixteen years he has been in the economic development department based in The Woodlands, Texas. Rick earned his Certified Economic Developer ,CEcD certification in 1994 and continues to keep that coveted award current. Rick headed up the highly successful community development Team City program in the Western Division of Entergy's Texas operations for seven years working with as many as twenty communities in strategic planning and development activities. Over the past nine years he has led the Entergy Texas trade show program working with communities and allies in marketing themselves for expansion opportunities. This program proactively seeks new industry and other businesses that would do well in southeast Texas. Rick also leads the business retention and expansion activities in Entergy Texas. Rick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sam Houston State University in 1976.

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Karen Bourdier
409-981-2467
kbourdi@entergy.com

Ms. Bourdier joined Entergy-Texas in September, 1996 as the manager of the Economic Development Research Center. In that capacity, she supports the staff and Entergy-served communities by providing research, economic impact analysis, marketing consultation, web site consultation, and maintenance of buildings and sites listings. She attained Community Development Certification in 2002. She has served as a board member of the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board since 2001 and currently serves as the Acting Chair. She serves on the steering committee of the Southeast Texas Workforce Alliance, on the board of Junior Achievement, and is a member of the Southeast Texas BioEnergy Alliance.

Prior to joining Entergy's Texas Economic Development group, Karen worked for Entergy (and previously Gulf States Utilities) as project leader for development of new computer systems.

She graduated from Northwestern Sate University in Natchitoches, La. with a BS in mathematics and from Lamar University with an MBA.

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Karl Segura
409-981-2345
ksegura@entergy.com

Mr. Segura joined the Economic Development staff in 1999 as the Manager of Business Development. Karl has worked for Entergy since 1980. Karl has a diverse background within the company including positions in Accounting, Market Research and several Commercial Marketing positions.

Since joining Entergy's economic development department, Karl's main responsibility has been to work closely with local, regional, state and national allies to attract new business and create new jobs for southeast Texas communities. He is experienced in developing economic growth in the retail, commercial and industrial markets.

Karl is a member of CoreNet Corporate Real Estate Network, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Texas Economic Development Council. Karl is a native of Southeast Texas and has resided in this area his entire life. He holds a BS in Accounting from Lamar University in Beaumont.

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Cindy Rambin
409-981-3829
800-729-7483 (SITE)
crambin@entergy.com

Ms. Rambin joined Entergy-Texas 18 years ago as a Senior Stenographer working in the Long-Term Finance Department. She is currently the Senior Secretary of Economic Development where she provides executive-level support to the Director of Economic Development and his staff of nine. Cindy attended Lamar University for two years.

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Tom Plauche
281-362-4626
tplauch@entergy.com

Tom Plauche joined Entergy Texas in 1997 after working at Entergy’s corporate headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. He currently serves as the Manager of Real Estate Operations for Texas. Tom is responsible for the management oversight of the Texas portion of Entergy’s buildings and properties which include 1.8 million sq-feet across the south-eastern portion of the state. He acts as a liaison to Entergy’s executives to advise them in the prudent operation and maintenance of company buildings. Tom oversees a department of over 20 employees who deliver facilities and construction services to Entergy on the properties that Entergy occupies. He has fiscal responsibility for all operations including maintenance, construction, and administrative services. Tom supports the Economic Development activities of the department by working with the recruiters in their analysis of potential business expansion sites.

Mr. Plauche has a degree in Mechanical Engineer from Tulane University in New Orleans and has worked in various capacities of Engineering, construction management and facility management for 25 years.

 

800-729-7483

Beaumont Location:
350 Pine Street
Beaumont, Texas 77701

P.O. Box 2951
Beaumont, Texas 77704

Woodlands Location:
9425 Pinecroft
The Woodlands, Texas 77380