Longview Works has been the theme for LEDCO this past year. We started the year last fall ahead of the Nation and Texas but recently our economy has been weakened by falling energy prices and less demand for manufactured goods – two of our primary industries. The third, healthcare, continues to grow. Today, 92% of our labor force is working and retail sales are still ahead of last year. Property values rose almost 3%. We will spend $500 million in school construction this year and next building quality facilities for future generations.

We want to take this opportunity to thank the very special people and their organizations listed below who work “behind the scenes” with the LEDCO staff everyday to help Longview grow and prosper. They do it because they want to be of service. They want to be a part of something that benefits everyone in the region. And, most important, they don’t mind who gets the credit.

We call them the “Longview Team” – people who care about their community and come together for what is best for Longview. Their work, ideas, responses, and involvement make a difference. If you see them, please tell them “thank you.”

Longview Works because these people work together!

• Keith Bonds, Director of Public Works, City of Longview

• Brad Bunt, Director, Kilgore College SBDC

• Julie Burnfield, Community & Economic Development Mgr, East Texas Council of Governments

• Angela Choy, Senior Planner, City of Longview

• Michael Cook, East Texas Council of Governments

• Kevin Cummings, Development Services Director, City of Longview

• Justin Cure, GIS Administrator, City of Longview

• Steve Norton, Fire Code Specialist, City of Longview

• Debby Deck, Director, Career & Technology Education, Longview ISD

• Chuck Ewings, Assistant City Manager, City of Longview

• Randy Fowler, Operations Manager, Workforce Solutions East Texas

• Cindy Gabehart, High School Principal, Pine Tree ISD

• Virginia Hall, Airport Manager, East Texas Regional Airport

• Tom Hays, Chief Appraiser, Gregg County Appraisal District

• Wendell Holcombe, Director, Workforce Development Programs, East Texas Council of Governments

• Roland Johnson, Area Director, Workforce Solutions East Texas

• Luke Kimbrough, Economic Development Specialist, East Texas Council of Governments

• Joey Lawrence, Customer Service Account Mgr, AEP/SWEPCO

• Cindy Leleko, Associate VP of Workforce Development, Texas State Technical College

• Keith Lloyd, Sales Manager, CenturyTel

• Gem Meacham, Assistant Director of Workforce Development, Kilgore College

• Jack Miller, Director, Longview University Center, UTT

• Shelby Moore, Foreign Trade Zone & Marketing Mgr, East Texas Regional Airport

• Wayne Prince, Manager, Engineering Design, AT&T

• Michael Shirley, City Planner, City of Longview

• Sandra Taylor, Project Director, Workforce Solutions East Texas

• Ron Tevebaugh, Customer Service Representative, AEP/SWEPCO

• Bob Tippit, Manager, Train Operation, Union Pacific Railroad

• Lindsay Vanderbilt, Public Information Officer, East Texas Council of Governments

• Skip Whittle, Building Official, City of Longview

• David Willard, City Manager, City of Longview

• Martha Woodruff, Workforce Development Director, Kilgore College

• Randy Yeakley, Corporate, Foundations & Church Relations, LeTourneau University

• Dick Zahm, Train Master, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway