Our Staff

Raised in Sour Lake, Texas and graduated from Texas A & M University in 1973, Charlie is married to former Marilyn Holloway in 1974 – Retired English Teacher and graduate of Stephen F. Austin University Three children - Lisa 43 (Married to Toby Sledge), Laurie 40 (Married to Michael Moreland & Lindsey 37 (Married to Clayton Sheppard). Two Grandsons-Colson Sledge and Charlie Sheppard. Five Granddaughters – Georgia Sledge, Meredith Moreland, Juliet Sledge, Lucy Sheppard, and Mary C Sheppard. Started Chamber and economic development career in Jasper, Texas in 1974. Has served in Chambers/Economic Development organizations in Brenham, TX; Port Arthur, TX; Sherman, TX; and in Jackson, Tennessee, Abilene, TX, and Round Rock TX and the Texas Forest Country Economic Development Partnership in Lufkin, TX. Also served as Interim President at Chamber in Schertz, TX and Plano, TX. Was President/CEO of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce in Humble, TX from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015 and served as the SVP of Economic Development from January 1, 2016 until retirement on April 30, 2017. Since retirement he has served as Interim President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Interim President of the Parker County EDC, and Interim CEO of the Development Corporation of Abilene. Currently serving part-time as Economic Development Advisor for Sabine County, and Adjunct Program Specialist in Economic Development for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Also, co-founder of Solutions Consulting, a firm that provides strategic planning and organizational development services to chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, associations, and governmental entities. Conducted over 75 planning retreats for chambers, associations, and economic development organizations. Author of the book Chamber Stories That I Can Tell (and some that I probably shouldn’t) in 2016. Received the Certified Chamber Executive designation from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association in 1993. 1997 Outstanding Chamber Executive, presented by the Texas Association of Business & Chambers of Commerce. Received the STAR Award from the Texas Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation in 2002.

Erica Sullivan joined the City of Denton’s Economic Development Department in 2008. Prior to her current position, she worked for the Heart of Texas Council of Governments for six years and most recently served as Director of Regional Services for the organization. Erica has over 15 years experience in government and 10 years in the Economic Development field. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute and the City of Denton's Leadership Certification Program. She is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) and has served on two of the association's committees. She was a speaker at the Technology Basics for Small Business Training in Denton, Texas in July 2009 and the Texas Environmental Trade Fair in Austin, Texas in May 2007.