L. Gene Kornegay

L. Gene Kornegay became a TMPA board member in 2007 and is presently serving as Secretary. He brings extensive international experience in negotiating and management to his position. The Texas native moved to the Bryan area when he was in elementary school. Mr. Kornegay received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Cum Laude, from Texas A&M University and earned his Juris Doctor from Baylor University School of Law.

During his career he has held senior management positions with ConocoPhillips and as President, Chief Operating Officer and board member of GLOBEX Energy, Inc. Currently, Mr. Kornegay advises and consults with businesses investing internationally.

Dedicated to young people, Mr. and Mrs. Kornegay enjoy spending time with Texas A&M University students as they mentor them in their studies and career paths. He also enjoys, running, reading and spending time with his wife and children.

Phil Gallivan Jr.

Mr. Gallivan became a TMPA Board member in 2006. Currently retired, he began his banking career in 1963 and was ultimately responsible for $900 million loan portfolio as Executive Vice President at Marquette National Bank, Minneapolis, MN. In October 1991 his employer purchased the First State Bank of Texas and transferred to Denton, TX as Executive Vice President and Board Member responsible for Credit Administration. During his tenure, growth and acquisitions of five additional banks allowed First State Bank of Texas to grow from $250M to $750M. In October 2007 he became an originating investor and Board member with Access 1st Capital Bank, Denton, Texas and currently serving as Chair of the Directors Loan Committee.

He is currently involved in numerous local organizations as a board member. Notably: Denton Public Utilities, Denton Community Theatre, Salvation Army and United Way of Denton County. Previous Board memberships include Gila Corp. of Austin, Texas Women’s University Foundation, Denton Country Club and the University of North Texas Business Advisory Board. Mr. Gallivan is class of 1962 St. Thomas College with an accounting major.

Chris Watts

Mr. Watts joined the TMPA Board of Directors in September 2009 and has been a member of Denton's City Council since 2007. Mr. Watts is a real estate attorney. He graduated from Denton high school before going on to the University of North Texas and obtaining a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in education counseling and student services. In 1990 Mr. Watts switched his career path from computer programmer and analyst to real estate broker and investor. He later attended Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2000, and pursued a career in real estate law. His combined interest in education and student services with real estate has given him the background to coach students for the American Bar Association Student Division Negotiation Competition for the past several years.

Tom Jefferies

Currently the President of the board, Mr. Jefferies has served as a board member from 1987 to 1991 and again from 2006 to the present time. He has been Secretary and acted as Vice President twice. Tom also served as a Garland City Council member from 1985 until 1989.

He received his accounting degree from Kent State, and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1969. He grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee, and is currently a residential real estate investor.

James B. Ratliff

Mr. Ratliff has been active in city and state politics since 1983. He served on Garland City Council from 1983 to 1987 and again from 1989 to 1991. In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Garland and served two terms until 1998. During this time, he was instrumental in TMPA’s switch to Powder River Basin coal. Jamie started on the TMPA board in 2004 and served as Secretary in 2007.

He also serves on the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification board and owns an appraisal business. Jamie graduated from East Texas State and North Texas State.

Sue Ann Harting

Ms. Harting's history with TMPA began in 1995-1996 during TMPA's lignite to PRB coal conversion. She returned in 1998 and served until 2002. Now serving her third appointed term beginning in July, 2004, the former mayor of Greenville, has had both a successful political career, as well as success as a business executive. In the '80's, she was President and General Manager for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Greenville. Ms. Harting began at the company as the office manager, then served as Vice President and General Manager before working her way to the presidency. She was the first president in company history to attain the title by appointment.

In 1969 Ms. Harting received her Bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University in the fields of Psychology and English. Her awards include TPPA’s 2008 Public Service Award, Worthy Citizen of Greenville in 1986, a 2004 National Medallion from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the 1999 Jack Miller Public Service Award from the Texas Public Power Association, and the 1997 Non-Rotarian of the Year award from the Greenville Rotary Club. In June 2009 Texas Public Power announced Sue Ann Harting would receive the 2009 Jack Miller Public Service Award.

Byron Chitwood

Byron was appointed to the TMPA Board in 1996 and has served as Vice President, President and is currently Vice President. He graduated from Oklahoma University in 1957 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Byron worked with the oilfield and mining drill bit industry in various capacities with several companies as Field Engineer, Product Manager, Chief Engineer and then President of Walker-McDonald manufacturing. He served on the Greenville City Council for seven and one-half years and as Mayor from 2000 through 2003.