Janice Cartwright, Executive Director, joined RECA in May 2000. During her tenure, RECA’s membership more than doubled, although 2009 ended with a drop in membership. Not only has RECA grown in numbers, but in its financial strength and influence on policy issues. RECA provided the seed money for Opportunity Austin in 2003; pledged $500,000 to support the Hill Country Conservancy’s efforts to purchase open space in Central Texas in 2005 and co-funded two campaigns to defeat 1) Props 1 and 2, SOS’s petition-initiated charter amendments, in 2006 and 2) Prop 2, the citizen-initiated charter amendment in 2008 that, if passed, would have forced the city of Austin to terminate two legally-binding commitments made with the developers of the Mueller neighborhood (the old airport) and The Domain.

Cartwright is a native Central Texan, a graduate of Southwest Texas State University and a Certified Public Accountant. She has extensive accounting, lobbying, and public relations experience.

Susan Hewlitt, Assistant to the Executive Director, rejoined RECA in May 2007. Susan previously served as RECA's office manager five years before going on maternity leave.

Susan is orginally from Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Iowa State University in 1994 with a Bachelors degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management.

Nancy McDonald joined RECA in August, 2007. She is currently RECA's Director of Regional Outreach.

Nancy has seven years experience as an account executive at McDonald Public Relations Inc. (MPRI) where she implemented public affairs plans for multiple clients with legislative issues in Texas. In addition to media relations and communications support for lobby efforts, Nancy has demonstrated expertise in grassroots organizing for client issues. Prior to her tenure at MPRI, McDonald worked for the Office of the Attorney General as a Human Resources Trainer/Facilitator for more than a decade.

Originally from El Paso, Nancy received her B.A. in Political Science from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Michael Wilt joined RECA in June 2008 as Director of Government Relations. Michael represents RECA at City Hall, monitors city meetings, and facilitates RECA’s City of Austin Policy Issue committee.

Wilt has extensive policy, legislative, and lobbying expertise through his tenure at the Texas Capitol and for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. While working towards his law degree, Wilt facilitated training for Fortune 500 companies, Am Law 100 law firms, and industry leading technology companies and financial institutions as a Client Relations Specialist for Management Team Consultants.

A native of Amarillo, Wilt received his B.A. in Government and Latin from the University of Texas in 2002 and his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2007.

Allison Scharf joined RECA in August 2006 as Office Manager. She resigned as RECA's Director of Events and Administration effective August 19, 2010. She will be working at RECA part time through mid October 2010.

Prior to her resignation to return to graduate school. Allison facilitated all membership-related affairs including working with the Membership Committee to retain and recruit members as well as planning semi-annual membership appreciation events and happy hours. She also supported the Christmas in October and Gardner-Betts Art Auction committees.

Scharf has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Texas State University. She has administrative and management experience, and was last employed by the State Bar of Texas. In addition, Scharf performs with OHN and just released her first solo CD called "What You Got for Me."

Lesley Sanchez joined RECA on April 19, 2010 as RECA's Office Manager.

Sanchez is originally from Louisiana. She received a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Services from the University of Mississippi. She moved to Austin in 2007 and spent two years working as a legal assistant with Porter, Rogers, Dahlman & Gordon, LLP law firm. Prior to joining RECA, Sanchez worked part time as an event planner and personal assistant.

 

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