Board of Directors

Mike Chandler, President

Michael Chandler is a retired registered Respiratory Therapist and health care executive.  Also retired as Senior Vice-President of Hospital Operations for Willis Knighton Health System in Shreveport, LA.  Past President of Chapter One Society of Respiratory Care, past President Board of Directors for Willis Knighton Credit Union.  Treasurer of Jefferson Lions Club and Board of Directors Marion County Chamber of Commerce.  Associates Degree in Respiratory Care from Tyler Jr. College.  Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Wiley College.


Seth Buckner, Vice-President

Pastor Seth Buckner and his wife Elizabeth have been married since 2002 and have 6 beautiful children: Joshua, Jonathan, Hannah, Grace, Lily, & Phillip.  Pastor Seth was raised in Kentucky, and is an avid sports fan.  He graduated from Indiana Baptist College in 2001 with a ministry degree.  He loves fishing and hunting and spending time with his family.  He is on the Board of Directors at the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the Jefferson Lions Club. The Buckners love East Texas and consider it home.


Jim Kale, Treasurer

Jim Kale is the administrator for Magnolia Place Wellness. Jim has an extensive background in marketing and finance. He recently was involved with the Kilgore Chamber and Henderson Chamber where he volunteered and promoted fundraising, membership and various outreach ministries. Jim is currently the President of the Children’s Advocacy Board for Rusk and Panola County. Jim received his MBA from LeTourneau  University and received his License for Nursing Home Administrator in 2019 Jim and his family reside in Longview.


Arcolia Jenkins-Watters, Board Member

Dr. G. Arcolia Jenkins-Watters has played a vital role in the lives of the citizens of this community and others. She is on the Board of Directors for Community Services of Northeast Texas, Inc.; Creating Opportunities in Marion County; and Minority Coalition for Economic Development. She founded SAIL (Summer Adventure in Learning) 15 years ago, a program targeting the youth of Jefferson. She is a retired principal, teacher, and educational specialist. Dr. Watters is the author of “From The Desk Of …” A native of Jefferson, she lives in Jefferson with her husband.

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Doug Thompson, Board Member

Doug has been in Sales and Marketing, at an executive level, for over 45 years and recently became a best selling author of a book based on that past experience called Knock! Knock!. He and his wife Shirley moved to Jefferson 5 years ago, bought Angell Manor and converted it back into a thriving Bed & Breakfast. Doug is very involved as a volunteer in Jefferson as a member of Rotary, past Vice President of Marion County Chamber of Commerce and is the Treasurer of Jefferson’s Economic Development Commission (JEDCO). Doug heads up our Ambassadors Club program and the Chamber Educational Seminars.


 Colt Johnson, Board Member

Colt is a former RCA/Communications Ambassador at US Postal Service, Rural Carrier at US Postal Service, worker at AFI Construction, LLC. He is currently the operator of Haywood House here in Jefferson. He studied advertising at University of Southern California, attended Fountain Valley School of Colorado, and studied in Spain.


David Hanson, Board Member

David Hanson graduated from East Texas Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. He’s a former U.S. Marine  where he served for five years. Hanson and his wife of 31 years, Traci, moved to Jefferson last year to assist their son Jarod and his wife Janna in operating Port Jefferson Coffee Roasters. He has served on the Chamber in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. He has worked in Colorado Helium Power plant, Duke Energy in IK and as a sales manager for Snider Industries for 17 years. 


Zach Baldwin, Board Member

Zach Baldwin is a proud Eagle Scout, native of Jefferson, and graduate of Jefferson High School and is currently pursuing a Business Political Science degree. He works part-time  for the Jefferson Tourism Department in promoting Jefferson, as well as at the Haywood House. Zach is the “Grassroots Coordinator” for Americans for Prosperity where he works to engage the grassroots to bring bottom-up solutions for the toughest issues facing both our State and our Nation. He partners with change makers in local communities to remove barriers that prohibit the American Dream.


Jim Carroll, Board Member

Jim Carroll and his wife Patsy, are local Jefferson residents, along with their dog Mocha. He is retired from teaching in banking services. Carroll grew up in Diana. His hobbies include golfing and gardening. He and his wife attend Heritage Baptist Church.  He holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Curriculum and instruction in Biology. He has served as the Biology department chair at Kilgore College.


Paul Moore, Past President

Paul grew up in Smithland, Texas, and graduated from Jefferson High School. He was a press corp reporter in the US Army in Vietnam. He then became the editor of the 6&10 News Cast. Paul served as a business insurance executive for many years, but has most recently worked as a residential building contractor. He was CEO of The Louisiana Home Builders Insurance Group for 11 years. As a philanthropist he held the title of “District Governor Lions Club International.” Paul is married to Janet Moore and they have two children and five grandchildren.