The Tyler Morning Telegraph Publisher Justin Wilcox leads the newspaper's new Community Advisory Board on Tuesday Aug. 27, 2019. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Eleven East Texas residents have been named to the 2019-20 Tyler Morning Telegraph Community Advisory Board.

Members come from a variety of backgrounds and include native East Texans; recent transplants; professionals in the law enforcement, real estate and health care fields; nonprofit executives, retired educators and veterans. They represent subscribers and non-subscribers.

The newspaper is launching this board as a way to hear from the community about the issues that matter to them and what they would like to see from their local newspaper.

During monthly meetings, members will provide their critique about what the newspaper — through its print products, website and newsletters — is doing well and where it can improve.

Our goal is to be the best publication we can be that the community will support, and this board is designed to help us do that.

Board members will meet eight times between now and April 2020.

Board members are:

Russell Buffington, retired chief investigator for Smith County District Attorney’s Office and part-time criminal investigator for Gregg County DA’s Office;

Linda Compton, retired speech pathologist;

Holly Hightower, real estate broker and chairman elect for Greater Tyler Association of Realtors;

Will Knous, manager media-public relations for Christus Health Northeast Texas;

Kristen Long, Army veteran, former educator, yoga instructor and part-time staff member at Tyler Public Library;

Nan Moore, president/CEO of United Way of Smith County;

Nancy Rangel, president/CEO Tyler Hispanic Business Alliance;

Caroline Sanchez, officer with Tyler Area Gays, volunteer with veterans and animal welfare organizations;

Libby Simmons, executive vice president of Tyler Area Builders Association;

Larry Wade Sr., retired educator and school administrator, pastor and first African American board member at Smith County Historical Society;

Ivette Zavarce, community marketing for Texas Children’s Health Plan and volunteer with various community ministries.

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