Meet South Tyler Rotary members at Bergfeld Park on the Tennis Courts off of College - let's double check the start time at the Monday meeting!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Tom Seale
Connie and Tom Seale married in June of 1978 and moved to Tyler in October of that year. Tom joined Rotary in 1979, so 2020 is his 41st year. He started his career in banking, but in 1985 began 17 years of service as the CFO for Buford Television (Broadcast and Cable television industry). After the company sold in 2002, Tom worked in the Nuclear Radiopharmaceutical business (NuTech) for nine years before getting back into banking in 2012. Currently, he works at VeraBank (formerly Citizens National Bank) in Business Development.
Connie is an interior designer and they have two sons. Thomas IV is a physician in Florida and got engaged in December. Chipman (Connie’s maiden name) is a CPA and works for Diamondback Energy in Investor Relations in Midland, Texas. He and his wife, Shannon, are expecting Tom and Connie's first grandchild on February 7th - it’s a girl! 2020 looks to be an exciting year for the Seale Family.
In addition to Rotary, Tom also serves as the Chairman of the Development Board for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He has been on the Board of the East Texas Crisis Center for 15 years and truly appreciates the support that SLR has provided that organization over the years. Tom also serves on the TJC Foundation Board, and recently served as Chairman of the East Texas Food Bank Foundation. He and Connie are active members of Marvin United Methodist Church.
Connie and Tom planned a trip to Egypt in January, something they have never done before. Their favorite family tradition involves cooking Christmas dinner with family and friends, with emphasis on the Christmas Eve preparation time. With a relatively small immediate family, they enjoy holidays with their many friends in Tyler.
Juan E. Mejia proudly serves the students and communities of East Texas through his role as President & CEO for Tyler Junior College (TJC). He is approaching his seven-year anniversary with TJC, and prior to this role, served as a founding member and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at South Texas College (STC).
Both institutions are recognized as Legacy Colleges by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Only four from throughout the state.
He currently serves on the national Board of the Community College Baccalaureate Association, the state Board of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and on our local Tyler Economic Development Council. He has previously served on the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Tyler, the East Texas Human Needs Network, and the Music & Arts Alliance of Texas. He is a member of the Tyler Business Education Council, the Tyler Area Partnership 4 Education, the Smith County Seat Coalition, and the Lindale Music Friendly Community Designation Committee. He has also previously served on the Boards for the National Council for Workforce Education, the Texas Associate of College Technical Educators, the Literacy Council of Tyler, CASA of East Texas, and the Tyler Innovation Pipeline. (They do not have to all be mentioned. Overall, he enjoys serving our communities through his role in local boards.)
Dr. Mejia was the 2017 recipient of the Nelson Award by the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and he has been recognized during the 84th, 85th, and 86th Texas Legislative Sessions for his service to Texas students and communities through his role with a Texas junior/community college. He was also recently recognized as a Distinguished Pioneer of the Valley Scholars Program, by South Texas College.
He is a graduate of Texas State Technical Institute, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
He is a graduate of the Leadership Tyler’s Executive Orientation Series, and also an honorary member of PTK’s Chapters Beta Epsilon Mu, from South Texas College, and Alpha Omicron, from Tyler Junior College.
He believes in service to students and communities by creating a culture and environment where leadership is valued, learning is celebrated, collaboration is promoted, and personal and professional growth is encouraged and supported. His values include a commitment to the mission of junior/community colleges, the empowerment of everyone from the college community to achieve their fullest potential, an ethical value system where honor and principles permeate throughout, a vision for courage and legacy, and accountability and transparency that strengthens trust and respect within the College community and with external stakeholders. He is the father of five boys, and he lives in Tyler, Texas, with his wife Meela, and a number of rescue pets.
Meet South Tyler Rotary members at Bergfeld Park on the Tennis Courts off of College - let's double check the start time at the Monday meeting!
sold in 2002, Tom worked in the Nuclear Radiopharmaceutical business (NuTech) for nine years before getting back into banking in 2012. Currently, he works at VeraBank (formerly Citizens National Bank) in Business Development.
