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Our Board

DEDICATED TOURISM PROFESSIONALS

Board of Directors

Our board volunteers are selected for their leadership in tourism, preservation, marketing, education, and legislative affairs.

The purpose of the board is to:

• set policy for the region
• manage the legal obligations of the organization
• maintain ownership and accountability of the nonprofit development
• ensure the quality and performance of the regional work
• plan, hire, evaluate, support, and appropriately compensate the director
• recruit qualified new members to improve quality of the organization

Board members commit to a three-year term with an optional second term. Partners interested in joining the Texas Forest Region board may request an application from the director. Our Board volunteers represent the North, Central, and South areas of our 35-county region of East Texas. Each representative is selected for their leadership in tourism, preservation, marketing, education or legislative affairs.

FISCAL YEAR 2025

Meet Our Board

Ashley Morgan
President
Ashley Morgan serves as Executive Director of Visit Nacogdoches, where she leads efforts to promote the city as a premier destination for visitors and events. An SFA alumna, Ashley previously served as Visit Nacogdoches' Creative Content Director for four years, spearheading marketing strategies and strengthening its digital presence. Before joining the CVB, Ashley developed her marketing expertise as Marketing Assistant for the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO), supporting economic growth initiatives and showcasing the city's business community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising from Stephen F. Austin State University. Ashley lives in Nacogdoches with her husband and daughter, Millie, and is actively involved in the community.

Executive Director
Visit Nacogdoches
200 E Main St, Nacogdoches, TX
936-564-7351
info@visitnacogdoches.org
Megan Payne
Vice President
Megan Payne has been a resident of East Texas for over eight years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of Arts from Texas Tech University. As the Tourism and Marketing Manager for Visit Kilgore, Megan is passionate about promoting the charm and attractions of her town. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, embarking on adventures with friends, and spending quality time with her husband, Grant, and their two beloved dogs, Gumbo and Cookie.

Tourism Manager
Visit Kilgore
815 N Kilgore St., Kilgore, TX
903-218-6896
megan.payne@cityofkilgore.com
Cassie Ham
Treasurer
Cassie Ham, a life-long lover of art, travel, history and nature grew up in Palestine Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Texas at Tyler. After nearly 20 years, she returned to serve her beloved hometown community. She became the Tourism Marketing Manager for Visit Palestine with the City of Palestine in 2023. She, her husband and her son live in Palestine.

Tourism Manager
Visit Palestine
Palestine Visitor Center
825 W Spring St., Palestine, TX
(903) 723-3014
VisitorCenter@palestine-tx.org
Kelsey Knox
Member
Kelsey Knox joined the City of Atlanta in November 2023 as the Tourism & Visitor Center Director. She is passionate about showcasing East Texas as a welcoming and memorable travel destination. Before stepping into her current role, Kelsey worked as an Environmental Educator and Park Interpreter for several natural resource agencies, including five years with Texas Parks & Wildlife. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Middle Tennessee State University. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys traveling and hiking with her husband and spending quiet time at home with their four cats and dog.

Tourism & Visitor Center Director
City of Atlanta
101 N East St
Atlanta, TX 75551
903-650-2582
KKnox@atlantatexas.org
Nancy Windham
Member
Nancy C. Windham is the Regional Economic Development Advisor for Texas Forest Country Partnership, a 12-county organization focused on strengthening the economy and quality of life in rural Deep East Texas through marketing, business development, and advocacy. With more than 39 years of experience, Nancy has held leadership roles across Texas and the nation. She represented the State of Texas domestically and internationally through the Governor’s Office TexasOne Program, now known as Go Big in Texas, promoting the state as a destination for business and investment. She has been appointed by Greg Abbott to several boards, including the Texas Economic Development Corporation, the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents, and most recently the Texas Commission on the Arts. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University and graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. A resident of Nacogdoches, Nancy was named 2024 East Texan of the Year by DETCOG and received TFCP’s Silver Bucket Award in 2024 for her leadership and longtime service to the region.

Texas Forest Country Partnership
Regional Economic Development Advisor
PO Box 633822 Nacogdoches, TX
Office: 936-632-3552
nwindham@texasforestcountry.com
Seong MacLaren
Member
Seong MacLaren serves as the Tourism Director for Lindale, where she combines a passion for travel with a deep appreciation for the culture and character of East Texas. Known as the hometown of legendary entertainer Miranda Lambert, Lindale offers visitors a blend of music heritage, shopping, dining, and small-town charm. In her role, Seong works to showcase the experiences that make Lindale special, from community festivals and local businesses to its welcoming atmosphere and growing reputation as a destination in East Texas. Dedicated to creating memorable experiences for both visitors and residents, she helps highlight Lindale as a place where heritage, hospitality, and hometown pride come together.

Visit Lindale
Director, Downtown Development & Tourism
55 Miranda Lambert Way, Ste. 3
Lindale, TX 75771
seongm@lindaletx.gov
Office: 903-617-9132
seongm@lindaletx.gov
TEXAS FOREST TRAIL

Meet Our Executive Director

Jay Jones - Edited

Jay M. Jones

Born and raised in Port Arthur with family roots in Tyler County, Jay brings a deep connection to East Texas to his role as Executive Director.

A graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos, Jay has served in leadership and communications roles across several mission-driven organizations, including Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, and the Texas State Historical Association. His career has focused on storytelling, community engagement, and promoting the preservation of Texas’ cultural and historic resources.

As Executive Director of the Texas Forest Trail Region, Jay leads efforts to expand heritage tourism, foster regional partnerships, and promote East Texas history and culture.

Mission Statement

The Texas Forest Trail Region is a network of partners working together to foster regional economic development by promoting heritage tourism and the preservation of cultural and historic resources.