Texian Rally 2024
NOVEMBER 12-13
True to Life Ministries
105 This Way
LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS
The Texian Rally Workshop is for anyone interested in creating advocacy, boosting attendance, and promoting their heritage and cultural tourism resources. On this page, find the Rally schedule and bios of speakers.
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​WEDNESDAY
November 8
November 12
Afternoon Educational Tours & Networking Event - only Workshop attendees may attend
1:00 p.m. HISTORIC DRIVING TOUR in BRAZOSPORT REGION - caravan in own vehicle
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Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, West Columbia
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Levi-Jordan Plantation State Historic Site, Brazoria
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Freeport Historical Museum & Texas Navy Room (mixer by Freeport Main Street with refreshments)
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5:00 p.m. FREE TIME to walk and visit shops of Lake Jackson
6:30 p.m. NETWORKING DINNER - Lake Jackson TBD (Dutch Treat)
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November 13
Texian Rally Workshop
8:30 a.m. Registration (coffee and snacks)
9:00 a.m. WELCOME from Lake Jackson officials and TITR Executive Director Seneca McAdams
9:15 a.m. "Tips for a Festive Heritage Festival"
Mike Baxter, CFEE, Texas Festival & Tourism Consulting
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10:00 a.m. "Yes, Heritage Tourism is Economic Development"
Patti Mills, PCED, President & CEO, Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County
10:45 a.m. BREAK to visit Raffle and Vendor Tables
11:00 a.m. Meet Joseph Bell, the New Texas Historical Commission Executive Director
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11:30 a.m. Texas Independence Trail Region Awards
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Noon Networking Lunch
1:00 p.m. Panel Discussion "Strategies for Creating, and Sustaining an Effective Volunteer Program"
Lindsay Scovil, Lake Jackson Historical Museum
Jordan Keiffer, Sea Center Texas
David Castillo, Dow Chemical
1:45 p.m. Working with the Texas Heritage Trails Program
2:15 p.m. SNACK BREAK & RAFFLE
2:30 p.m. Teaming up with Local Photographers - Photo Contest Winners announced
3:00 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Mike Baxter, CFEE
Owner
Texas Festival & Tourism Consulting
Mike is an experienced marketing and festival professional with a history of working in the festival, tourism and government administration industry, including the city of Tomball,
Trader’s Village, and Splashtown. He is skilled in photography, advertising, tourism
marketing, festival creation and management, writing, and consulting.
Mike has a bachelors degree focused in journalism and marketing from Georgia State
University. He is Past Chairman of the Texas Festivals & Events Association, a former
Board member of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a Certified
Festivals and Events Executive - International Festivals & Events Association.
He is the founder of Texas Festival & Tourism Consulting which serves small and medium
cities, destinations, and festivals across the Lone Star state. Mike has used his skills to
recently create and host "Festival Soup" the podcast for fair and festival professionals, and the weekly industry blog, "Fest Talk & Tips."
Mike is an active member of the Tomball Rotary Club. He lives in Tomball with his wife
Rhonda. They enjoy spending as much time as they can with their children and
grandchildren.
Patti Mills, PCED
President & CEO
Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County
Patti came to the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County in February 2021 as the Executive Vice President. With over 22 years in the Economic Development industry
with the cities of Angleton and Stafford, Patti was promoted to the President & CEO on January 1, 2022. The Alliance works with Brazoria County, local municipalities, chambers of commerce along with our businesses and industries to serve as a resource and advocate for the development and diversification of the economic foundation of the County.
Prior to her time at The Alliance, Patti was the Economic Development Director for the City
of Angleton from 2001 until 2016 and served as the Executive Director of the Stafford
Economic Development Corporation from 2016 until 2021.
Patti is a Brazoria County native having graduated from Brazosport High School and holds a B.S. degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University. She has completed the Texas Community Development Institute and currently holds the designation through CDI as a Professional Community and Economic Developer. She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Texas Economic Development Council, and the Greater Houston Partnership.
Patti’s greatest joy is her daughter Paige, who recently finished Law School and is working
at Cordoba Law Firm in Lake Jackson. She also recently had a name change when she
married a fellow Aggie, Mason Mills, and inherited two great sons.
Joseph Bell
Executive Director
Texas Historical Commission
Joseph Bell, as 7th Executive Director of TCH, leads the Lone Star State's official state agency for Texas historical preservation, providing guidance and oversight to the agency's 38 historic sites, delivering regulatory guidance for state and federal historic and archeological designations, state and tax historic tax credits, and other economic development programs showcasing historic preservation benefits to quality of life, tourism and downtown revitalization.
During Bell’s tenure, the THC has grown both the network of state historic sites under the agency’s stewardship and vastly expanded interpretation, programming, and visitor amenities. Key initiatives under Bell’s leadership include the opening of the 10,000-square-foot visitor center at San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, a major restoration and re-opening of the Fulton Mansion State Historic site following Hurricane Harvey, and the addition of the Bush Family Home (Midland) and Presidio La Bahía (Goliad) as state historic sites in 2023.
Before joining the THC, Bell had leadership roles with History Colorado overseeing regional museums, state preservation grants, and serving as Vice President of Finance and Facilities, as well as earlier work with the National Park Service and the City of Denver related to historic preservation projects.
Lindsay Scovil
Executive Director
Lake Jackson Historical Museum
Lindsay holds a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in History, both from
the University of Houston. She was previously the executive director of the Houston History
Alliance and the editor of the Handbook of Houston, the only city-centric spinoff of the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas. She has authored numerous articles for the Houston History magazine, where she also served as associate editor, and recently authored the foreword to The Texas Archive War: Houston and Lamar Battle for the Capital.
Lindsay also serves on the board of the SPCA of Brazoria County, the board of Brazosport
Rotary, and is the president of the Southeast Texas Museum Alliance.
Lindsay grew up in a small town in Nebraska roughly the same size as Lake Jackson, and
she's thrilled to now call this beautiful and enchanted city home.
Jordan Keiffer
Program Specialist III
Coastal Fisheries Division | Sea Center Texas
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Jordan is the Visitor Center Coordinator for Sea Center Texas. She works with around 160
diverse volunteers who run the visitor center, education programs, outreach events, dive program, introduce youth to fishing, and much more. Before Sea Center, Jordan worked as an Interpreter for Galveston Island State Park and Harris County Parks as well as a variety of non-profit organizations.
She graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education. Her favorite aspect about Texas Parks and Wildlife and working with volunteers is a shared passion for their work and the many talents individuals bring that truly make it a wonderful community to work for.
Although born and raised in Washington state, she moved to Texas as soon as she could.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs and going on outdoor
adventures on foot and land, exploring the beautiful state of Texas.
David Castillo
Corporate Volunteer Manager
Dow Chemical
David was born in Victoria and raised in Lake Jackson. He graduated from Brazoswood High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Texas State University. He is natural born giver, when he sees a need, he always tries to help.
David and a few of his friends started Rayzur’s Crawfish Cook-Off in 2011. This annual event has generated thousands of dollars to donate to nonprofits throughout Brazoria County.
He worked at United Way after Hurricane Harvey, serving as the communications manager for the Long-Term Recovery Committee. This led him to his current career path. David is the Corporate Volunteer Manager for Dow Chemical. In his role he is a liaison between Dow and nonprofits.
He is married to his wife Kristine and they enjoy their children’s activities.