OUR Team

Board of Directors

Pablo Aguirre

PRESIDENT

State Farm Insurance Manager with over 28 years of experience in insurance agency management, specializing in strategic planning and project management. Proven track record in enhancing agency operations through attention to detail and innovative problem-solving. Expertise in leading teams to exceed performance targets and improve customer satisfaction.

Experience:

  • Agency Sales Resources Manager, State Farm Insurance, Irving, TX (2002-2016):

    • Established the new Agency Sales Resources Department.
    • Implemented growth strategies and collaborated with teams to meet targets.
    • Resolved complex administrative issues and boosted team productivity.

  • Agency Administration Manager, State Farm Insurance, Austin, TX (1991-2002):

    • Delivered high-quality results with a focus on precision.
    • Streamlined operations and enhanced protocol adherence for greater efficiency.

  • Agency Administration Management Program, State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL (1988-1990):

    • Managed client records and improved administrative processes.
    • Developed innovative client service strategies to enhance satisfaction.

Education:

  • BA, University of Texas at Austin (1973-1975)
  • AA, Bee County College (1971-1973)

Skills:

  • Project Management
  • Team Leadership
  • Customer Service
  • Strategic Planning
  • Problem Solving

Languages:

  • Spanish (Experienced)

Awards:

  • Outstanding Customer Service Award, Agency Sales Resources, Irving, TX (2003)

Frank "Bud" Box, Jr.

Vice President

EDUCATION:

  • May 1977 – Bachelor Science Agricultural Education Texas A&M University, College Station
  • May 1978 – Master Education, Texas A&M University, College Station

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • 11/1993 to 1/2016 – Floresville I.S.D. Alternative Education Center, initially hired to teach Math/Science then to took over Principal for 23 ears. Took facility from a one-room facility to a new custom-built K-12 campus serving Floresville and 11 surrounding school districts who did not maintain their own DAEP, JJAEP and AEP program.

CURRENT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • 2010 – Present Board Member (three terms as President) Nixon-Smiley C.I.S.D.
  • 2011 – Present Founding Director Nixon-Smiley Education Foundation
  • 2015 – Present Board Member, current Vice Chair Gonzales County Appraisal District
  • 2021 – Present             Member, current Treasurer Present Nixon Lions Club
  • 2023 – Present Vice President: Rancho Nixon Historic Association
  • 2009 – Present Founding Board Member Wilson County Garden Days

PAST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • 2015 – 2021 Developmental Advisory Board Member,

Texas A&M Agriculture Leadership Education & Communications College

  • 2010-2016 Director, Wilson County Crimestoppers
  • 1982-1991 Director (past President) Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show, 2020 inductee

Hall of Fame

  • 1989 – 1994 City Council Member, City of Nixon
Bud Box

John B. Hewell, Jr.

Secretary

EXPERIENCE

  • Born in Seguin,
  • Graduated from Nixon High School in 1969.
  • Attended the University of Texas, Austin two years.
  • Served in the Army National Guard for eight years.

WORK HISTORY:

  • 20+ years of Oil Field Services / Sales
  • Field Service /Sales Representative for NL Atlas Bradford
  • Manager of Field Services for Seal Tech Corp.
  • Manager of Family Ranching Operation, Bird Hewell Polled Charolais, LTD
  • After School Program Coordinator for Floresville ISD Alternative Education Center for 14 years

ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITES:

  • Board of Directors, Nixon /Smiley Livestock Show.
  • Lions Club
  • President Featherfest Organization, community annual celebration.
  • Nixon Cemetery Association Church
  • Nixon Housing Authority Commissioner
  • Nixon Hospital District Board of Directors.
  • Rancho/Nixon Historical Association Board of Directors.
  • Proud to be a 6th generation resident of the Rancho/ Nixon area and proud to run cattle on part of my Great-Great-Great Grandmother ‘Cissi’ Briggs original ranch.

Verne Colwell

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

EXPERIENCE

  • 1961-1962: Graduated from Nixon High School; attended Texas State University for one year and a summer.

  • 1962-1963: Worked in the finance department at Dresser Industry in Houston, TX.

  • 1964-1966: Employed at C. D. Cook, Co., the family feed and hardware store in Nixon, TX.

  • 1967-1974: Joined Great Western Finance in Seguin, TX, starting as Assistant Manager. Managed personal loans and vendor financing, overseeing offices in Fort Worth, McAllen, and Corpus Christi.

  • 1974-1986: Following the acquisition by Commercial Credit, managed the McAllen office, which became Texas’s largest. Expanded loan offerings up to $25,000 for personal use and business loans up to $1 million. Managed consumer loan offices in Houston and opened first mortgage offices in San Antonio. Became Vice-President in 1982, overseeing operations in Central South Texas and Louisiana until 1986.

  • 1986-1993: Served as Vice-President of Finance and Credit at LFD Furniture, working with former colleagues from Great Western Finance. Co-founded Reliable Finance in 1988, becoming President. Resigned from LFD in 1993 due to dual responsibilities.

  • 1993-Present: Currently President of Reliable Finance.

Vern Lowell
Hoffman

Donald Dean Hoffman

FOUNDER AND TREASURER

EXPERIENCE

  • Graduated Nixon High School: 1957, Nixon, Texas
  • Bachelor of Science: Texas A&M 1961
  • Master of Education: Southwest Texas State University 1982

 

Employment:

  • Served in United States Army Active duty/reserves 1962-1968
  • Southwest Investment Corp. Loan Officer
  • USDA Office Mgr
  • Nixon ISD Teacher High School History 1964-1979
  • Executive Director of Texas Independent Cattlemen 1979-80
  • Nixon ISD Teacher and Principal
  • Owner of Insurance agency
  • Petroleum Landman
  • Cattle rancher: 1980-2015

Deborah M. Bustamente

communication director

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, May 1982
  • Generalist Teaching Certification, University of Houston-Victoria, 2001-2004

Work Experience:

  • City Secretary, City of Smiley, TX (April 2022 – July 2023)

    • Served under Mayors Michael Mills and Lisa Benavidez.

  • City Secretary, City of Nixon, TX (December 2019 – April 2022)

    • Worked under Mayor Dorothy Riojas and City Manager Harold Dean Rice.

  • State Farm Insurance Agent, Stacey Roy State Farm Agency, Anchorage, AK (February 2018 – August 2019)

  • Customer Service Agent and Collections Representative, General Communications Inc., Anchorage, AK (August 2004 – December 2017)

  • Special Education Teacher, Nixon-Smiley C.I.S.D., Smiley, TX (August 2000 – Spring 2004)

Achievements:

  • Gonzales County Elections Clerk and Judge
  • Public Notary
  • Vice President, Nixon Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture (2021-2022)
  • Vice President, Nixon Housing Authority (2023-2024)
  • Board Member, Nixon Hospital District (2023-2024)
  • Board Member, Rancho Nixon Historical Society (2022-Present)
  • Founder and Market Director of City of Nixon and City of Smiley Saturday Markets
  • Member and current Bookkeeper at Nixon Global Methodist Church
  • Six-time Employee of the Month at GCI, Anchorage, AK
  • Ten-year volunteer for GCI Academic Decathlon and Anchorage City Church Cold Weather Shelter
  • Volunteer Teacher of Math and Spanish at New Directions Charter School, Anchorage, AK
  • Fundraising Leader for GCI Angel Tree
  • Certified Alcohol and Drug Traffic Safety Instructor for 15 years in Dewitt and Harris Counties, TX
Deborah