Who We Are

Amy Evans-Gean is ETCIL’s Executive Director. Amy joined ETCIL in 2017 as the Independent Living Skills Coordinator. Amy’s greatest passion is to join others in their discovery of their strengths, values, and purpose. Amy is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor with over 20 years’ experience working in the East Texas community in the areas of disability, mental health, and trauma. She is Nationally Certified in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy. Amy has a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Master of Science in Family Studies from Amberton University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is married with one son.  She enjoys spending time with family, art, theater, cooking, and learning new things.

Lisa joined ETCIL as Finance Director in June 2018 and oversees all aspects of finance and accounting and serves as the liaison with the payroll service, insurance brokers, and the public accounting firm.  She has created policies and procedures to ensure proper internal controls over the finances as well as updated various payroll and human resource procedures to become less dependent on paper.  When she’s not worried about grant funding she enjoys spending time on the east coast with her two nieces and nephew, or on the west coast with her cousin and her family.  Her love of exploration has taken her to Italy, the Dominican Republic, and Sedona Arizona, but at home, she enjoys reading rom-coms on her Kindle while enjoying a cup of hot coffee with her two cats curled up next to her.

Kay joined ETCIL in 2020. She is the Lead Relocation Specialist for the HBC department and the Office Manager. She has a passion for how ETCIL impacts the community. She has two children and two grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys playing Bingo and watching NFL football and reality TV.

Patti is a Relocation Speicalist, and has been with ETCIL since 2016. Prior to working at ETCIL, Patti has worked for Texas Workforce Commission (DARS) Services in the Blind Division for three years. She has also had experience being a transciptionist, surgical tech, CMAA, banking, legal assistant, newspaper coder/teleprint, and a medical assistant. Patti has a Associates degree in Buisness, Biology, and Surgical Tech. Patti also has a certification in CMAA. Patti lives with her husband, grandkids, and dachshund. In her spare time she enjoys going places with her family, working at her church, crocheting, painting, and gardening. 

Throughout my career I have worked in various industries and included the following titles: Warehouse Manager, Staff Accountant , VP of Finance in telecom, and Director of Finance in healthcare.  Also as an Energy Analyst, Systems Manager, and Senior Business Analyst for a local grocery company. I was part owner of an IT company in my earlier years and currently own a small business consulting firm, and a repair and maintenance company. Various past requirements led me to obtain a Lean Six Sigma Certification and train as a first responder via Texas A&M as a former volunteer firefighter. Most of my adult life,  I have taught bible studies and Sunday school and studied masters of old testament via Liberty University. I am married, live on a small farm, where we raised cows, chickens, horses, guineas, and honeybees.  We have three grown children – two in college and one in Branson as an entertainer and resort maintenance manager. These days I cherish time with my family and helping them achieve their goals and dreams.

Joy has been a staff memeber of ETCIL for over 20 years. She first joined ETCIL in September of 2004. Joy assists people in filing for disability benefits and is a Rep Payee for individuals who need assistance with their SSA benefits.  Consumer’s money goes into a trust account and Joy pays their rent, electric, water/trash, gas, cable/internet bills to help them stay as independent as they possible can.  Consumers receive a debit card that they use for their personal needs and food. Joy also helps individals by educating them about SSA, Medicare, Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, QI1, working while on disability or even the Medicare enrollment period assistance. Joy graduated from The Univserity of Tyler at Texas in May of 1980 with a double major in Health and Physical Education. In her spare time Joy enjoys bowling.

LaQuisha joined our team as program assistant for financial literacy in January of 2024. She graduated from Tyler High in 2010 and is happy to be a Tyler Lion. She is a caring mother of five beautiful children. As a program assistant, Q enters data, answers phones, completes files, and helps her department. She enjoys serving the Tyler community and working with ETCIL.

Joanna is the Clinical Director at ETCIL, and is an LPC-Associate. She received her Master of Arts from The University of Texas at Tyler in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at The University of Texas at Tyler, and an Associate in Psychology from Tyler Junior College. Joanna has a passion for helping others and enjoys seeing them overcome their obstacles. Joanna has 7 years of experience working with individuals with autism and is certified as an Autism Informed Professional. Joanna has worked within the area of disabilities and trauma for over 8 years. Joanna focused theory for counseling is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  Joanna is proud to be a part of ETCIL and looks forward to continuing to provide support for individuals and their families. 

Mary joined the ETCIL team in June of 2023 as an Independent Life Skills Trainer. Now, as the Life Skills Coordinator and Trainer, she works to provide training programs that fit the unique needs of every consumer. Before ETCIL, Mary worked at Christus Health and is a TJC Graduate in Human Services with an emphasis on Addiction Counseling. Mary has a genuine love of serving others and seeing the impact that holistic support brings. She enjoys spending time with her dog and two cats. Outside of work, Mary likes playing piano, painting, and volunteering in her church nursery.  

Kimmie is a life skills trainer and peer support specialist. She has her Early Childhood Education Certificate. Before coming to ETCIL she volunteered at Path as a front desk receptionist. Kimmie lives in Tyler with her son JJ who is also a consumer at ETCIL. They have a puppy named Sandy Ann. When Kimmie isn’t working she loves Facebook, crafting, singing, and just hanging out with her son.

Doug Gean joined ETCIL as an employee in 2022 after five years of volunteering.  He has been the Skills Center Trainer, Community Support Specialist, and now enjoys working with youth in the Youth in Transition program and the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program.  He’s a licensed Community Health Worker.  Doug is happily married to the love of his life and enjoys building things in his free time.

Hannah serves as the youth specialist youths in transition. Hannah comes to us with a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice from Northwestern State University (Louisiana) and a Masters of Science in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. Hannah also has eight years of experience as an Active Duty Army Officer. Prior to joining the ETCIL family, Hannah has worked in crisis intervention and has conducted forensic interviews at the Children’s Advocacy Center (Cherokee and Anderson Counties). Hannah lives in Tyler with her foster daughter, three cats, dog, and hedgehog. When not at work, Hannah is most likely reading.  “Love in such a way that it haunts the hate in others.” -Christopher Poindexter