Board of Directors
Stephanie Hesch
President
Owner
Blue Eagle Insurance
Stephanie Hesch
Stephanie is originally from Minnesota and relocated to Corpus Christi in 2009. She’s been a member of PIBA since 2016 when she opened her business, Blue Eagle Insurance Group. She served as a PIBA Ambassador from 2016 until being elected to the PIBA Board of Directors in 2021. She became Board President in 2022 and is serving her second term. She’s been a Padre Island resident and homeowner since 2016 and opened her island office location in 2020. Stephanie has over ten years of experience in Realtor Association Management; and she is a former Board Member of the Gulf Coast Humane Society.
Dan Herrington
Vice President
Vice President/Loan Officer
1st Community Bank
Dan Herrington
Dan Herrington is Vice President and loan officer at First Community Bank on the island, where he has worked since 2020. Originally from Marshall, Texas, Dan grew up in the Midwest before moving back to Texas permanently in 1998. He attended the University of Nebraska and the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and has spent over 25 years in Community Banking. Additionally, since moving to Padre Island, he has served as a board member for the Padre Island Homeowners Association, Vice Commodore of the Padre Island Yacht Club, and currently serves as Vice President for the Padre Island Business Association and as a director at the Corpus Christi Yacht Club.
He and his wife Lori have three grown children and two grandchildren. They moved to Corpus Christi in 2019 to pursue their love of the water and sailing. In addition to sailing, Dan enjoys singing and playing guitar and can be found most weekends playing at one of the local island restaurants.
Visit him at 1st Community Bank
Buddy Ewing
Treasurer
General Manager
Seaside Memorial Park and Funeral Home
Buddy Ewing
Born and raised in Gulfport, MS, Buddy’s career in the death care industry brought him and his family to Corpus Christi as general manager for Seaside Funeral Home and Corpus Christi Funeral Home. In 2019, he became the managing partner for Seaside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Corpus Christi Funeral Home, and Rose Hill Memorial Park. He is actively involved in the community and serves on numerous boards in Corpus Christi. He currently serves on the membership committee and is PIBA Board Treasurer. He enjoys spending time with his family, hunting at his family farm in MS, and traveling with his wife.
Karen Rossi
Secretary
Owner
Naughty Pineapple
Nicole Hartwick
After being a part-time Islander helping my parents who were winter Texans that eventually retired here, my husband and I finally moved here in 2014. I worked at the Love Note in town and later started my own business NautyPineapple. I went to work for CRT Flooring Concepts in the Port Aransas showroom in 2018. I am a member of PIE, an island Ambassador and a board member of the Padre Island Yacht Club. I look forward to continuing to promote our wonderful little sand bar!
Board Members
Lauren Harris
Owner
Mosquito Hunters
Lauren Harris
Originally from Stephenville, Texas, I first moved to Padre Island as the director of strength and conditioning at TAMUCC in 2009-2012. After a coaching stint at the University of Nebraska, I moved back in 2019 to start my pest control business, Mosquito Hunters of Corpus Christi. My family and I love the island life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to Padre Island through PIBA.
Kaylynn Paxson
NEED JOB INFO
Kaylynn Paxson
Kaylynn Paxson, raised here in our coastal community, is passionate about supporting, empowering, and growing this city through enhancing and promoting local industries. She has been an active supporter and participant with local business associations and chambers of commerce, earning her the opportunity to author the Padre Island Business Association’s Strategic Plan – 2018-2020, announced in the October 2018 luncheon. With a background in hospitality management, she currently chairs the newly formed PIBA Hospitality Committee, aimed at supporting and coordinating with Island businesses. She believes that it takes each member of the community doing their part to truly bring about the success of our coastal area. Visit me @KaylynnPaxson4CC .
DC Ratliff
Mortgage Loan Officer
Smarter Mortgage
David "DC" Ratliff
Bio coming soon!
Stan Sweeney
Owner
Island Gold & Padre Island Cigar
Stan Sweeney
Stan was born and raised in North Texas, and after graduation and some college, he joined the United States Air Force. Graduating from The University of Nebraska at Omaha and finishing his military service, he went into Law Enforcement for several years. Stan later made a move into corporate America, serving as Operations Director of a tech company in Dallas, General Manager of a Retail / Marketing Organization in New Mexico, and Entrepreneur and Management / Business Consultant back in Texas. He and his wife, Liz, now own and operate Island Gold, Padre Island Cigar Company, and Set A Course Consulting (a biotech consulting company). We have had a place on Padre Island for about ten years, and we are actively involved in the local business community and many charitable organizations since early 2021.
Visit me at Island Gold and Padre Island Cigar Company
Tony Tagliaferro
Owner
Island Italian
Tony Tagliaferro
Born on the East Coast but got to Padre Island the fastest I could. Fell in love with Padre Island and everything it has to offer from the people to the beach, to the Laguna Madre, and all this beautiful weather we get to enjoy all year long. My family opened Island Italian in 1987, and I’ve worked there since, learning every aspect of the business from doing dishes after school to now running and owning one of the oldest eateries on North Padre Island. Working toward the future with family members and preparing my daughter to be the 3rd generation to run Island Italian where you can usually find us working together. Stop by and say we love to meet new people and visit with friends. We can also be reached at theislanditalian@aol.com. Arrivederci Ya”ll . .
Meagan Furey
Ex-Officio / Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC)
Realtor
Coastline Properties
Meagan Furey
Meagan is a Realtor with Coastline Properties and is very passionate about our beautiful community. After relocating with her family from Denver to the island in 2010, she drew on her broadcast marketing and advertising experience to gain employment with Corpus Christi's local NBC and CBS affiliates. Working with regional and local business owners allowed her to educate herself with the community and assist local business owners in growing their businesses. Her enthusiasm to assist others drove her to become a Realtor.
Meagan is an active member of our community and volunteers for Timon's and various other non-profits in Corpus Christi. Her community involvement and volunteering efforts earned her the 2016 Padre Island Business Association's Citizen of the Year award.
Meagan and her supportive husband John have two children, both graduates of Flour Bluff High School. .
America Segura
Ex-Officio
Director of Communications
Visit Corpus Christi
America Segura
America Segura is an experienced brand and communications professional specializing in travel, tourism, and retail. Currently leading public relations efforts for Visit Corpus Christi, positioning it as the Gulf Coast Capital through media relations, influencer partnerships, and community initiatives. Fluent in Spanish and English, with a BA in Communication and Media Studies from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Stan Hulse
PIBA Executive Director
Owner
Toucan Graphics
Stan Hulse
Stan moved to North Padre Island in 2008 and has been serving as Executive Director of PIBA since then. With his brother, he owns Toucan Graphics, a small marketing company with its main office located on South Padre Island. Stan is very involved in the North Padre community, serving as a member on the Island Strategic Action Committee, and on several other community organizations. Stan was born in Belize and has lived in the Cayman Islands, Guyana, Puerto Rico, and Pittsburgh, PA before relocating to N. Padre. He has one son, one daughter and a granddaughter, all living in Corpus Christi. .
Holly Rhoades
PIBA Membership Director
Holly Rhoades
Bio coming soon!