AMCC Board of Directors
Jim Covington
AMCC President and Mayor, City of Belton
Having moved to the Belton area in 1982, Jim worked in local banking institutions and retired after a 31-year banking career in November 2006. He is a past chairman of the board of the Belton Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Temple Lions Club.
Jim ran for and was elected to the Belton City Council in 1995, after serving several terms on the Belton Parks Board. In February 2006, he resigned from the city council in order to run for the position of mayor. He became the first elected mayor of the city under the new city charter that was approved the year before. He stood for re-election in the May 2010 election and was elected unopposed.
He is married to Terri Covington, owner and C.E.O. of Covington Real Estate, Inc. In January 2008, he came out of retirement to oversee the property management division of the corporation.
Jim and Terri have two sons, one granddaughter, one grandson, and are members of First Baptist Church in Belton, where he serves as a deacon.
Holly Gray-McPherson
AMCC 1st Vice President and Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Roanoke
Holly Gray-McPherson is the business development director for Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. Holly accepted her position in 2009 after previously handling marketing for Dannenbaum. Holly is very active in her community—Roanoke, Texas—having served as mayor pro tem for six years and as a member of the city council since 2002. Holly has also served as chair of the Roanoke Charter Commission and is a charter member of the Roanoke Historical Board, which she helped to re-establish in 2007.
A lifetime resident of Roanoke, Holly and her husband Mark have two children, Cole and Hannah. Though she doesn’t drive a minivan, Holly is a dedicated Soccer Mom and when not volunteering, you will find her enjoying her free time at various area soccer fields. She is the chair for ARTSNET (local arts council) and is dedicated to encouraging the arts and cultural affairs in the community at large.
Holly is currently serving as the TML Region 8 president, and she is on the executive board for NCTCOG representing cities under 25,000. She has received TMLI recognition for six consecutive years.
Garry B. Watts
AMCC 2nd Vice President and Mayor, City of Shenandoah
Garry B. Watts has been a resident of the City of Shenandoah since December 2004, and he has served on City Council since January 2006.
He is very active in the local community and serves on the boards of the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership, and on The Woodlands Advisory Board. He is co-chairman of the Boy Scouts of America - Tall Timbers District, and is a member of the Texas Municipal League Transportation and Utilities, and Policy Setting Committees.
Originally from Kansas City, they raised their three sons in Carmel, Indiana, where he was also actively involved in the community and a member of the Carmel Parks Board, President of the Carmel Dad’s Club, and President of the Babe Ruth Baseball Association.
Garry retired in 2002 as Senior Vice President of Marketing for a major insurance company, having spent over 30 years in the insurance and banking industry. Garry is active in the local golf community and enjoys traveling with family. Garry and his wife Helen have lived in South Montgomery County for 15 years.
Mayor Joe Cordina, City of Parker
AMCC Past President and TML Board Representative
Mayor Joe Cordina is in his second mayoral term and previously served the City of Parker on the city council from 2004-2008. He served as our 2010 president of the Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners (AMCC), and is a Certified Municipal Official (CMO) for 2009 and 2010. Additionally, he is the vice chairman for planning for the 2011 TML Annual Conference.
A dedicated Vietnam veteran, Mayor Cordina is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with 30 years of service. His military service awards include the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His volunteer service includes duty as the U.S.A.F. Academy Nomination Selection Panel Advisor for Congressman Sam Johnson, 3rd Congressional District.
An R.O.T.C. graduate from the University of South Carolina, Mayor Cordina earned a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a second master's degree in international studies from the Air War College. On the business side, he is president of Component Technology Manufacturers' Representative, and in that role he holds recognition as a Certified Professional Manufacturers' Representative (CPMR) from Indiana University. He has been awarded three patents within commercial aviation for wireless communication systems.
Blessed with four children, both Joe and Patti have enjoyed 41 years of marriage and are members of the Catholic Community of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano.
