Our Team
Our Organization
Garlyn Place Board
Garlyn Place is led by a dedicated team of professionals, parents, and community members who are deeply committed to empowering adults with developmental disabilities. The organization is structured to ensure strong leadership, financial oversight, and programmatic effectiveness, positioning it for long-term success.
Patricia Allen
Founder and Executive Director
Garlyn Place Founder and Executive Director, Patricia Allen is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to travel. Having a daughter with autism sparked her passion for advocacy and a lifelong career as the Client Rights Officer at Spindletop Center. She is a graduate of the state leadership advocacy program Partners In Policy Making, which fueled her to make positive changes within the local school system for inclusion. She has been a past board member of the Arc of Greater Beaumont, Best Buddies Lamar University Host Coordinator, and over saw the TCDD – Community Leadership Development project for Southeast Texas as well as being an in-home trainer for students with autism for Port Arthur and Beaumont ISD. She has been a leader, providing education and support to countless parents, co-workers, public education staff and individuals living with disabilities for 30 years and has worked in the intellectual and developmental disability and mental health field for the past 25 plus years.
My Garlyn Place Why? Individuals with disAbilities need options and opportunities after high school for transition, vocational training and to find their purpose. My daughter is on her fifth day program in eight years. It’s becoming more common for parents to opt out of sending their loved ones to a day program for various reasons. They need a place where their abilities and gifts are seen and used to enhance their quality of life. A place where peer reviewed methodologies support them to be the best they can be in all aspects of their life. Garlyn Place will be that place. It’s time for change and I want to be a part of positive change for people with disAbilities in Orange County
Pauline Brown
President, Garlyn Place Board of Directors
Pauline Brown is a dedicated leader and advocate with 25 years of combined experience in the education and mental health sectors. Currently serving as a Diagnostician with the Vidor Independent School District, Pauline brings a wealth of specialized knowledge to her role as President of the Garlyn Place Board of Directors.
Professional Background & Education
- Education: Holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education and Community Counseling.
- Expertise: Extensive background in navigating the complexities of both educational systems and mental health support.
- Civic Leadership: In addition to her professional work, she serves her community as the Mayor of Pine Forest, Texas.
Mission & Passion
Pauline is driven by a deep-seated passion for educational equity. She is committed to ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education tailored to their unique needs. Her work focuses on creating environments where students can:
- Flourish academically and personally.
- Receive specialized support that recognizes their individual potential.
- Become valued, contributing members of society.
Through her leadership at Garlyn Place, Pauline continues to champion the rights and futures of individuals with diverse needs across Southeast Texas.
Corrin Gonzales
Vice President
Garlyn Place Board of Directors-Vice President, Corrin Gonzales. With over 20 years in public education and a direct focus in the area of special education, Corrin Gonzales has a passion for supporting students with disabilities. Mrs. Gonzales brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this field.
Through her direct work, Mrs. Gonzales understands just how vital vocational programs are for adults with disabilities. She witnesses the remarkable skills and potential these individuals have to offer. This firsthand experience fuels her dedication to creating meaningful opportunities that help our adults with disabilities flourish and make valuable contributions to our community.
Mrs. Gonzales is excited to be on the Board of Directors for Garlyn Place to work together in creating this space where adults with disabilities can shine and have a brighter future.
Piper Ayres
Secretary
Piper Ayres is an experienced educational leader with more than two decades of service in public education, specializing in special education administration, evaluation, and compliance. She has served as Director of Special Education for multiple Texas school districts, where she provided district-level leadership in program development, fiscal oversight, staff supervision, and state and federal compliance.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Ayres has led large, multi-disciplinary teams; developed and implemented special education policies and procedures; managed budgets; and collaborated closely with school boards, administrators, educators, families, and community stakeholders. Her expertise spans child find systems, program evaluation, personnel development, and legally sound instructional practices for students with disabilities. She has also played a key role in district improvement initiatives and professional learning communities.
Mrs. Ayres holds a Master of Education in Special Education and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Lamar University. She maintains Texas certification as an Educational Diagnostician, Principal, Elementary Self-Contained (1-8), and Generic Special Education (EC–12). In addition to her administrative work, she has contributed to professional publications, presented at state and regional conferences, and participated in statewide discussions on compliance, instructional quality, and emerging issues in special education.
She is married and the proud parent of two adult children. Mrs. Ayres is active in professional organizations supporting educational leadership and special education and brings a collaborative, detail-oriented, and mission-driven perspective to board service.
Mickey Holtzman
Board of Directors Treasurer
Mickey Holtzman, Virgie Hafford Is a Lamar University graduate who has been in public accounting and industry for the last 26 years. He moved to Beaumont 30 years ago to marry his wife, and they have two daughters, ages 28 and 27. His youngest daughter has an intellectual disability. Her tenacity and overachievement have inspired him to be a better person and to give back to this underserved community as much as possible.
Mark Simmons
Board Member
Mark Simmons is retired Occupational Health and Environmental Consultant has over thirty years of experience in risk management and remediation of occupational and environmental exposure hazards. He prepared and presented various EPA, OSHA and State required training courses for certification and/or licensure and holds a Texas Industrial Teaching Certificate.
Mr. Simmons corporate executive experience includes:
- Secretary of Health & Safety Management, Inc.
- President of Simmons Service Group, Inc.
- President of Indoor Air Quality Associates, LLP
Mr. Simmons has a long history of volunteerism including the Bridge City-Orangefield Ministerial Alliance (food bank), Habitat For Humanity, Challenge Little Leage and more than twenty-five years as the Head of Delegation and Head Coach for a local Special Olympics team.
Mr. Simmons was born and has always lived in Southeast Texas. He currently resides in Orange County with his wife and youngest daughter.
Amanda Hamala
Board Member
Amanda Hamala is a retired senior executive of USAA who grew up in Southeast Texas and is passionate about serving the Garlyn Place mission. In her last role at USAA, she served as the General Manager of Life Insurance where she was responsible for the strategic direction, growth, and profitability of USAA’s life insurance division. Prior to that, Amanda served in multiple leadership and actuarial roles during her 23 years at USAA and as a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries. Amanda graduated from Schreiner University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Amanda enjoys traveling with her husband Gavin, spoiling her nephews and nieces, spending time with friends and family as well as hiking and yoga.
Keeya Gillard
Board Member
Keeya Gillard is a mother of a 29 year old son with an autism. I’ve had experience with disabilities most of my adult life starting with my son and continuing into the work field for many years. My specialty is assistive technology. Primarily communication devices. I enjoy helping the disability community in regard to finding resources and helping individuals in getting their needs met. Providing support in this area is a very rewarding experience. She has embarked on a new adventure as the Director of Griswold Home Care for Greater Beaumont to provide in home compassionate care for seniors in Southeast Texas.
Emily Allen
Board Member
Emily Allen has over 25 years of experience as an educator and is currently an Assistant Principal at Marshall Middle School in Beaumont ISD. She has also worked as a Special Education Teacher, Educational Diagnostician and District level Special Education Supervisor. Emily grew up in Sour Lake and graduated from Hardin-Jefferson High School. She earned a BS in Political Science and an M.Ed. in Educational Supervision from Lamar University. She and her husband Chris reside in Sour Lake with their sons, Aaron and Andrew. She is an active member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and serves on several community service boards and organizations. Emily is currently the President of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board and is member of TEPSA and TCEA. She enjoys watching her sons play sports, fishing, traveling, reading, genealogy and supporting LU football and basketball. Emily has always advocated for individuals with special needs in all aspects of her life and is thrilled to help bring a much needed facility to Southeast Texas.
Rachel Babcock
Board Member
Rachel Babcock is a Production Director for Dow at the Sabine River Operations Plant, where she is responsible for plant assets, personnel, and achieving plant-related business goals. During her 17 years at Dow, Rachel has worked in various operations, continuous improvement, and leadership roles. Rachel graduated in 2007 from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University.
Dr. LeAnn J. Chisholm-Springer
Board Member
Dr. LeAnn J. Chisholm-Springer serves as the Director of Nursing for the new Associate degree RN program at Lamar Institute of Technology. She enjoys kayaking with her daughter and grandkids as well as traveling and riding her Harley with her husband.
Her passion is to promote patient safety and advocate for access to healthcare for rural, suburban, and urban residents of Southeast and East Texas. In addition, Dr. Chisholm-Springer wholeheartedly supports the mission and vision of Garlyn Place to promote quality of life and inclusive enrichment opportunities and looks forward to working alongside Garlyn Place in the coming year!
Brandon Gaspard-Cole
MEMBER
Brandon Gaspard-Cole is a healthcare operations leader, nonprofit professional, and committed community servant with more than a decade of leadership experience across healthcare and nonprofit sectors. As Area Manager for Texas MedClinic and Southstar Urgent Care, he oversees multi-site operations with a focus on strategic growth, financial performance, team development, and patient-centered service delivery.
A Certified Nonprofit Professional since 2010, Brandon brings strong governance experience and a deep understanding of organizational sustainability. He currently serves as President-Elect of the Rotary Club championing the mission of Service Above Self through impactful community initiatives.
Brandon also serves as a Chamber of Commerce Board Member and Treasurer, providing financial oversight, budget accountability, and strategic insight to support business growth and economic development within the community. His leadership reflects a balance of fiscal responsibility, operational discipline, and servant leadership.
In 2024, Brandon expanded his entrepreneurial footprint by launching Bucketlist Bound Travel Co., helping individuals and families turn their travel dreams into unforgettable experiences. His passion for travel reflects his belief that growth happens when people step outside of their comfort zones and explore the world.
Brandon is married and has a 10 year old son. Known for his motivational leadership voice, collaborative approach, and commitment to strengthening organizations. Brandon inspires others to lead boldly, serve intentionally, and build lives of purpose professionally and personally.
Teresa Smith Pickard
MEMBER
Teresa Smith Pickard is a loving wife, mother, and entrepreneur with a strong foundation in business and a heart for service. With a professional background in accounting, she has owned and operated small businesses in Southeast Texas over the past twenty years. In 2018, Teresa opened her current business, Green Eyed Girl Boutique, where she has built meaningful relationships within the community and uses her platform for far more than sales transactions.
Teresa believes her purpose is to love and support others by helping those in need. Through her boutique, she organizes and hosts fundraisers, volunteers her time, donates merchandise, and actively shares resources with her community.
Her passion for advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities was deeply inspired by her daughter, a dedicated life skills teacher, as well as other family members who have provided firsthand insight into the challenges adults with developmental disabilities face after aging out of the public school system. Through these experiences, Teresa became increasingly aware of the need for stronger local support systems and developed a deep commitment to helping families find solutions.
Driven by compassion and a servant’s heart, Teresa is honored to serve on the board of Garlyn Place and is committed to supporting its mission of building a facility that provides education and meaningful support for individuals with disabilities and their families.