Introducing 2024 Oncoming Board Members

John Barnett, Real Estate Investor, Texas Art Collector

John has been self-employed for the past 22 years as a real estate investor, and his office is in the historic Azalea District of Tyler. He is a member of the Exhibition Committee for the LMFA. His hobby or disease as he refers to it, is collecting Texas Art. He currently has ten paintings on display at the Tyler Museum of Art, titled Tyler Collects Texas Art: 1920 to 1970. John is married to his best friend, Sandy Barnett. They have nieces, nephews, godchildren, and two dogs; Blanca, the Therapet, and Atticus, John’s sidekick wherever he goes.

Rodney Ellis, Ed.D., Director, UT Tyler Longview University Center

Dr. Ellis is active in the East Texas community, serving Rotary Club of Longview, STAR Foundation Board of Directors, Salvation Army Board of Advisors, and Longview Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Task Force. He earned his doctorate in Higher Education Administration and has nearly twenty-nine years of experience in postsecondary education with over twenty-two of those years as a Senior Level Administrator in higher education. Dr. Ellis was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and has two daughters.

Zahckry Israel, Entrepreneur & Artist

Zahck has a passion for Downtown Longview and serves on the Main Street Board. He owns and operates several downtown businesses with his business partners, including Ollie’s Skate Shop, Solo Sandwich Co., and Longview Cabinets. He is a lifetime artist, has painted several murals downtown, and married his high school sweetheart. Zahck was born and raised in Longview.

Ross Massengill, Retired Attorney

Ross is from Ennis, Texas where he practiced law for 32 years. Prior to attending law school, he was a banker and savings and loan examiner. He served on the City of Ennis Historic Landmark Commission for 10 years, most of which time, as chairman. For the past 10 years, Dennis has renovated several historical buildings in downtown Ennis with a business partner. Ross and his wife, have been married for 17 years and have two cats. Since retiring, he enjoys spending time with his wife and grandchildren who live in White Oak, Longview recreation trails, attempting to learn a foreign language.

Keith McIntosh, Practice Director, Longview Oncology

Keith is the Practice Director of Texas Oncology. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to LMFA, including industry equipment applications, project management, education coordination, inventory, database operations, budget control, and human resource utilization as well as a variety of software applications in addition to Microsoft Office. He is married, has two daughters, and a Goldendoodle whom he refers to as his son, Huckleberry Finn. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, guitar, and music.

Erin Roach Stylist, Pearl by Lela Rose

In addition to being a new Board Member of LMFA, Erin holds a board position on The Stephen W. McDaniel Memorial Scholarship in Fort Worth which she has held for over 15 years. She is currently serving in her first year on the Board of Longfellows. Previously, Erin was on the Board of the Longview Ballet Theatre for over 15 years. Erin is also enjoying bringing fashion to Longview and is a Stylist for Pearl by Lela Rose. Erin was born and raised in Longview, Texas, and she, her husband, Russell Roach, and their son moved back to Longview in the Fall of 2019. She graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth in 1998 with a B.B.A. in Marketing and a Minor in Art History, then graduated from The University of Oklahoma College of Law (with honors, Order of the Coif) in 2002.

Michelle Traylor, Partner at Bockmon, Knight & Traylor Insurance Agency & Artist

Michelle is a Longview resident, partner at Bockmon, Knight & Traylor Insurance Agency since 1998, and is an artist herself. She has served on many boards including Longview 20/20. She is excited to be a part of LMFA and all that the arts contribute to a thriving community. She is married to Andrew Traylor and has two children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working on art.