OUR TEAM


We’re Growing! Come join our team

    Volunteer Application: 

    Please complete and email: Volunteer Management

    Becky Meyer

    Executive Director

    Hailing originally from Washington State, Becky’s journey with Youth Odyssey began in 2006, culminating in her role as Executive Director since 2009. Armed with degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Education, focusing on Community Involvement, Becky embarked on a transformative chapter with the US Peace Corps, spending three impactful years in the Philippines advocating for Coastal Resource Management.

    Upon her return to the US, Becky delved into the Wilderness Therapy and Adventure Experience realms in the Texas Hill Country. Despite finding fulfillment, she craved greater challenges, leading her to Youth Odyssey, where she’s been continuously invigorated ever since. She is a proud graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi- Class 46, serves as Board Secretary for the Association of Fundraising Professionals – TX Coastal Bend Chapter, is a Lifegroup leader at Real Life Church, and is a business member of Leadership Team Development.

    Beyond her professional pursuits, Becky believes in giving back continuously through volunteering and running 5Ks each month to support local causes. She savors sit-down moments friends new and old, indulges her green thumb in the garden, and has been camping, backpacking, kayaking and hiking since childhood. Her motto is “Keep raising the bar, daily”, which can be seen in her dedication to her team and in empowering today’s youth and young professionals, fostering their growth into impactful servant leaders by nurturing their inherent potential and resilience.

    Tony Minter, PhD

    Program Director

    Tony developed his passion for supporting young people as they grow and achieve their goals while working for the YMCA during his undergraduate studies. Upon graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, he served as a teacher in the public schools of the Texas Hill Country. It was here that Tony discovered the power of experiential education to change lives. After more than a decade in front of the classroom, Tony became a student again himself. He attained his Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. During this time he worked with incarcerated youth at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center, and with educational development organizations such as All Kids Alliance and the TRC. After graduate school, Tony taught with the Excel Center, a charter school operated by Goodwill Central Texas. Tony’s focus has remained the same across his career: improving the present lives and future prospects for all young people. He is CPR/First Aid and ACCT Level I Challenge Course certified.

    Outside of work, Tony and his wife enjoy hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, sailing, and disc golf. Tony is also an avid chess player and coach.

    Laura Williams

    Office Manager

    A lifelong Texas resident, Laura is excited to be joining the Youth Odyssey family.  After graduating from Baylor University with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, she came to Corpus Christi and has made it her home ever since.  She has worked for several non-profit organizations and loves to feel like she is making a difference in someone’s life, even if behind the scenes.  She is a committee member for the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon and an active member at First Baptist Church, participating in their Worship Choir and Sanctuary Ringers handbell group. 

    When not working, Laura loves to meet her group of friends for coffee and fellowship.  As a young girl she spent many summers with her grandma “Mamoo” and learned to sew and quilt, bake traditional Czech kolaches, garden, and to can and preserve nature’s bounty.  She and her sister have a small business selling jams, jellies, and pickles – all from recipes and skills learned from Mamoo.  Her sister has recently introduced her to birdwatching, which is quickly becoming her favorite pastime!  

    Tiffany Verot

    Development Coordinator

    Tiffany is originally from the Houston area and recently moved to Corpus Christi.  As a mother of two adult children and “Tinks” to 3 beautiful grandchildren she enjoys spending time fishing and in nature and the outdoors with her true love.   She has owned several businesses ranging from commercial construction, personal training to a custom quilting business. Having raised her children with a strong connection to nature, she knows the importance of exposing youth to physical outdoor activities and leadership skills.

    Tiffany has a strong background in business development from her role as a business owner and understands the importance and need to develop and grow lasting relationships within a community.  Her skills in networking and development are a valuable asset to the Youth Odyssey team. “I am excited to be part of such an impactful organization and plan to utilize my skills as a business owner to further the mission of Youth Odyssey”

    Hannah Keyes

    Program Facilitator, Seasonal

    Hannah was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. Throughout her childhood she visited the majority of the State Parks in Texas, and a handful of National parks. Hannah attended many kayaking and camping trips as an active member in Boy Scouts of America’s Venture Crew Program. Hannah has experience in education with Flour Bluff ISD Substituting, Lifeguarding, Swim lessons instructor and is CPR/First Aid and ACCT Level I Challenge Course certified. She has been a member of  the Texas Outdoor Education Association since 2016. She is skilled in paddling sports and Aquatics. Hannah has a passion for wildlife conservation, and is currently pursuing a degree in Range & Wildlife Management and biology. 

    Erica Salinas

    Program Facilitator

    Erica was born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX. She is a proud graduate of Moody HIgh School where she participated as a student sports trainer, and Health Occupations Students of America. 

    She studied in the Paramedic Program at Del Mar College and is certified in CPR/First Aid. She enjoys camping, hiking, and all outdoor activities. She especially enjoys spending time with her family and pets  exploring National and State Parks.  One of her favorites is Big Bend National Park. 

    Erica previously worked for CCISD as a Parent Liaison, that is where she found her passion for working with families. She feels her role at Youth Odyssey is the perfect job because she gets to share her love of the outdoors with young people, and teach them the life skills that will help them grow. 

    Bridget Clapp

    Program Facilitator

    Bridget was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Growing up, she spent as much time in the water as possible, fishing, boating, and swimming. She decided to attend Texas State University because of the school’s excellent Family and Child Development Program and thrived in the array of outdoor activity options. She loved getting to experience the beautiful rivers of the area through kayaking and scuba diving. While at Texas State, she took a course in backpacking and began to take road trips to backpack and explore the National Parks. She decided to pursue her master’s degree in Recreational Therapy to expand upon her awareness of accessible leisure. This degree allowed her to intern at Palm Beach County where she worked with people with disabilities participating in adaptive sports. Bridget is now certified as a Recreational Therapist through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification and is excited to expand upon her knowledge of adventure programming at Youth Odyssey.

    Robert Petty

    Program Facilitator

    Robert was born in Joliet, Illinois, and moved with his parents and siblings to Portland, TX, at the age of 10 years old. He is a graduate of Gregory-Portland High School. While in high school, he was very active as a leader in his church youth group. As an adolescent, he enjoyed surfing, skimboarding, working on a friend’s ranch, horseback riding, working cattle, camping and hiking at Texas State parks, and backpack trekking in the Sandia Mountains and Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico. It was during high school he realized his passion for working with teenagers and families while participating in these activities.

    Robert attended Abilene Christian University and earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, specializing in Adolescent Psychology. While studying at ACU, he was an avid bicyclist, enjoyed horseback riding, and obtained PADI and NASDS Open Water SCUBA Diving certifications. Since graduating college, Robert’s entire career has been dedicated to assisting children, adolescents, and families through mental health, education, and self-directed services. Being a Youth Program Facilitator at Youth Odyssey allows him to share his love for outdoor adventures with the youth and community, and further teach them the life skills that will help them establish who they are to become.    

    Robert enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, exploring, and generally being outdoors. His favorite outdoor adventure companions are his wife and children as they have camped and hiked many miles throughout the Texas State Parks System and several of our nation’s National Parks. When not on an adventure, Robert enjoys spending time with friends and family, being active in his church, playing disc golf or KUBB, watching Indycar or simply catching his breath.

    Christina Lee

    Program Facilitator

    Christina joins the Youth Odyssey team as an outdoor educator with over 20 years experience in education and a lifetime of camping, hiking, and loving the outdoors. She is also a Texas Master Naturalist in training, and volunteers with the local urban gardening Keepers of the Garden. In her spare time you will find her cruising in her Jeep down the beach with her family and pups.

    Now Hiring

    Program Facilitator

    March 2023

    Crispin Mendez Jr.

    Board Chair

    He is a  lifelong resident of Corpus Christi having graduated from Mary Carroll High School in 1987. Crispin has been in Law Enforcement since April 1993 spending 10 years at the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office. Currently he is employed by CCPD and has served in the Patrol Division, and Gang Unit. In 2009 he moved into CID working with the Family Violence Unit, Crimes Against Children Unit, Auto Theft, and presently Robbery/Homicide.

    Crispin has been involved with youth for the past 19 years coaching Baseball and Football and has been a Board Member of CCYFL for the past 16 years. He enjoys working with them and watching them become young adults and productive citizens.

    He is married with three kids, two in middle school and his oldest son (22) is currently serving in the United States Marine Corps.

    Jason Pitarra

    Past Chair

    Jason was born and raised in Houston, Texas where he began his career in the mortgage industry. He later expanded his growth to Corpus Christi, Texas in 2008 where he branded and built a new office and with that a new market. He has been in the mortgage industry for 18 years and has excelled within his career as a Regional Producing Manager with one of the top mortgage lenders in the nation.  He has received numerous awards within his career such as: CCAR Affiliate of the year 2020, Certified TREC instructor, Certified Lending Tree Loan Officer 2005, Top Loan Officer 2005-Present, Top Branch with Circle of Excellence 2010-2013, and not only survived, but thrived during the mortgage bust.

    Jason is happily married to his beautiful wife, Sarah, and they have 2 sons and a daughter. When not helping families achieve the home ownership dream, you can bet Jason and his family are outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, or just lounging around.

    Aaron Etienne

    Treasurer

    Lazrik Pettis

    Secretary

    I am proud to introduce myself as a dedicated member of the Youth Odyssey board. I hail from the vibrant city of Corpus Christi, Texas, where I was born to Arthur and Losestine Pettis and grew up as the youngest among six siblings. My educational journey led me to graduate from Roy Miller High School in 2004 and attain a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
     
    Having spent my entire life in Corpus Christi, I am deeply passionate about making a significant impact on my community. I firmly believe that our city’s future lies in nurturing and empowering its youth. This belief drives my active involvement at Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship, where I serve as the Chief Camera Operator, capturing moments of inspiration and faith.
     
    In August 2012, I embarked on a beautiful journey of marriage with my wonderful wife, Malory. Together we have a beautiful daughter and twin boys.  My commitment to the community extends beyond my family and church. I am deeply engaged with Youth Odyssey because I am convinced that by educating, supporting, and nurturing our youth, we can shape them into positive leaders who will make a lasting difference in our world. I am honored to be part of this transformative journey, working alongside like-minded individuals who share my vision for a brighter future.

    Kim Cox

    Board Member / Founder

    Kim owns his own private practice here in Corpus Christi and is involved in Maya Research Program and Shumla Archaeological Research and Educational Center. He works to fund his many hobbies that include rock climbing, mountaineering, and Texas rock art interpretation. He recently co-authored The White Shaman Mural: An Enduring Creation Narrative in the Rock Art of the Lower Pecos. in 1997, Kim co-founded Youth Odyssey with the purpose of providing at risk kids with the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities and team building. The objective was to remove them from their environments and use the greater environmental experience as an education tool. Recent studies at the time had shown that exposing kids to challenging situations and the outdoors had a tremendously positive effect on them, and there were no programs in Corpus Christi to provide that sort of experience.

    Alissa Mejia

    Board Member

    Alissa’s life was changed by the public youth sailing program in the small town where she grew up in Massachusetts. That program made an elite sport accessible to everyday people and built confidence and life skills that became her stepping stones to higher education, career, civic involvement, and lifelong physical fitness. She believes in the power of recreation to change the course of a life and improve a community. Such opportunities should be accessible to everyone, but they are often not. Alissa is seeking to help fill those gaps.
    She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University, and a master’s degree in English and doctorate in educational leadership from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Alissa has spent her career working in journalism and communications while volunteering for recreationally-oriented organizations. She moved to Corpus Christi in 2003, believing in the city’s enormous potential. And believed in it now as much as ever. In her free time she enjoys spending time with my family, windsurfing, skating, running, mountain biking, wing foiling, open-water swimming, and working outdoors. She’s excited to join the Youth Odyssey team!

    Randy Almaguer

    Board Member

    Randy was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas for most of his life. He began his professional career at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) in 2010 and excelled in his work as a Work Leader in the Bearing Reclamation Facility. While employed at CCAD, Randy was recognized for several awards: Certificate of Achievement in Fiscal Year 2018 and Achievement Medal for Civilian Service in 2015, both for exceptional performance and dedicated service.

    In February of 2020, Randy accepted a position with the City of Corpus Christi in the Finance & Economic Development Department as a Senior Management Analyst and assisted in Capital Improvements, Economic Development and Job Creation/Retention across the City of Corpus Christi. He was the liaison between Corpus Christi Business and Job Development Corporation Boards (Type A/B), Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Boards (TIRZ #2-5) and various Executive Level Team personnel with the City of Corpus Christi. He accepted his new position with the CCREDC as the new Compliance Officer in June 2023. He is responsible for ensuring compliance with signed agreements and helping companies with applications for local, county, state, and federal incentive programs.

    Randy graduated with a master’s in public administration from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi in 2017, with an emphasis in Public Management. In addition, he received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at TAMUCC in 2005 and received an Associates at the University of Texas-Brownsville, as a member of the Scorpion Baseball Team from 2001-2003.

    Randy and his wife Leslie have four beautiful daughters (ages 17, 15, 9, and 6). He loves watching baseball at all levels (favorite team; Atlanta Braves) and enjoys any excuse to visit his ranch in Alice, Texas during the cooler months of the year.

    Jennie Dibala

    Board Member 

    Judge Inna Klein

    Board Member

    Taylor Mayfield

    Board Member

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