Board of Directors

Curtistene Smith McCowan - President - Curtistene graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She previously received an Associates degree in Business Management from El Centro College. Curtistene was employed by the Federal Trade Commission for over 32 years where she served as a Senior Investigator for more than 18 years. Curtistene retired from the federal government on January 1, 2005

Curtistene is active in her community. Prior to her election as president of DeSoto EDC, she served in the positions of vice-president and internal audit chair. She currently serves on the Board of Regents, Texas Southern University; Advisory Board, Charlton Methodist Medical Center; RWTC Advisory Board, Red Cross-Dallas; founding president and at-large board member, DeSoto ISD Education Foundation; former member and president, DeSoto ISD Board of Trustees; founder and past president, Concerned DeSoto Citizens; past president, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.-Dallas Alumnae Chapter. She is also an active participant in DeSoto ISD’s One-on-One Mentoring Program and currently serves on DeSoto ISD’s Discipline Management Committee. In honor of her contributions, in 2007, DeSoto ISD named and dedicated the “Curtistene S. McCowan Middle, School.”

Curtistene serves on the Trustee Board and as Volunteer Coordinator at Kirkwood Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, where she has been an active member for many years.

Curtistene and her husband, Leon R. McCowan have lived in DeSoto for over 32 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, Danny and Leon Curtis, both graduates of DeSoto High School. They are also the proud grandparents of Tiana, Kirsten and Taylor McCowan. Curtistene is the recipient of many awards.

Michael Hurtt - Vice President - Michael Hurtt came to Dallas from Casper, Wyoming in 1971. After attending Casper College, he graduated from Mortuary Science College in Dallas, and has been in this area ever since. He was first elected to the DeSoto City Council in May of 1998, and served as Mayor Pro Tem those three years. He was elected Mayor in 2001, and again in 2004. He has served as Council liaison to the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation, the Arts Commission, and Keep DeSoto Beautiful. He was the organizer of Dining and Dialogue in DeSoto, (one of the key features for our All-America City award in 2006). He served on the North Texas Commission Board of Directors. In 2007 the thirty-one suburban cities elected him to the Dallas County Appraisal District Board of Directors. He is on the Board of Directors for Canterbury Episcopal School, and recently was appointed to the Advisory Board of Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

Past service in DeSoto includes being a member of the executive board of directors of the Dallas Zoological Society. He also served on Tex21, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities, and was vice-chairman of the Medical Center of Lancaster Board of Trustees, and board member of Select Specialty Hospital.

In the past, Mr. Hurtt has served on the DeSoto Park Board, Strategy 2000, and the Charter Review Committee. He was also chairman of the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce and the Best Southwest Chamber Partnership, and past president of the DeSoto Rotary Club, the North Texas Funeral Directors Association, and Texas Funeral Directors Board of Directors.

Michael and his wife Marilyn have lived in DeSoto since 1988 and have two grandchildren. They have owned West/Hurtt Funeral Home in DeSoto since 1988.

Perry Holloway - Secretary-Treasurer - Perry is currently Chief Executive Officer for National Sporting Events. He has received extensive training in sales and marketing throughout the course of his career. Prior to his current role, he was Executive Vice President of Business Development for Ointeraction/Offshore Call Center (Philippines) and Vice President of Business Development for Teleservice Resources, a division of American Airlines.

Perry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/Marketing from Ashland College.

James Zander - Board Director - James Zander has worked in the insurance industries for over 25 years, and established James Zander & Associates, LLP in 1983.

James is an expert in the areas of Group, Individual, Commercial and Personal lines insurance. He works closely with business owners, accountants, attorneys and financial advisors to implement and service cost efficient tailored commercial and group insurance plans. James is recognized as one of the top insurance brokers and he and his experienced staff service the insurance for over 200 companies in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

His professional affiliations include the National Association of Health Underwriters and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. His community affiliations include being a Board member of DeSoto Dining and Dialogue and Board member of DeSoto Economic Development Corporation.

James is a graduate of University of New Haven, Ohio University, American College, attended Kensington University School of Law and University of Texas at Arlington.