Staff

Dr. Ron Herring, Director

Phone: 1.888.244.9400, Contact Ron
Dr. Ron Herring is the Director of the Center for Effective Leadership for Texas Baptists (BGCT). Prior to joining the BGCT staff, Ron served as the Executive Director of the Galveston Baptist Association in LaMarque, Texas. His ministry career includes four pastorates that cover an 18 year span and eight years as an Associational Executive Director (DOM). Ron has a BS degree from Dallas Baptist University. He also has a Master of Divinity Degree and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Ron and his wife Gail reside in Sulphur Springs and have two grown children. Ron’s heart is for pastors and their families. His passion is for leadership, especially leadership in the local church.

Bill Claiborne, Associate Director

Phone: 1.888.244.9400, Contact Bill
Bill Claiborne is the Associate Director of the Center for Effective Leadership for the Texas Baptists (BGCT). Bill’s focus is local church ministry, conferences, and events.  Bill has a BM from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and a Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. His local church ministry experience of almost 40 years includes churches in east and central Texas, El Paso, and central California. These experiences have afforded him the opportunity to have served in every area of church life. Bill and his wife Shasta reside in McKinney. They have four children and four grand children.

Dr. Ira Antoine, Leadership Strategist

Phone: 1.832.472.7399, Contact Ira
Dr. Ira Antoine is a Leadership Strategist with the Center for Effective Leadership for Texas Baptists (BGCT). He also serves as the African American Strategist for BGCT. Ira’s focus is Leadership Training, Strategic Planning, and Coaching. His ministry career includes two pastorates that cover a 15 year span and over 23 years in vocational ministry. Prior to full-time vocational ministry, Ira was employed as an Engineer and Business Analyst/Consultant for two NASA contractors and a major Waste Management company in Houston. He has a BS Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Ira and wife Cynthia reside in Houston, Texas. His heart’s passion is encouraging pastors and assisting churches in reaching their God-given vision.

Robert Cuellar, Leadership Strategist

Phone: 1.325.201.6153, Contact Robert
Robert Cuellar is a Leadership Strategist with the Center for Effective Leadership for Texas Baptists (BGCT).  He also serves as the Congregational Strategist for Service Area 2 – West Texas for the BGCT.  Robert’s focus is Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, Mediation-Conflict Resolution, Consultation and Coaching.  His ministry career includes six local church full-time pastorates and staff responsibilities that cover a 38 year span.  Robert has a BA in Religion from Dallas Baptist College (University), studied in the MA Religious Education school at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.  Robert and wife Olga reside in San Angelo, Texas.  His desire is to always be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging and helpful to the local Church and it’s Pastoral Staff in reaching their God-given mission.

Jon Hart, Ministry Assistant

Phone: 1.214.828.5149, Contact Jon
Jon Hart is a Ministry Assistant with the Center for Effective Leadership of the Texas Baptists (BGCT).  Jon joins the center after 6+ years of experience in the ministry, and is currently completing a master’s degree at Howard Payne University. He has a passion for social media, graphic design, and web development, and enjoys filling those roles at the Center for Effective Leadership. Jon and his wife Melissa live in Dallas where they feel blessed to be near family and friends.

Emily Southerland, Ministry Assistant

Phone: 1.214.828.5248, Contact Emily
Emily Southerland is a Ministry Assistant with the Center for Effective Leadership of the Texas Baptists (BGCT).  Her heart is for helping leaders utilize insights from scripture and the fruit of experience to direct their work in all facets of life, but particularly in the business aspects of ministry.   Drawing inspiration from the thought that “leaders are made, not born”, Emily is passionate about equipping emerging leaders of all ages and backgrounds to make efficient, effective and economically sound decisions, both for themselves and those they seek to lead.  To this end, she enjoys writing, editing and delivering training programs on a variety of subjects, and she is grateful to have this outlet within the Center for Effective Leadership.