Youth Leaders
Jake Whitley, Chief
Jake Whitley is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of Colonneh Lodge, Sam Houston Area Council, where he previously served as lodge chief and a vice chief, as well as a conclave vice chief and section vice chief. A James E. West and Founders Award Recipient, he attended NYLT in 2017, NAYLE in 2018, and NLS in 2019. Jake was a participant at the 2017 National Jamboree, NOAC 2018, and the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. He plans to staff Operation Arrow this summer. Jake is a senior at Cypress Ranch High School, and plans to study International Business at the University of Oklahoma starting next year. This year, Jake is a part of the National Honor Society, and both the swim and water polo teams.
Nico Palacios, Vice Chief
Nico Palacios is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member from Wewanoma Lodge, Rio Grande Council. Previously, Nico has been a lodge secretary, lodge treasurer, and chapter chief, and supported the section program for three years as the Conclave Vice Chief for Experience before serving as section secretary. He participated in NLS in 2016, NOAC in 2018, and attended the 2017 National Jamboree. Nico received the Founder's Award for his service in Wewanoma Lodge. He is a freshman at St. Mary's University in San Antonio studying Accounting.
Hannah Liska Womack, Secretary
Hannah Liska Womack is an Eagle Scout and Brotherhood member of Colonneh Lodge, Sam Houston Area Council. She served two terms as a lodge vice chief in 2020 and 2021. A recipient of the James E. West Award, the Numbered Certificate and the Founders Award, Hannah participated in NYLT in 2018, NAYLE in 2019, and NLS in 2019. She was an attendee of the 2017 National Jamboree, the 2018 Venturing Fest, and the 2019 World Scouting Jamboree and actively serves as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 1934 in Huntsville, Texas. Hannah is a junior at Sam Houston State University studying for a degree in Political Science (Pre-Law.)
Adult Advisers
Jason Riley, Adviser
Jason Riley has been involved in the Scouting program since he was a Tiger Cub at age 7. He is currently a member of Tonkawa Lodge, Capitol Area Council in Austin, TX. Jason is a Vigil Honor member of the OA, Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver and Founder’s Award recipient. Jason has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Order of the Arrow.
In addition to serving as Section Adviser, Jason is a member of the national OA training committee and has been involved in a number of efforts including numerous NOAC trainings, Momentum Launch in 2020, the NCOC held at Philmont in 2021, ArrowTour, NEXT in 2016, and leading the National Leadership Seminar (NLS) rewrite effort in 2017. Jason also served as a Vice-Chairman for the Southern Region OA committee for a number of years and prior to that, was the NLS coordinator for the Southern Region.
Outside of Scouting, Jason is a Director of Talent Acquisition for an engineering company and enjoys global travel, food from around the world, and BBQing when time allows.
Erick Simmons, Staff Adviser
Erick Simmons is an Eagle Scout and currently serves as the Staff Advisor to the Colonneh Lodge, Sam Houston Area Council in Houston, TX. He is a Vigil Honor and Founder’s Award recipient. As a youth, Erick served two terms as the W-2B Section Chief in Idaho.
Erick works for the Sam Houston Area Council as the Camping Director. He is responsible for Venturing, Sea Scouts, National Jamboree, and Scouts BSA camping in addition to the Order of the Arrow. He has run BSA camping programs in the Tetons, outside of Yellowstone National Park, and in the Pacific Northwest. After thirteen years as a camp director he is excited to bring that experience to the Sam Houston Area Council’s Camp Strake.
Tanner Maris, Associate Adviser
Tanner is an Eagle Scout from San Antonio, TX, where he was a member of Aina Topa Hutsi Lodge. In his youth, he served as section chief and national Order of the Arrow training coordinator. After graduating from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, Tanner launched his professional career as a consultant with Alvarez & Marsal in Houston, TX. Beyond Scouting, Tanner is an adventurist, avid cook, Excel-guru, oenophile, runner, and traveler.
Charlie Harbin, Associate Adviser
Charlie Harbin, a past National OA Committee member and Distinguished Service Award recpient, is a resource and counsel to the section officers. He is an Outstanding Eagle Scout, and has served in five councils between Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas with over fifty years of volunteer Scouting. As a youth, Charlie served as Alibamu Lodge Chief and Area 5-E Chief, and would later advise on the lodge and section levels.
He resides in Sugar Land, TX where he is an Asisstant Scoutmaster, on the Catholic Committee on Scouting and Council Conservation Committee, and is a lead adviser for SHAC’s annual Eagle recognition event. His work life was as an engineer and supervisor with Amoco and then BP America, culminating as the US Engineering and Technology Recruiting Manager for both companies.
Larry Lindsay, Associate Adviser
Larry Lindsay has served as an associate section advisor for the past sixteen years within three different section configurations. He attended his first Area Meeting (conclave) at Indian Creek Scout Camp in 1964 and first NOAC in 1965, which resulted in a lifelong commitment to the Order of the Arrow.
As a youth, he worked on the Capitol Area Council camp staff for seven summers and served as Tonkawa Lodge Chief and Area 9-D Vice Chief. Since 1965, he has had an active part in the planning of almost every conclave to include Tonkawa Lodge. He was also part of the host lodge planning committee for the 1981 NOAC held in Austin. Larry also served as Tonkawa Lodge advisor for ten years.