EWTG’s 2007 Woman of the Year is Gaye McElwain

Gaye Greever McElwain, Director of Marketing and Development for the Texas Commission on the Arts, was named Woman of the Year at the 21st Annual EWTG Conference on November 19, 2007. Gaye’s selection acknowledges that she, like previous winners, has distinguished herself by her significant contributions to EWTG, her profession, and her community.

Gaye was presented the crystal award celebrating her selection by Connie Williams, the 2007 President, at a festive reception accompanied by a live music duo. Gaye was received on stage by numerous past Woman of the Year award recipients including, Elaine Powell 1993, Claudia Stravato 1994, Mary Lou Ralls 1996, Lora Weber 1997, Mary Lambert Howerton 1998, Denise Pittard 2000, Penny Johnson 2001, Jan Thomas 2002, Susan Johnson 2003, and Joelyn Weeks 2005. Past honoreess who could not attend included Frankie Watson 1995, Donna Rolland 1999, Carol Willis 2004, and Betsy Ford 2006.

Gaye has been very active during her eleven years with EWTG. This year Gaye chaired the Community Service Committee. She has also served on the board as 2000 President, and as the Public Relations Director. Gaye has participated as a member of the Nominations Committee, the Executive Director Search Committee, and has chaired the conference Program Committee, the Scholarship Committee, and the Community Service Committee.

Gaye joined the Texas Commission on the Arts in 1996. Over the years she has accomplished many great things for the arts in Texas. Currently, Gaye is responsible for all areas of marketing and public relations. Among her professional activities, Gaye represents the agency at a variety of tourism-related functions and is the agency liaison to the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Division.

Gaye was awarded the 2005 “Best in Texas” Opinion Article Award, and in 2004 the Austin Business Journal named her a Profile in Power finalist. She also received the International Association of Business Communicators Bronze Quill Award in 2002 for her work on Destination Texas, an initiative in which Texas artists performed in ten airports around the state on the day before Thanksgiving.

Although dedicated to her career and her community, Gaye is also a retired professional dancer. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Texas Tech University and a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. In 2004, Gaye officially retired from her dance career and, with the help of an EWTG Scholarship, became a certified Pilates trainer.

In 2002 Gaye participated in Leadership Texas with the support of an EWTG Scholarship, and she continues to be an active member of the Leadership Texas Alumnae Association.

In addition to her other activities, Gaye, a breast cancer survivor, devotes time to the Komen Austin Race for the Cure and other cancer awareness initiatives.

We are proud to be in the company of women, like Gaye, whose lives demonstrate the strength of their commitment to EWTG, their professions and their communities.