LRC Board of Director Members:

• Gay Smither, Co-Founder & President
• Bob Smither, Co-Founder & Secretary
• David Dannemiller, Treasurer
• Jo-Ann LaBrecque French
• Carlos Canseco

Biographical Information - LRC Board of Directors

GAY SMITHER
Co-Founder & President

Gay Smither was born in Harare, Zimbabwe on January 28, 1960. She attended Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and Speech and Drama. She also received a Post Graduate Teaching Certification Diploma in High School Education. Gay taught English at Highfield High School, Harare, Zimbabwe for two years during which time she became the Head of the English Department.

She traveled extensively before settling in Texas where she married, becoming a naturalized American citizen. Gay is proud to call herself an African American. She became Corporate Secretary and Electronic Technician for Circuit Concepts, Inc. in 1986.

Volunteer work has always been important in Gay's life. She served as Girl Scout Leader for her daughter's troop for 7 years and as Consultant with the Friendswood Service Team of South Texas Girl Scout Council for 10 years. She was an active volunteer with her son's Boy Scouts of America troop, and with Armand Bayou Nature Center. She was a wildlife rehabilitator with Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education, specializing in owl rehabilitation. Currently, Gay is very involved in several ministries at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, including the Altar Guild, and was commissioned as a Stephen's Minister in 2003.

Gay's focus in life changed when her 12 year old daughter, Laura Kate Smither, was abducted in Texas on April 3rd, 1997 by a twice convicted sexual offender predator. After the abduction and murder of their daughter, Gay and her husband Bob, were called upon to help other families with missing children. In response to this they Co-Founded the Laura Recovery Center - for missing children. Gay serves as President of the Board of Directors and is one of the speakers for the Foundation. She gives the family perspective talk at the Laura Recovery Center's monthly training course on child abduction for law enforcement at the Houston Police Department Training Academy, and at law enforcement agencies around the state of Texas.

In March 2002 Gay became a volunteer with Team H.O.P.E. a national parent support network for families with missing children under the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children . She was hired as a Team HOPE Team Captain in October 2002 and continued in this position until November 2006. Gay continues as a volunteer with Team HOPE.

BOB SMITHER, PhD
Co-Founder & Secretary

Bob Smither was born in Texas on August 26, 1944. He attended the University of Houston where he received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. Bob worked for several companies in the Houston area before incorporating Circuit Concepts, Inc., an engineering consulting firm, in 1978. He has been president of Circuit Concepts, Inc. since that time.

Dr. Smither taught Electrical Engineering at the University of Houston for 13 years during which time he supervised master and Ph.D. students. He has made 13 technical presentations, authored 15 technical papers, and holds 19 patents. He is a member of several engineering and honor societies.

Bob was active with Armand Bayou Nature Center and served on the board of directors, was a volunteer with Boy Scouts of America, while his son was a member, and founded and is active with the Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society. He is a science and math teacher for Home Education Partnership, teaching courses to home school students.

After the abduction and murder of their daughter Laura Kate Smither Bob and his wife Gay, co-founded the Laura Recovery Center Foundation for missing children. He is an active volunteer with the Foundation and maintains the web site and computer resources.

DAVID DANNEMILLER
Treasurer

David was born on Connecticut in 1957, but is Texan since 1970. David has a BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas. He has over twenty years experience in engineering and technical management. He was involved in development of the Space Shuttle rendezvous capability, was a Shuttle flight controller, was involved with early phases of the National Aerospace Plane, and managed 90 engineers who were responsible for all aspects of Space Shuttle ascent design and analysis. David is currently employed by
United States Space Alliance in the Flight Design & Dynamics Department.

David was involved in the search for Laura Smither as both a searcher and organizer. He is an active volunteer with the Foundation and currently serves as its treasurer.

JO-ANN LABRECQUE FRENCH

CARLOS CANSECO