Meet the Officers

Leo Collas - Vice President

Leo Collas retired from state service in 2018 after serving 22 years in Fiscal Management at the Texas State Comptroller's Office as a Senior Systems Analyst.  He worked on integrating new applications into the state's financial systems and implementing application security within those systems.  He has a degree in computer science from Regis University and also worked as corporate controller for several hotel companies prior to joining the State.  Before that, Leo worked in banking as a registered financial advisor.  He has lived in Austin since 1993, but has 3 beautiful granddaughters that he loves to visit in the Houston area.  Leo spends his time traveling and doing pro-bono work for nonprofit organizations focused on social justice.

Joe Thrash - Secretary-Treasurer

I worked for the State of Texas for 42 years, the last 21 of which were with the Office of the Attorney General. I graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1976 and had been a law clerk for the Attorney General during school. Shortly after graduating, I went to work for Bob Bullock in the Comptroller’s Office and was there for ten years. After that, I worked for the Governor’s Office, Lieutenant Governor’s Office and a couple of legislatively-created study committees before finally returning to the Attorney General’s Office. When I graduated from law school, I never imagined that I would spend my entire career with the State, but it has been a rewarding career, working on many important projects and working with numerous dedicated and talented men and women.

Dick Lavine - Executive Board Member

Dick Lavine was a Senior Researcher at the House Research Organization of the Texas House of Representatives from 1984 to 1994. He is currently the Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a nonprofit advocating for better state policies for low- and moderate-income Texans. He is a Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Travis Central Appraisal District and a Chartered Financial Analyst. The Equity Center named him the 2011 Champion for Equity for his work to reform our tax system to ensure it can adequately support public education and other public services. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1969, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975.

Joe Seely - Trustee

Joe Seely has lived in Austin since 1976. He retired from the City of Austin, where for most of his career he served as an environmental programs manager for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. Joe was a member of AFSCME for the last 17 years of his time with the City of Austin. Joe is the spouse of Peggy Seely and for the past year has been a Trustee for this Chapter.

Barbara Diggs - Trustee

With over 34 years of experience in state financial management, Barbara Diggs dedicated 33 years to the State Comptroller’s Office, primarily within the Budget Division, followed by a year in the State Treasury’s Budget Division.

Now residing in New Braunfels, she enjoys traveling, particularly cruising, and spending time in the garden when at home. Passionate about advocacy and community service, Barbara is actively involved with AFSCME, committed to supporting and assisting others whenever possible.

Tom Smelker - Trustee

Tom Smelker retired from state service in  2020 after serving 34 years, mostly with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.  His career consisted working primarily in financial programs and government banking operations.  For his last 13 years, as Director of the Treasury Operations division, he was responsible for the day-to-day management of the revenues, bank accounts, and payment systems used to fund the $150 billion annual enterprise of the Texas state government.  In 2017 Tom was also appointed as the first ever Administrator of the Texas Bullion Depository, the nation’s only state-run storage vault for the safe deposit of gold, silver, and other precious metals. He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Finance.  Tom lives in Austin with his wife Kathy, also a state retiree.  He enjoys spending time with his two young granddaughters and the rest of his family, especially at the beach.

Elizabeth Gray - Trustee

Elizabeth retired in 2017 after 20 years with the City of Austin Fire Department. Prior to that, she also served in public service with the City of Georgetown and the federal Peace Corps in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Washington, D.C.

Tamara Gallman

Tamara Gallman retired from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts with almost 27 years of service.  She worked primarily in Human Resources and the Audit Division as the college recruiter.  She currently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Gary.  She enjoys world wide travel and spending time with her family, including two grandsons and two grand daughters.

Veronica Adams - Lead Statewide Organizer

Veronica Adams, is originally from Texas and has been in Union organizing and leadership since 2000. She started with Communication Workers of America (CWA) as a shop steward, Unit Director, and Area Vice President. Also has worked for the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Her latest experience was with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Her experience working with the public and private sector employees and thoroughly enjoyed each chapter. Veronica shared, “unionism is in her blood and runs deep within her family. Her late father was an IBEW member out of Dallas and patinate to say her father has instilled the same principles and values that we use today to continue our fight for our working-class families.” On behalf of AFSCME Texas Retirees, we welcome Veronica with open arms to the Chapter 12 family, and we’re excited to have her a part of our winning team!