TLU Alum Elaine Bennett Named 2024 Guadalupe County Woman of Influence

It would be hard to find an individual who's done more in the realm of community service than Elaine Bennett. She's a longtime member of the TLU Business Advisory Committee, a board member for Communities in Schools, chair of the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee, and secretary for the Seguin Economic Development Corporation. She's also served as a member of the New Braunfels Christian Academy School Board, and as Church Council President of Faith Lutheran Church in Seguin.

After graduating TLU with a degree in accounting, she began working for Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, where she's moved through various roles and currently serves as CEO of the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation-a public charity that serves to support community health and advance the hospital's mission to provide "excellent care to every life it is privileged to touch."

Clearly, Bennett is a person of action.

But there's one thing she always does before she lifts a finger or takes a single step. "Every day, my husband and I pray," she says. She simply opens her heart and listens for God, saying, "I'm yours. Ready to serve."

And then she waits for guidance.

And that guidance leads to action. Action like coordinating Food Bank distribution of more than 1.6 million pounds of food to nearly 650 families during the pandemic-earning her the Hometown Hero award in 2021-and continuing to take initiatives to help families in need. "I come from a farming background. We always had food." She says that most people can't understand what it's like to be hungry.

Her leadership with the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation has led to millions raised to support the work of the hospital. One of her most recent initiatives: securing an unprecedented $10 million from the Texas State budget to construct a new medical office building in Seguin which will bring in more doctors. Quite an accomplishment-although Bennett wouldn't call it her accomplishment at all. "It's all God," she insists.

Amazing, what a willing heart can accomplish, and it's no wonder Bennett was named this year's Guadalupe County Woman of Influence. How does she feel about that? "I'm humbled," she says. "I'm really just humbled."

What's next for Bennett? God knows-and Bennett is ready to serve.