Heather Hughey Pickett volunteered her way into event planning and production. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Speech Communications and Spanish, she enjoyed a career in marketing and public relations in Austin and Houston before moving back to her hometown of Tyler in early 2001. 

While working as the Director of Development for Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, Heather became very involved with the Junior League of Tyler, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association organizations. Volunteering went hand-in-hand with event planning as all fundraising events require creativity, logistical expertise and attention to detail. Heather’s event planning and fundraising volunteer positions led her to the East Texas State Fair where she assumed the role of Director of Presentation & Development. While with ETSF, Heather was responsible for creating the sponsorship program, recruiting entertainment and booking headline concerts that resulted in attendance growth and a renewed community affection for the ten-day event. 

Heather served as chairwoman of the Junior League of Tyler’s Mistletoe & Magic shopping market, co-chaired the 25th anniversary Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala for the American Cancer Society and held multiple leadership positions on the Trinity Mother Frances Women’s Board and with Texas Rose Festival before moving her family to Dallas.

Heather joined 3015 at Trinity Groves in 2015 after working as the assistant director of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association. In 2018 Heather became a partner in the event and catering business and was named Vice President of Operations in 2019. She served on the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association board of directors as the Events Co-Chair, Medical City Dallas Kids Fit Advisory Committee and on the Texas Restaurant Foundation board of trustees as the Fundraising Co-Chair for several years before returning to the Texas Restaurant Association as the Executive Director of the Texas Restaurant Foundation in 2022. In her current role, Heather leads the non-profit and workforce development arm of the industry association.