Tres was a champion of the Empowering Youth and Families Program and a strong leader for the work of Extension in Yancey County. As the first Cooperative Extension Director to adopt EYFP, Tres believed strongly in the work of EYFP which he described as the most important work he had ever done for Extension. Tres worked for Cooperative Extension for 17 years, as a Family Consumer Science Agent, 4-H Agent, and as a County Extension Director. Prior to Extension he worked ten years with The Crossnore School, a Children’s home, as a resident counselor, social worker, and as Director of Development.