PATHWAYS FOR LITTLE FEET - Key Persons
Chad started his career with Kenneth Leventhal & Co in their real estate advisory practice and has spent the past 24 years exclusively working in the commercial real estate business. He helped grow AmREIT (NYSE:AMRE) from $50 million to over $1 billion in assets when it sold to EDENS in February 2015. As CFO and COO, he was responsible for all aspects of capital formation, accounting and reporting, asset management, investor relations and human resources.
Eric Fridge comes to Pathways with a heart for adoptive families and a passion for making a difference in people's lives. For over two decades, he has been actively involved in the adoption community, and his experience of adopting his daughter, Mei Lynn, has forever shaped his life's mission. Eric and his wife Jenny have been married for 30 years, have four grown children, and still serve as respite foster parents as they welcome children into their home.
Eric holds two degrees from Abilene Christian University, a bachelor's in Biblical Studies, and a master's degree in Marriage and Family Education, which further enhances his ability to understand and address the unique challenges faced by adoptive families.
In his role at Pathways, Eric uses his wealth of experience to co-lead the organization in both operations and strategic planning. Before joining Pathways, Eric served as a Director of Advancement at ACU, where he played a crucial role in stewarding transformational gifts to the university. Additionally, his extensive background in full-time ministry, focusing on student discipleship and family life education, has equipped him with valuable insights into building strong and supportive communities.
Eric is passionate about family, ministry, music, and cinematography. As a growing family (now grandparents), they love playing games, summers at the lake, and being outdoors in every season.
Dr. Eric Thomas is Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Healthcare Quality at the McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and completed his internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern affiliated hospitals. In 1994, he completed a general internal medicine fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital and received a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University. He then joined the Harvard Medical School Faculty before moving back to Houston in 1998.
Eric is a general internist at UT Physicians, conducts research on patient safety, and teaches and leads research and quality improvement efforts. Eric and his wife Laura feel strongly about adopting children in need. They have two children, the youngest of whom is adopted.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
Jane Costello Painter is a Certified Public Accountant and has had her own CPA practice for over 25 years. Her prior work experience includes 4 ½ years with a multi-national accounting firm, and five years as the Controller for a privately held oil and gas company.
Jane graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She is an active member of First Presbyterian Church, and has served as a Board member for numerous non-profit organizations over the over 25 years
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Secretary of the Board
Jill Taylor is the Founder and board secretary for Pathways for Little Feet. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University. Her Post Baccalaureate studies at the Neuhaus Education Center further prepared her for work in the field of special education in the public school system.
John Sullivan III is a Partner with the international law firm of K&L Gates LLP. He has been resolving complex commercial disputes for clients in creative and economic ways for almost 30 years. He has achieved a litany of successes by his litigation skills, negotiation diplomacy, tenacity and integrity. He has tried well over sixty (60) cases to juries, judges and/or arbitral panels. He has a broad base of experience, but focuses his practice on Oil and Gas matters. John is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the separate fields of Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law. As a Mediator, he offers mediation services to parties wanting to resolve their disputes outside the court system consistent with 1 Corinthians 6:1-11.
John is a frequent speaker, author and lecturer. He devotes considerable time and effort to pro bono causes including the representation of victims of human trafficking, persecuted immigrants seeking asylum and of children caught in the legal system. He and his wife Kristi have five children, one of whom is adopted.
Job Titles:
- Founder and President of the Board of Directors
Kerr Taylor serves as Founder and President of the Board of Directors of Pathways for Little Feet. Kerr's personal journey of adoption provides him with a unique perspective as Board President. His passion to help create a better world for children is demonstrated through his tireless commitment to the cause. His 30+ years of corporate experience has been instrumental in developing a strong Board, building a team of professional staff, and creating an organization that will continue to grow as a world-class organization.
Kerr is the former Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of AmREIT. From 1985, until the company was sold in 2015, he grew his team from three to more than 50 professionals, enlarged the property portfolio to over $1 billion of Irreplaceable Corners™, and increased the investor base to more than 6,000 shareholders and partners. Kerr holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University, a Masters of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School (OPM-Owners & Presidents Management Program).
For many years, Jill and Kerr experienced first-hand the heartbreak and grief of infertility, but their love for children led them to adoption, and in 1998 they were overjoyed to bring home their baby girl Christina from Russia. The Taylor family then welcomed biological children Graham in 1999 and Kenner in 2000. The adoption experience left the Taylor's with a desire to do more to help children and adoptive families, and this desire was the genesis for the founding of Pathways for Little Feet.
Madison joins our team after working for almost 6 years in the hunger relief sector of non profits. As the Program Manager, Madison oversees and leads the Adoption Financial Assistance, Post Adoption Support, and the Andrew Project programs, focusing on building relationships, creating awareness, and integrating innovative solutions into daily operations.
Madison's heart for adoption comes from her mother's adoption story and an overseas internship through an orphanage in Bolivia.
Madison graduated from Abilene Christian University with a degree in marriage and family studies and has over 7 years of non-profit experience. When she's not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Travis, and daughters, Harper and Reagan.
Madison's family verse is James 1:22: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Mindy comes to us from the National MS Society where she served as Development Director and led several fundraising initiatives. As the Director of Development at Pathways for Little Feet, Mindy oversees fundraising initiatives. She has the privilege of building and cultivating relationships along the way, which is one of her favorite things to do.
Mindy graduated from Texas Tech University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Sports Science. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Mark, and daughter, Addi. In addition to running and cycling, Mindy and her family enjoy hiking in God's beautiful creation, finding joy in the many ways God blesses and cares for us. Mindy personally knows the importance of the vital work we do at Pathways for Little Feet, as her oldest brother was adopted as an infant. As a result, she understands firsthand the value of this ministry to families.
Mindy's favorite Bible verse is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Job Titles:
- Director of Advancement Emeritus
- Member of the Board at the Museum of Fine Arts Rienzi
Mrs. Fran Fauntleroy has been involved in marketing in Houston for 35 years, beginning with publishing three cookbooks with friends and twenty cookbooks and menu guides with the restaurants of Houston. Since 2008, Fran has worked alongside Jill and Kerr Taylor to make Pathways for Little Feet a reality. She was instrumental in establishing the focus group who solidified the idea of interest-free loans provided by Pathways. In addition, her fundraising efforts and results have been invaluable. Fran has had a special calling to be a part of this endeavor from the beginning and has consistently worked to move our mission forward. She feels great joy in seeing these children and families united.
In addition to her involvement with Pathways, Fran is a member of the board at The Museum of Fine Arts Rienzi, The University of St. Thomas Development, and a marketing specialist for The Social Book.
Peace joins the Pathways team after her role as the Director of Outreach for three campuses at Fusion Academy, a one-to-one private school for students struggling with traditional schooling.
In her role as the Development Specialist, she will focus on critical fundraising efforts to ensure families can receive the assistance they need. She enjoys building relationships and is passionate about supporting children in need.
Peace graduated from Texas A&M University with an MS in Management, a BBA in Accounting, and a Certificate in Not-for-Profit Business. She has taught "Professional Ethics and Cultures" at the University of Houston, a course she designed to equip students with the ability better to approach ethical situations in an increasingly globalized world.
Peace loves to dance, sing, draw, and occasionally dabble in playing the djembe. She enjoys volunteering and has led volunteer efforts abroad in her birth country of India, encouraging continued education for children in communities of poverty.
Peace's favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Job Titles:
- Regional President for Helios
Rob Casper serves as a Regional President for Helios, a national HVAC service provider. Prior to Helios, he held roles in operations, a family office, and at the Boston Consulting Group. Prior to working in the private sector, Rob served as an infantry officer in the US Marine Corps, deploying 3 times.
Rob graduated from the US Naval Academy with a BS in Systems Engineering and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Rob and his wife, Jackie, reside in Houston with their two sons, Luke and Enoch, and attend Houston's First Baptist Church.
Rob attended Harvard Business School following his service in the Marine Corps. Upon graduation, he worked for The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the Houston office. During this time, he worked on a number of private equity due diligence projects across different industries. Following his time at BCG, Rob worked at Double R Partners private investment firm sourcing and diligencing opportunities in the lower middle market.
Tom Zenner was a founding partner of Black Diamond Development, LLP, a Houston-based residential real estate development and construction firm, and now serves as a consultant to the industry. Prior to his nine years in the real estate industry, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Mosbacher Power Group, a local energy company that developed international power plants. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Jesse H. Jones School at Rice University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
Tom is a native Houstonian and currently serves on the board of St. Michael's Catholic School. Previously, he served on the board of The Arbor School, and on the Advisory Board of Pathways for Little Feet. Tom and his wife Kelly have two children, both of whom are adopted.
Bill Stubbs of William W. Stubbs and Associates, a 30-year old international interior design firm whose recent projects have taken him around the world to Kiev, Moscow, London, Hawaii, Acapulco and Palm Beach. He is also host of Emmy-Nominated Moment of Luxury, a lifestyle series which premiered on public television stations.