TEXAS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Officer
- Senior Program Officer - AmeriCorps
Angela Pinckard-Hale serves as a Senior Program Officer on the AmeriCorps Texas team. Angela brings more than twenty years' experience with AmeriCorps, which began with her service as a full-time AmeriCorps member after college. Angela has worked on staff and as Program Director for various AmeriCorps State and National programs in Texas and Louisiana. Angela has also served on staff at the Arkansas Service Commission, where she helped direct programming for the AmeriCorps Arkansas State portfolio. Angela holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and is a strong advocate of adult learning/education and national service. When she is not working, Angela can likely be found reading, writing, or spending time with her husband and their blended family of one cat, Ziggy, and one dog, Cassie.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director for AGE of Central
Annette Juba of Austin is the deputy director for AGE of Central Texas, a regional non-profit organization serving older adults and their family caregivers. She is former co-chair of the Aging Services Council and a University Field Affiliate in The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Juba received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Science in social work from The University of Texas at Austin.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright
Benjamin A. Montañez of San Antonio is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. His practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings, and public company reporting and corporate governance matters. Previously, he was a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, and served in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and Washington, D.C. Additionally, he is a board member of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, Children's Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council, and the Harvard Club of San Antonio. Montañez received a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master of Letters in International Business from the University of St. Andrews, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School.
Job Titles:
- Senior Grants Officer - AmeriCorps
Betty Jo Schafer serves as a Senior Grants Officer and supports the development and implementation of the AmeriCorps Texas grants portfolio at OneStar. Betty Jo has served in various social work settings-particularly with adult homeless, substance use-disordered, and criminal justice system-involved populations-and has spent many years volunteering with military families across the country. Before shifting her career into social work, she was employed with an environmental legislative advocacy nonprofit in Anchorage, Alaska, working in communications. Betty Jo received her Associate of Science of Business Administration degree in Indiana, her Bachelor of Social Work degree from The University of Texas at El Paso, and her Master of Science of Social Work degree, with a concentration in administration and policy practice, from The University of Texas at Austin. When she isn't working, Betty Jo loves to volunteer and spend time with her two children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Charles "Chuck" Wright of Frisco is the founder and an IAR with Lone Star Wealth Strategies, under the RIA of Eagle Strategies, a national registered investment advisor firm. He is a member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals. Wright is a Board Member of the DFW USO, Historian for Marine Corps League Collin County, and Vice Chair of the Texas Veteran's Commission's Fund for Veteran Assistance. In 2016, he received the 26th Congressional District's Veteran Commendation Award. Wright served in the United States Marine Corps as a CH 46 Pilot. He deployed twice to WESTPAC and would earn 2 Meritorious Unit Commendations and 2 Sea Service Deployment ribbons. He earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from The University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA), and became the first Marine Corps officer commissioned from UTSA.
Job Titles:
- Program Officer
- Program Officer - AmeriCorps
Chris Johnson serves as a Program Officer on the AmeriCorps Texas team and supports a portfolio of AmeriCorps grantees in program management and compliance. Before joining the OneStar team, Chris was in the Bay Area, California, where he served two AmeriCorps service terms with City Year and continued his career in education and service with Reading Partners as a Program Director. Chris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco. Currently living in Austin, Chris enjoys staying active by hiking with his dogs, paddleboarding, volunteering, and exploring the amazing Austin food scene.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Office Manager
Cindy Milton is the Office Manager and the Executive Assistant to the President/CEO of OneStar Foundation. In her role as executive assistant, Cindy provides direct administrative support, oversight and organization to the President/CEO and Executive Staff, and ensures all facets of the Executive Office are operating smoothly and effectively. She also acts as liaison between President/CEO and OneStar's Foundation and National Service Commission Boards, and works with President/CEO and Board Chair(s) to develop agendas for board and committee meetings. In addition, she coordinates scheduling and logistical arrangement of meetings, conference calls, and speaking engagements for President/CEO and Board(s). Cindy is a native Texan and holds a Bachelor's degree in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Previously, Cindy served as the executive assistant to the President at Texans for Education Reform and also as an executive assistant in the Public Law Section & Policy section at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, LLP. Prior to this work experience, Cindy was a classroom teacher in the state of Texas for a number of years.
Job Titles:
- Founder and President of III ( Triple I ) Coaching
Corey Tabor of Manor is the Founder and President of III (Triple I) Coaching. He also serves as the Development Director for Family Restoration Coalition and The Man in Me. He serves as a Business Counselor with BiG Austin. Tabor received a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and Masters of Ministry Leadership from Rockbridge Seminary.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
- Resources Supervisor for the City of Plano
Corina Sadler of Plano is the Volunteer Resources Supervisor for the City of Plano. She is a member of the National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government, Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement, Dallas Association of Directors of Volunteers, and Directors of Volunteers in Agencies Tarrant County. Additionally, she is a volunteer outreach committee member for the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration and social media manager for Engage Journal. Sadler received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Gerontology from the University of North Texas.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
- Chief Executive Officer of Seedling Foundation
Dan Leal of Bastrop is the Chief Executive Officer of Seedling Foundation in Austin and has served as a nonprofit executive director in youth-serving agencies for 20 years. Seedling provides school-based mentoring for children impacted by parental incarceration. He was the 2020 Chair of One Voice Central Texas, a membership organization of nonprofit health and human services executives in the Greater Austin Area. He is a current member of the Rotary E-Club of Central Texas and is a mentor for Seedling. Dan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of the Support Services of Aperture
Elexis Grimes of Cedar Park is the managing director of the support services of Aperture, LLC, and served as a school board member of Leander Independent School District (ISD) from 2018-2022. She is a former member of the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality and served on the steering and financial committees for Leander ISD. She is a volunteer for the Greater Leander FFA and Reveal Resource Center and previously volunteered with CARES. Grimes received a Bachelor of Science from New Mexico State University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Job Titles:
- Owner of Seaman Financial
Gene Seaman of Corpus Christi is owner of Seaman Financial, and is a real estate developer in the Coastal Bend area and former State Representative, where he served as vice chair on the Calendars and Insurance committees. Additionally, he is a former guberantorial appointte to the Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents and a former member of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Board. He is a member of the Ingleside Rotary and immediate past president of Corpus Christ Symphony. Seaman earned a Charted Life Underwriter degree, a Masters in Financial Services, and a Masters in Management from The American College. He served in the Marchant Marines, and went to Officer Candidate School and Flight School to become an Army Liaison pilot. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army at the rank of Captain.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Executive
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of National Service
Jaclyn Kolar serves as Director of National Service overseeing OneStar's AmeriCorps*Texas grant portfolio and the OneStar VISTA Intermediary Project. Jaclyn started at OneStar in 2015 as a Program Officer, and then the Manager of AmeriCorps Texas before moving into the Director of National Service role. In her current role she is focused on providing strategic direction for national service resources throughout the state. Prior to joining OneStar, Jaclyn spent nearly five years working at Travis County 4-H CAPITAL AmeriCorps Project, a OneStar AmeriCorps grantee. Jaclyn is a two-time AmeriCorps alum, serving first as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Burlington, Vermont, and then as a VISTA Leader in Austin, Texas. Jaclyn received her Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Systems from Pinchot University, and her Bachelor or Arts in History with a minor in Russian Studies from the University of Michigan. She currently lives in Austin with her husband, and two children, Miklas and Olina.
Job Titles:
- Director of Professional Development With the Law Enforcement Management Institute
Job Titles:
- Program Officer
- Program Officer - AmeriCorps
Jennifer Rajkumar serves as a Program Officer on the AmeriCorps Texas team supporting a portfolio of AmeriCorps grantees in programmatic management and compliance. Prior to joining OneStar, Jennifer served as an AmeriCorps Program Director and Training & Development Consultant at CitySquare as well as an Adjunct Faculty member at Dallas College. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Texas at Dallas, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Certificate in Nonprofit & National Service Management from the University of Washington. She lives in Dallas with her husband and two children.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Manager, AmeriCorps VISTA
Jessica Jones is the Manager, AmeriCorps VISTA, overseeing OneStar's AmeriCorps VISTA Intermediary Project, including host site development, recruitment, and onboarding processes. Jessica is a three-time AmeriCorps alum, serving as a team leader and Adult Education Specialist for the Texas Family Literacy program. At the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, she served as the Service Program Manager for the VISTA program, where she established new partnerships with local nonprofits, implemented new projects, and guided VISTA members dedicated to strengthening communities across Texas. Jessica is an Illinois native and received her Bachelor of Arts from Western Illinois University. Outside of work, Jessica loves to read, going to concerts, spending time with family and friends, and exploring thrift shops.
Jie Li of Austin is an angel investor/venture partner. She is a mentor for Techstars and a mentor and judge for Harvard Innovation Labs. In addition she is the chair for Harvard Business School Alumnae Austin Circles, board member of Harvard Club of Austin, and co-chair of Kealing Middle School Advisory Council. Li received a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
- Senior Communications & Systems Officer
Job Titles:
- Program Officer
- Program Officer - AmeriCorps
Kathy Kabell of Wichita Falls is the Supervisory Manager at the MWH Group, PC. She is a member of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, TXCPA, AICPA, and the AICPA Nonprofit Certification Section. Additionally, she is a director of COPAS and Rolling Meadows Retirement Community and President of TXCPA - Wichita Falls Chapter. She volunteers as Treasurer and Director for Wichita County Child Welfare Board and Outreach Chairman for Faith Lutheran Church. Kabell received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Midwestern State University and a Not-for-Profit Certificate from American Institute of CPAs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Compliance Officer - AmeriCorps
- Senior Compliance Officer With the AmeriCorps
Kaylee Romero is Senior Compliance Officer with the AmeriCorps Texas team, having previously served as a Grants Officer. Prior to joining OneStar, Kaylee spent five years at Communities In Schools of Central Texas, where she was the Senior Director of Impact and focused on contract management, staff training, improving systems, and building equity in access to data. Kaylee's passion for national service began when she served two terms as an AmeriCorps member with Communities In Schools of Central Texas, where she mentored students in an Austin area middle school. Kaylee received a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan. In her free time, Kaylee enjoys playing trivia with her husband and friends, reading mystery novels, and spending time with her dog, Rooney.
Job Titles:
- AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
- VISTA Leader - OneStar AmeriCorps VISTA Project
Kristella Moreno serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader, supporting the OneStar AmeriCorps VISTA Project team and mentoring fellow VISTAs as they complete their service terms. Kristella received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Southern New Hampshire University. After graduating as a non-traditional student, she developed a strong passion for educational mentorship. This led her to pursue professional experience in the nonprofit sector to help other adults and students like herself achieve a higher education. Before joining OneStar, Kristella completed a term of service as Alumni Coordinator with Latinitas, where she created new ways for the organization to engage with alumni, recruit volunteers, and strengthen connections with their student and parent community. Kristella is originally from San Antonio and currently resides in Austin with her son Jack. She enjoys thrifting, dancing, and everything purple.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Lillian Lucero of Austin is a student at Loyola University Chicago pursing a degree in International Business. She is a volunteer for Capital Area Food Bank, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and WINGS Program, Inc. In recent years, she has held internships with the Texas Senate and the Miracle Foundation. Lucero is also involved in a variety of service and student organizations at Loyola, including Inside Government and the Pre-Law Society.
Job Titles:
- AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
- VISTA Leader - OneStar AmeriCorps VISTA Project
Madison Teague serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader, supporting the OneStar AmeriCorps VISTA Project team and mentoring fellow VISTAs as they complete their service terms. Madison received her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Film Studies from Texas State University. After graduation and a career in restaurant management, her passion for literacy led her to pursue professional experience in the nonprofit sector to help improve literacy rates in her Texas community. Prior to serving as VISTA Leader, Madison completed a term of service with Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation as their Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement VISTA where she recruited members and managed literacy focused volunteer groups. Madison has lived all over the United States and has called Texas home for the past decade. She currently resides in Houston where she enjoys reading, baking, and bird watching.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President for the Borderplex Alliance
Marcos Delgado of El Paso is Executive Vice President for the Borderplex Alliance. His responsibilities include the business recruitment, retention and expansion efforts, economic development and strategic partnerships. He also oversees the organization's operations management. He has over 20 years in the engineering and business fields in both the United States and Mexico. He has held various engineering and engineering management positions with companies such as Rockwell International, TI Automotive Group and the Whirlpool Corporation. Delgado served as Vice President at Neologic International, a United States based manufacturing firm with operations in Cd. Juarez Mexico. After his tenure with Neologic International, he served as Vice President at SLI Engineering, a privately held engineering, project management land development company. At SLI Engineering, he managed the firm's U.S. and Mexico business development efforts and business operations functions. Delgado has served on the board of directors of the Notre Dame Club of El Paso, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and KCOS public television and on the advisory board of the Lone Star Emerging Business Fund. He is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council. Delgado received a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from The University of Texas El Paso and a Master of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.
Marlene S. McMichael of Georgetown currently co-hosts a radio talk show on The Bridge Austin. She spent many years as a government affairs specialist in Austin and Washington, D.C. She is actively involved in her community's nonprofit sector, having served on local boards and commissions. McMichael received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science from Texas State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and she earned a certified public manager designation from the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Controller for OneStar
Mary Voorhies serves as the Controller for OneStar and was previously a Grants Officer on the AmeriCorps Texas team. While studying accounting at Eastern University, Mary served lunches to Philadelphia's homeless population on the weekends and spent her spring breaks on Habitat for Humanity service trips. After graduation she first served in AmeriCorps with National Civilian Community Corps and then with Austin Habitat for Humanity as a construction assistant. Seeking a balance between her education in business and her commitment to service led Mary to American YouthWorks where she gained fiscal experience with federal, state, local, and private grants. This included both AmeriCorps National and State grants. Mary's current volunteer activities include serving on the Greeting Team at Gateway Community Church, participating in park clean-ups with Austin Parks Foundation, and spending a week each summer in Nicaragua building modern bathrooms with Amigos for Christ. Mary received her Master of Business Administration in Accounting from St. Edward's University. When the weather's nice, you can find her pedaling around Austin as she prefers two wheels over four.
Job Titles:
- Civil Trial Attorney and Managing Partner
Michael Parker of Weatherford is a civil trial attorney and managing partner of Parker LLP, a national transportation and insurance litigation law firm. He currently holds the rank of Major in the Texas State Guard, and previously served with distinction in the California State Guard. He is a member of the Federal Bar Association and its Ethics Committee, Access to Justice Committee, and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the United States Court of Appeal for the Armed Forces and member of National Board of Trial Advocacy, a lifetime member of the State Guard Association of the United States and the National Guard Association of Texas. He is chair of the State Guard Association of the United States - JAG Training Academy. Parker received a Bachelor of Science from Pepperdine University and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Whittier Law School.
Michelle Brewer of Silsbee is Disaster Recovery Director for the Hardin County Office of Emergency Management. She also serves as the Executive Director for Hardin County Strong, the long term recovery group providing unmet needs assistance to, and advocacy for, Hardin County households impacted by disaster. In 2019 Michelle was invited to join the Disaster Leadership Team, a national volunteer group of recovery leaders that deploy to disaster impacted communities across the United States, offering training, mentorship and support in establishing a recovery model and effort. Prior to her tenure with Hardin County, Michelle was the Education Foundation Director for Better Business Bureau Serving SETX where she assisted Southeast Texas businesses in building trust with consumers and establishing marketplace integrity, and promoted truth in advertising. In addition, she worked with students throughout the Southeast Texas region, starting conversations and dialogue about ethics and integrity, and established the first SETX Laws of Life Program, an ethics essay initiative designed for junior high and middle school students in the region. Michelle enjoys staying involved with church and community projects and surrounding herself with individuals who have a desire to serve and make the world a better place.
Mike Morath of Austin is the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, he was appointed by Governor Abbott in 2016. He is a former board member of the Texas Association of School Boards and Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees. Morath received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from George Washington University.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Director of Statewide Initiatives
Moisés Molina Villanueva of Brownsville is the director for STORGE Kids in South Texas, a nonprofit serving disadvantaged children and their families on the border. He volunteers as vice president of the RGV R.E.A.D.Y. COAD. He is a collaborating partner with MBA Project LOVE, which serves families in the Brownsville Independent School District, and El Campo Initiative, which helps communities by networking various churches' resources. He is former senior pastor at Iglesia Bautista Jerico and former advising counsel to the Drafting Department at Texas Southmost College. Moisés received a Bachelor of Business in Management and is a Certified Public Manager from The University of Texas at Brownsville. He is currently pursuing a Master of Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Pat Guzmán-Weema serves as Manager, AmeriCorps Texas focusing on the oversight and support of the existing portfolio and leading the team of Program and Grants Officers. Pat started at OneStar in 2017 as a Program Officer before moving into the Manager, AmeriCorps*Texas role. Prior to joining OneStar, Pat spent a year and a half working at The Pro Bono Project in New Orleans as a Staff Attorney managing a medical-legal partnership combating health-harming social conditions by addressing civil legal needs. She worked at Tulane University Law School as a Career Counselor assisting students with their public interest job search. Pat served as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services for two years, representing low-income tenants with legal issues related to housing. Pat received her Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School, and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. She currently lives in Austin with her husband and two sons.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Robert G. "Bob" Wright, II is founding member and lead corporate and finance attorney of Wright Connatser PLLC. He is a senior lecturer on entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Dallas. Previously, he built and managed two computer game companies - ION Storm and Edge of Reality. He has served as a member of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund Advisory Committee and as member of the Camp Fire USA Board of Trustees. Wright received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Allegheny College and a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degree from Texas Tech University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Central
Sara Ramirez of Austin is Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Central Texas. She is a member of the Emergency Food and Shelter Board, Central Texas VOAD and is Co-Chair of the Catholic Charities USA - Executive Committee. Additionally, she is a board director at Our Kids at Heart. Ramirez received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Tech University and a Master of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Strategic Planning Co - Design Committee
Taylor Wolter serves as the Director of Rebuild Texas, where he oversees statewide coordination efforts around disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. He previously helped to identify and develop new partnerships for OneStar as an Outreach Officer for more than four years. After graduating from North Central Texas College, Taylor worked in the corporate restaurant industry in management, sales, and business development before discovering his passion for non-profits. After serving two terms with The Texas Conservation Corps at American Youthworks as an AmeriCorps member, Taylor took over the program in 2015 where he continued to engage in numerous disasters and scale the Disaster Response Program into a key asset for disasters in Texas and around the country. Taylor came on board with OneStar in 2017, just days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and led the State of Texas in a forward direction as the Federal Taskforce Lead for Volunteer and Donations Management. Taylor is now in charge of outreach and training as well as the lead for National Service Programs in Disaster for the AmeriCorps Texas Team. In his downtime, Taylor and his wife Katie, enjoy working in their yard, volunteering and cooking anything that sounds yummy!
Job Titles:
- Program Officer - AmeriCorps
- Program Officer for the AmeriCorps Texas Team at OneStar
Vanessa Gutierrez is a Program Officer for the AmeriCorps Texas team at OneStar, supporting a portfolio of AmeriCorps grantees. Vanessa is a native Texan from San Antonio and is joining OneStar as a two-time AmeriCorps alum serving with programs specializing in early childhood literacy and housing access for unhoused folks in the city of Austin. Vanessa's early passion for serving her local community led her to explore a year-long social work-based mentorship with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. That experience catalyzed Vanessa into a diverse career in direct client service in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In addition to her recent work in the local tech industry, she worked as a Program Assistant at Amara in the state of Washington supporting their foster to adopt program and provided supportive case management services as a BSS+ Case Manager with Front Steps at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish from Seattle University. When she isn't working, Vanessa enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, listening to live music, attending Austin FC games, and being a cat mom to Manu.
When Governor William Clements (R) took office in 1979, he established the Governor's Office for Volunteer Services to replace the Texas Center for Volunteer Action and charged the office with supporting, encouraging, assisting volunteer efforts in the state, and overseeing the Texas Volunteer Council.