BEBETTERU - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Support Team
Barbara Lotz, former Board member, has specialized in conceptual advertising, copywriting, project development and creative communication solutions for more than two decades. She has worked alongside many of Dallas-Fort Worth's top advertising professionals as an agency employee, creative contractor and advertising/marketing consultant for area businesses. Her body of work includes a number of award-winning campaigns in radio, television, print and web-based media, including two local and one regional Best of Show Awards. Ms. Lotz was an idea person and creative lead in the concept, planning, naming and promotion of a series of new business ventures in the children's education market. Ms. Lotz is a co-founder of BeBetterU. She holds a BS in Communication/Journalism with a minor in art from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Support Team
Bob Turman, former president and co-owner of T. W. Foster Inc., has more than three decades of experience in Texas construction and commercial contracting. During his career he developed an extensive knowledge of construction from the ground up. Mr. Turman's work can be seen at various sites throughout the Metroplex, including Wet-N-Wild, various banks, assisted living complexes, libraries and schools including Children's University. By combining his skills and passion for building with a natural gift for teaching, Mr. Turman taught Children's University's outdoor enrichment education classes part time, led the children's building and gardening projects, facilitated with special school wide events and mentored to younger children in his spare time. An avid hunter, gardener, woodworker, metalworker and sportsman, Mr. Turman is at home in the wooded acres of BeBetterU's Dream Ranch where he currently assists with the outdoor learning projects and BBU Dream Ranch development.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Support Team
- Owner of Ramsey Yard Art
Brenda Ramsey, owner of Ramsey Yard Art, has turned her love of children, animals and art into a lifelong career. As a volunteer with the Army Veterinarian Corps in Iwakuni, Japan, Ms. Ramsey received veterinarian technician training to assist with dog vaccinations and surgeries for the base's special military patrol dogs or K-9 units. She also helped establish a children's service program on the base. A self-taught painter, her artwork and murals decorate store windows, schools, homes and yards across North Texas. She also contracts as caregiver and animal husbandry teacher at Children's University in Arlington, Texas and pony handler for Diamond Photography. She currently provides the BeBetterU Dream Ranch with Technical Support and assists with the planning and implementation of our outreach events.
Dave Green brings a world of financial and business knowledge to our BBU Board of Directors. In 1983, Mr. Green graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA Finance degree. He began his career at the First National Bank in Amarillo, TX, and continued to expand his expertise by working for three additional banks during the next sixteen years.
Mr. Green has been employed at Southwest Securities FSB for the past five years where he currently serves as President of the SBA Division. His responsibilities include directing the growth of the SBA program throughout the bank with the lending areas being the state of Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Green is ultimately responsible for the all marketing, sales, closing, servicing, and liquidation functions of the program and has fourteen people on his staff.
Dave Green is the proud father of three children. His oldest two daughters have already graduated from college and his son will be graduating from Baylor in 2015. Mr. Green enjoys working with children and has served as a coach for various youth sport's teams including Select Basketball Team - Arlington Young Guns.
Diane Reichelt, is a registered nurse, counselor and manager in the family practice offices of Dr. Edward Reichelt, MD in Arlington, TX. She holds a BS in nursing, an MS in anesthesia and an MS in social work. Ms. Reichelt founded her own health care business, Metro Anesthesia Associates, a corporation which provided anesthesia for nine hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area for more than two decades. She was then recruited by Hospital Corporation of America to establish a series of after-care centers. This experience led to a position on the Board of Directors for HCA and Trans-Med. In 1989, Ms. Reichelt realized the opportunity to combine her skills in nursing, counseling, and management as part of her husband's medical practice. A devoted mother and grandmother, she continues to work in the practice and oversees the ranch she and her husband own in Tarrant County.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Education at Texas Christian University
Dr. Ranae Stetson, Associate Professor of Education at Texas Christian University, is a Kellogg National Fellow and a published author in the field of early childhood and elementary education. In her nearly three decades in education, Dr. Stetson has conducted extensive research into new methods for advancing the effectiveness of childhood learning programs. A trained dispute mediator, reading specialist and trainer, her areas of expertise include teacher effectiveness and leadership, classroom management, education technology, child and adolescent development and personal responsibility training for children. Dr. Stetson also volunteers as a speaker, mediator and staff development specialist for area schools. She is a strong proponent of experiential learning, improving initial teacher education and ongoing professional development.
Dr. Vernon Kenner, retired professor, mathematician, physicist and defense industry engineer, holds a PhD in Physics from Texas A&s;M University where he received the prestigious Distinguished Graduate Student Award. Published works led to a figure and reference in a major physics text. In the defense area, Dr. Kenner gained national recognition for his work in angle-only-track (AOT). His initialization technique solved a long-standing problem and made AOT the viable option for SDI programs. As a key member of LTV's SDI team, he performed AOT, infrared sensor design and nuclear hardened detector analysis. For the PAC-3 program, Dr. Kenner performed the Radome Electrical Design and wrote the Radar Antenna Model. His innovative Radome Electrical Design did what convention beliefs said could not be done in that it uses a high dielectric material. His antenna model has unique modeling capabilities unavailable on any other defense program. For the laboratory, he developed a technique to electronically simulate target motion and glint using three fixed RF sources. In the business area, he performed the financial analysis, wrote the business plan and oversaw the business operations for Children's University. Dr. Kenner served as treasurer and co-founder of Children's Universtity. He is currently serving as treasurer and co-founder of BeBetterU, the BBU Dream Ranch.
Lauren Tatum Matocha, elementary school teacher and community service leader, has been at the forefront of many area charity programs and events. Currently a third grade teacher at The Oakridge School, a coeducational, college preparatory school enrolling students preschool through 12th grade, Mrs. Tatum Matocha is a new teacher mentor, professional development trainer, and was a committee member for the 2010 SLANT45 program. She is an active leader in the Texas Christian University Chapter of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and Arlington Area Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, a committee member on the Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital-Health Exchange Committee, has held numerous positions in the Arlington Junior League and served many years as secretary and later as co-director of the Arlington Holiday of Lights Parade. Mrs. Tatum Matocha joined the BeBetterU organization in the fall of 2010 because of her strong belief in the value of volunteerism and philanthropy.
Lynn Kenner, educator and administrator, has created a legacy of innovative programs for helping young children discover their gifts and talents. Founder of Children's University, a private school for preschool through 6th grade students in Arlington, Texas, Ms. Kenner gained extensive experience weaving business, technology, multi- media and science into engaging hands-on learning programs. She is a published author and inspirational leader. Her accomplishments include overseeing the development of the CU learning campus, recruiting and managing more than 60 teachers and leading the creation of a whole learning curriculum featuring career awareness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, values and philanthropy. Ms. Kenner holds a Master of Science in Education. Her awards include creating and implementing a program at Corey Elementary named President George H.W. Bush's 464th ‘Point of Light', a Wall of Fame Award from the Arlington Independent School District, Woman of the Year award from the American Biographical Institute and selection as an Education Finalist in the Annual Legacy of Women Award. Ms. Kenner is CEO and Founder of BeBetterU and the BeBetterU Dream Ranch.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Support Team
Martina Rogers, award-winning elementary education teacher and enrichment specialist, has devoted more than 20 years to instilling her love of learning in children. Her fun, creative teaching methods have earned her numerous awards including Teacher of the Year awards at both her teaching positions. Ms. Rogers' experience includes fifth grade, sixth grade and most recently, a gifted and talented kindergarten at Children's University, a private school in Arlington, Texas. Her contributions there included designing real world enrichment curriculum programs, innovative manipulatives and games, and a series of thematic classroom environments. A National Collegiate Award winner, Ms. Rogers graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a minor in Language Arts from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She currently serves as Creative Learning Enrichment Consultant, and assists with creative communications solutions, copywriting and BeBetterU Dream Ranch project development. Her love of philanthropy helps children discover their talents, passions and the joy of giving. Mrs. Rogers enjoys art, spiritual growth, helping animals, community service and spending time with family.