Since 2004, Tracie has served as the Chief Financial Officer for Tolleson Wealth Management, a private, multi-family office based in Dallas. Her responsibilities include oversight of the finance and accounting functions, including serving as chairman of the firm’s SEC Compliance and Risk committees. Tracie is a CPA. Tracie is married to her husband John and they have two adult sons.
Mari is a full time Community Philanthropist, serving Dallas and many non-profits for over 25 years. Some of which includes the boards of Dallas Symphony League, Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, United Methodist Women, KidneyTexas, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, Junior Charity League and CC Young. Mari currently serves on the Parkland Foundation Board and is a past President of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Board. She served on the Wesley-Rankin Board previously for six years and is a co-founder/ former co-chair for two years for Wesley-Rankin’s newest fundraising event, “A Taste of West Dallas.” Mari and her husband, Don, have one son, Taylor Epperson, and they are members of Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Tom Keckeisen is a University of Texas graduate. He is a Retired CPA / tax executive who spent his career with various large Dallas companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Exxon Mobil, and EDS. He retired from Flowserve after 13 years as Senior Tax Planning Director. In addition to various volunteer roles with WRCC, he volunteers with several other non-profits including Meals on Wheels. He is a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church.
David has been banker in Fort Worth and Dallas for over 37 years, and is currently an executive credit officer with Veritex Bank. He has also been involved in leadership at The Hills Church of Christ, and for the banking industry’s Risk Management Association, and for other charities, and is currently also serving on the board of the American Red Cross for the North Texas region. He and his wife Lynn live in Arlington. David holds degrees from Abilene Christian University, Southern Methodist University, and Washington University in St. Louis.
Laura has a MA in Clinical/Counseling Psychology from Southern Methodist University and a BA in Accounting from Texas Tech University. Laura spent time working in public and private accounting firms in Dallas and southern California before pursuing her masters. She then spent over 8 years working as a Crisis Counselor at the Parkland Rape Crisis and Child Sexual Abuse Center. After quitting work to stay home with her children, Laura volunteered her time with the PTAs at her neighborhood schools, seeing clients at the Wilkinson Center, Girls on the Run and running group at Wesley-Rankin. Laura currently serves on the board of the Cry Havoc Theater Group and the Wesley-Rankin Community Center. Laura is a longtime resident of East Dallas where she raised her two children and currently lives with her husband, Tom.
After growing up in Dallas, Amanda received Bachelor of Science degrees in both Architecture and Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2007. Joining GFF Architects in 2007, Amanda has enjoyed working on a wide variety of projects throughout Texas and has been included on the team for projects ranging from the recently completed Winn Science Center at St. Mark's School of Texas to multiple mixed-use towers in Uptown Dallas. She is also involved with the Junior League of Dallas and HPUMC and loves serving her community. She and her husband, Rob, have two kids, Eleanor and Andrew.
Jack Cleaveland is a mostly retired attorney with Thompson Coe, LLP, where he has handled business transactional matters for over 40 years. He also managed the firm for over 10 years. He is married to his wife Kathy, a former Wesley-Rankin Board member, and they have two grown daughters and two grandsons. They are active members of Highland Park United Methodist Church and its Fellowship Class.
Bruce is a semi-retired CPA from a 28 year career at Hunt Oil Company where he was Chief Accounting Officer. He currently consults and is an Adjunct Professor at Midwestern State University. His wife, Lynn, is a nurse practitioner in home health. They have three children and two grandchildren. Bruce has a BBA in accounting from Harding University and an MBA from Oklahoma State University. Bruce and Lynn are members of Northwest Bible Church.
Mary Beth earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College and her MBA from Fordham University. She is a member of the Leadership ISD Class of 2019.
Tom is the CEO of a construction technology firm called HTS. Tom started his career at IBM and has subsequently been in senior roles at various technology firms. Tom served as a founding board member at Readers 2 Leaders, a West Dallas-based non-profit whose mission is to ensure that all children are reading at grade level by third grade. Tom has a BS from the University of Kansas and is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
In the past, Kama has served as co-chair for Wesley-Rankin's Hattie's Luncheon and The Great Garage Sale. She also serves on the executive committee of United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church, Dallas. She served on the St. Mark’s Parents’ Association Board from 2001-2017. Kama graduated from The Hockaday School, Sweet Briar College and The University of Texas at Austin. Kama is the mother of three sons: Bobby, Danny and Teddy.
Kurt is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Miramar Equity Partners, a private equity partnership backed by a Dallas-based family office. He and his wife live in east Dallas and have two young daughters. In addition to his involvement with Wesley-Rankin, Kurt is an active alum of the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He earned a BBA in Finance and a BA in Spanish, with Highest Honors, from the University of Texas and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Palmer Scholar. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading, and riding motorcycles.
Nancy McDonnell is a Texas Tech University graduate. She retired in August 2020 from J.P. Morgan Chase as the Global Head of Commercial Banking Treasury and Security Services. She volunteers with several other organizations, including Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum (Treasurer), Junior League of Dallas (Sustaining Member) and the Advisory Council of the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Texas Tech University. She is also a former Board Member of March of Dimes North Texas Chapter.
She’Amerious Pope is a Mental Health Therapist at Sea Mar Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. A Dallas, TX native, She’Amerious earned a Master of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington. She aspires to be influential in her community and engages in community service opportunities to serve others. For fun and relaxation she can be found at a gym where she finds balance. She believes meditation is a essential part of life and enjoys reading to stay informed. Friends and colleagues describe She’Amerious as a person of integrity, sophistication, and a servant to others.
Karla del Rosal PhD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University. She is also the Professional Learning Director of the West Dallas STEM School project. Her expertise is in the design of learning spaces for culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families. Karla teaches teacher education courses on Bilingual and ESL instruction, cultural responsiveness, and planning and assessment of instruction.
Robert N. Thetford is an attorney and counsellor who advises businesses, institutions and individuals on a wide range of legal, political and public policy issues. His diverse public service career includes working for Members of Congress and the Texas House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Justice, and federal district and bankruptcy court judges. Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts at Emory University, a Master of Public Administration from the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University.
Laura Baez Torres, originally from Mexico, grew up in West Dallas, attending Wesley-Rankin as a child and adolescent. She currently leads her own immigration law firm after graduating with her law degree from SMU Dedman School of Law. She is married to Jake Torres and both still reside in West Dallas with their children.
Kimberley Tipps Wallace is the Chief Alchemist at AlchemyHR, a boutique HR consulting firm. Recognizing the importance and fulfillment of giving back to her community, Kimberley has served on the Board of Directors with The Wilkinson Center, The North Texas Suicide & Crisis Center, and The Beautiful Lives Project. Kimberley is a proud Red Raider and remains actively involved with St. Andrew UMC and her daughter’s school. Kimberley, her husband and her daughter live in Far North Dallas.
Jonathan is a partner in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn, where he advises companies on corporate transactions. He and his wife live in north Dallas with their son and daughter. Jonathan attended Louisiana Tech University and subsequently received his law degree from SMU Dedman School of Law. He and his family are members of First United Methodist Church, Dallas.
Erec grew up in Dallas and graduated from the Cox Business School at Southern Methodist University with a B.B.A., after which he went on to earn a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Since graduation, he has worked at Vinson & Elkins LLP where he advises clients in commercial lending and financial transactions, and co-heads the Firm’s Finance practice group. Erec is married to Giulia, and they have two sons: Alex and Matteo.
Will Young is a founder and partner of Goliad Equity, a Dallas-based investment firm specializing in acquiring and operating small- to medium-sized businesses. Will previously worked for Distribution International and Audax Group private equity. Will holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University. Will is a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Ex-Officio Members
Wendy Campbell, President, NTC UWF
Betsy Sterkel, President, East District NTC UWF
Barbara Weaver, President, Metro District NTC UWF
Julie Tipton, President, North Central District NTC UWF
Rev. Andrew Lewis, Director of Mission Outreach and Assistant to the Bishop, NTC UMC
Rev. Edlen Cowley, Superintendent, Metro District NTC UMC