Board of Directors

Philip Bush is a partner with the law firm Locke Lord LLP.  He has practiced law in Dallas for over 40 years.  Philip and his wife Pam are members of University Park United Methodist Church.  Philip has previously served on a number of non-profit boards, including The Methodist Hospital Foundation, Communities in Schools, Dallas, Southwestern University and The United Methodist Church Board of Pensions and Benefits for the North Texas.  

The joy and satisfaction derived from serving others is its own reward. Doug is honored to be able to give back to the Dallas community by serving Wesley Rankin Community Center.  He previously served seven years with an educational foundation that provides mentoring and scholarship funds for undergraduate leaders at The University of Texas. Doug has spent the last 37 years in a myriad of roles within the financial services industry.  He currently serves as investment manager within a family office.  Doug is married with two grown children.  He and his wife Sheri spent many years in Lake Highlands and now live in North Dallas.

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.

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.

Kim is currently serving St. Andrew UMC, beginning January of 2013. She graduated from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology with a Masters in Ministry. She is now pursuing her ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Before her accepting this position, Kim served at Cross Way United Methodist, Director of Rainbow Corner, the extensive and successful pre-school program at Grace Avenue.  Before working in Christian education, Kim taught elementary school in Richardson, Plano, and Frisco. Kim is married to Dan, and they have two sons, Cody and Dylan.

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. 

Stephen is the CEO of both Caiman Energy II and Blue Racer Midstream, privately held midstream companies operating in the northeastern US. His 30+ year career has spanned the investment banking, consulting, and energy industries. He served on the Wesley-Rankin Trust Fund Board from 2014-2015 and has served on the Wesley-Rankin Community Center Board since 2016, including as Treasurer from 2018-2019. Stephen is married to Kathryn Arata, and they have three children.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jeannette M Salazar is a wife to Danny of 14 years and a mother to Anthony. As a family, they are very active in community services in West Dallas. Jeannette’s son attends St Mary of Carmel, where she is the VP of PTO. Jeannette also serves as secretary for West Dallas 1 and as a board member at large for La Bajada neighborhood Community Association LBNCA.  Through her work, Jeannette strives to protect West Dallas for our future as well as the past, and she will continue to be a partner for making the best choices for not just my family but others as well.

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.

Jake Torres is a finance attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP. Jake attended SMU for his undergraduate and law degrees. He lives in West Dallas with his wife, Laura, and two children.

Maria was born in Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico and has lived in California, New York, and New Mexico. Maria was a nun for 17 years at a convent in New Mexico and has lived in West Dallas now for 10 years. As an active member of the Leadership Council at Wesley-Rankin for 5 years, Maria’s passion lies in helping others.

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.