Jack Cleaveland is a mostly retired attorney who has been with the law firm of Thompson Coe Cousins and Irons, LLP, for over 45 years, where he handles business transactional matters. He also chaired the firm’s Management Committee for over 10 years. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he obtained a business administration undergraduate degree and a law degree. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Laura Abrego, a West Dallas native and L.G. Pinkston High School graduate, began her career at West Dallas Pharmacy while attending school. She later transitioned to sales before joining Reina and Bates, where she quickly advanced from receptionist to Executive Assistant and eventually took over firm accounting. In this role, she also gained experience in HR, payroll, and legal translation. She later moved into the oil and gas industry, specializing in Human Resources, including recruiting, benefits, payroll, and employee relations. Passionate about employee support, she led internship programs and professional development initiatives. With a strong background in customer service, Laura finds fulfillment in creating positive workplace experiences.

Nima Baha is the founder of Scholastic Success LLC, a premier tutoring and test preparation company established in 2003. Under his leadership, the company has helped thousands of families by utilizing a proprietary process to assess students’ academic needs and match them with ideal instructors. He also developed a highly analytical assessment tool for ISEE, PSAT, SAT, and ACT, identifying key areas for score improvement. In 2009, he expanded Scholastic Success to New York, Nashville, and Austin. From 2015 to 2020, Nima served as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at SMU, teaching graduating seniors and graduate students how to commercialize innovative technologies and navigate real-world business challenges. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering (2002) and an MS in Engineering Management (2005) from SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering.

Houston Bolin is a partner at Sterling Family Partners, a family office located in Dallas, TX. Formerly a Land Manager at Eagle Oil & Gas Co., Houston was responsible for acquisitions and divestitures across various onshore basins for more than 10 years. Outside of the office, Houston serves on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of Dallas and previously served as a co-chair of the 2021 and 2022 “A Taste of West Dallas” events benefiting Wesley-Rankin Community Center. He graduated from Texas Christian University with a BBA, earning Academic All-Conference honors while competing in cross country and track and field for the Frogs. Houston, his wife, Katrina, and their two young sons attend Highland Park United Methodist Church, where Houston has been a member since he was born.

William Collins is a Chief Marketing Officer and Partner at Chief Outsiders, a fractional CMO consulting firm.  Originally from Montana, William has been in the Dallas area for the last 25 years and has found various opportunities to give back to the community.  He has served as an Assistant Scout Leader and an Eagle Scout coach, at Troop 730, and has been an active volunteer at Feed the City, Operation Kindness, North Texas Food Bank, and several other organizations serving the North Texas area. William received his bachelor’s degree from Montana State University and his MBA from Baylor University.  He resides in Dallas with his wife, Melissa, and his son, Finn, who is attending American University in Washington D.C.

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.

Andrea Glispie serves as Senior Manager of Community Development for Charles Schwab Bank and helps to facilitate philanthropic contributions, volunteerism, and community outreach in Dallas-Fort Worth. She also works to develop community initiatives and build strategic partnerships in the areas of affordable housing, small business development, and financial capability. Prior to joining Schwab, Andrea led career pathways initiatives at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She has over 20 years of experience in grant making, partnership building, and community engagement.

Beth Martin is an Executive Director at Texas Capital.  Beth has worked in banking for 20+ years, assisting companies with their cash management needs. Beth enjoys college football and attends all University of Oklahoma home games and an away game each year. Beth and her husband, Jason live in Frisco, Texas.

Born and raised in Oak Cliff, Roberto is an architect with a passion for designing mixed-use and commercial spaces, ensuring precision in every detail. Outside of work, he enjoys sketching ideas, restoring classic cars, and spending time with his family—whether it’s hiking, coaching his son’s tee ball team, or helping his daughter practice her taekwondo kicks. He take pride in his craft, driven by the purpose of creation and a deep connection to his community.

Fred Peña is the owner and founder of Tezanto, an architecture firm based in Dallas. He is a licensed architect and interior designer with over 18 years of experience in various market sectors, including Education, Institutional, Commercial, and Residential design. Fred has served on the board of Preservation Dallas and currently sits on the neighborhood task force for the Winnetka Heights/Lake Cliff historic districts. He is also a member of the Lake Cliff Developer Relations Committee, working to foster positive relationships between developers and residents in the Oak Cliff area. Fred lives with his wife in Oak Cliff, where they enjoy working on their old house and fostering dogs. They also love traveling to interesting places around the world as well as taking road trips to explore the country. Fred is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington.

Nancy Rogers is a retired interior designer where she was a partner at Rogers-Ford LC, an architectural and interior design firm.  She is currently serving on the Retina Foundation of the Southwest board and the Town of Highland Park Board of Adjustment. She has also volunteered with United To Learn and Young Men’s Service League in a variety of roles. Her volunteering at Wesley-Rankin has included Scholars Tutor, WRAP, and B3X. She is a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Jay Still received a BS degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Loyola University.  He spent his career as an engineer and Senior Executive with several oil and gas companies.  Eight years ago he started several independent oil and gas companies and has recently retired after selling them in 2021.  Jay has been and active volunteer in the Wesley-Rankin Aspiring Professional mentor program since inception and is a longtime member of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, TX.

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.

Gillian Wiley earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and holds a Master of Education degree from Lamar University. Gillian started her career in education as an elementary school teacher in the Dallas and Highland Park ISDs and also has served as children’s minister at University Park United Methodist Church. Gillian is an active member of The State Fair of Texas Chairman’s Task Force. She and her husband, Lee, reside in Dallas, and have three elementary-aged children, all active members of UPUMC. 

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.  He currently works at Paul Hastings 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.