Senior Leadership
Brent E. Christopher
President and Chief Executive Officer
Brent Christopher joined Communities Foundation of Texas as president and CEO in August 2005. Previously, he held leadership roles for fund raising and administration at a university and at an academic pediatric medical center. At heart, however, Brent considers himself a "reformed" lawyer, having started his career by representing clients in legal professional liability and product liability litigation. He graduated from the University of Texas Law School after earning a master's degree in politics at the University of Nottingham, England, and a
bachelor of business administration degree in
public administration and economics from Baylor University.
J. Michael Redfearn
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer
Mike Redfearn has worked for Communities Foundation of Texas for over 18 years. Before that he was in private industry. But Mike considers his work with CFT a lifetime career. He is a graduate of Highland Park High School and Southern Methodist University. He is a certified public accountant who is committed to the growth of the foundation and addressing donors' financial needs. Mike derives satisfaction from containing CFT operating costs so donor funds can have the greatest possible impact in the community.
Marcia Williams Godwin
Vice President, Administration
Marcia Godwin joined the staff of Communities Foundation of Texas in 1985. Before joining CFT, she worked in public education as an English and Spanish teacher and in human resources. Marcia holds a BA degree in English from the University of North Texas and a master's degree in liberal arts from Southern Methodist University. As vice president of administration, she creates an administrative network that supports and complements the staff in its pursuit of CFT's philanthropic mission.
Jeverley R. Cook, Ph.D.
Vice President, Grants
J. Cook has the important task of researching grant requests and conducting the due diligence for making charitable grants. He joined Communities Foundation of Texas in 1992 and was named vice president of grants three years later. J. was a Fulbright Scholar and German Academic Exchange Fellow. He studied at the Universities of Vienna, Munich and Mainz and received a Ph.D. in German language and literature from Johns Hopkins University. He never loses sight of the goal of collaborating with donors to make charitable investments where they will have the strongest impact. It is his privilege to serve CFT's trustees and donors as they generate the grants that support the dedicated work of so many excellent
nonprofit organizations.
Dwight D. Clasby
Vice President, External Affairs
Dwight Clasby is responsible for donor development and relationships, as well as marketing strategies for the foundation. He is a former banker and a respected development officer who has extensive experience in donor relations with a number of prominent private schools, including Dallas-based St. Mark's School of Texas. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Miami. Dwight believes that maintaining the trust of donors and understanding their needs are two reasons for the continued growth of Communities Foundation of Texas.
J. Steven Orr
Vice President, Investments
Steve Orr provides oversight and
direction to the charitable funds under
management at CFT. He works closely with
trustees and fund managers to ensure CFT's
assets grow. Steve joined CFT in 2006,
following a successful career in trading and
portfolio management. He earned a BA degree in
economics from the University of Texas at
Austin, a master's in business administration
from Southwest Texas State University in San
Marcos and a law degree from St. Mary's
University School of Law in San Antonio. He is a
practicing attorney and a CFA charterholder. Steve's
goal is to make more dollars available for
charitable grants to improve the lives of
others.
Kristine Thomas
Vice President, Accounting
Kristine Thomas plays an
integral role in CFT’s financial management
processes. She oversees the daily
operations for fund administration, financial
operations, and reporting, and accounts for all
investments, grant making, and gifts, for
effective reporting back to donors. Kris joined
the foundation as controller in 1999 after
working for a large telecommunications company
where she was an external reporting accountant,
responsible for SEC reporting. She
graduated from
Stephen
F.
Austin
State
University
with a bachelor’s degree in business
administration, concentrating in accounting and
minoring in economics. Kris is a certified
public accountant.
List of Staff
Administration
Marcia Godwin
Vice President, Administration
Courtney
Caulfield
Receptionist
Jessica
Cowan
Assistant
Misty Wilson
Filing Assistant
James Williams
Building Administrator
Community
Outreach Initiative
Paula Peters
Senior Director
Leslie
Parks
Manager
Executive Office
Brent Christopher
President & CEO
D'Etta Hughes
Executive Assistant to President & CEO
External Affairs
Dwight Clasby
Vice President, External Affairs
Kelly
Braswell
Assistant
Director, Donor Relations and Events
Christine Caffey
Director, Communications
Melinda
Ellis
Administrative
Assistant
Jackie W. Franey
Director, Gift Planning and Donor Relations
Debra Phares
Director, Donor Relations
Finance
J. Michael Redfearn
Vice President, Finance & CFO
Matt
Allen
Manager,
Information Technology
Grants Department
J. Cook
Vice President, Grants
Kelly Donohue
Assistant
Grants Administrator
Sheila
Foreman
Grants Assistant
Investments
J. Steven Orr
Vice President, Investments
Karen
Nichols
Administrative
Assistant
Policy and Strategy
Sarah Nelson
Senior Director
Anita
Lawson
Director,
Database Operations & Research
Harley
Jackson
Document
Retention Analyst
Texas High School Project
Management
John Fitzpatrick
Executive Director
Todd Foster
Director, Finance and Administration
Sylvia A. Martinez
Director, Communications
Ana Tilton, Ed.D.
Chief Program Officer
Initiatives
Alma Garcia
Program Officer, Early College High Schools
Chris
Coxon
Program Officer, Education Leadership
Ana Tilton, Ed.D.
Program Officer, Charter and New
Schools
Fred Richardson
Program Officer, High School Redesign
Brenda
Wojnowski, Ed.D.
Program Officer, Texas Science Technology
Engineering
and Math
Texas
Science Technology Engineering and Math
Program
Staff
Pam Buckley, Ed.D.
Program Officer, Centers
Dee
Chambliss
Program
Officer, Academies
Telca
Porras
Assistant
Program Officer, Project Manager
Reo
Pruiett
Program
Officer, Academies
Communications
Kim
Fossey
Assistant
Program Officer, Network
Merry
Walker
Communications
Specialist
Evaluation
Karen
F. Hembry, Ph.D.
Manager
Yvette
Badillo
Program
Associate
Finance
Marisa
Durrin
Finance Assistant
Lucinda
Jones-English
Finance
Manager
Support Staff
Liza
Ceniceros
Program
Assistant
Catina
Grant
Administrative
Assistant
Lora
McKeown
Administrative
Assistant
Cara
Stengler
Program
Assistant
Donna Walden
Executive Assistant
|
