Alfreda B. Norman is an experienced bank and board executive deploying strategic financial frameworks to help public, private, and non-profit organizations transform communities. Alfreda’s mission is to financially empower communities by addressing market failures and providing a bridge to economic opportunities.

Ms. Norman had a distinguished career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas where she was expert in identifying economic challenges and opportunities, forging partnerships with all levels of stakeholders, and inspiring people and organizations to action using innovative solutions and practices. As the Dallas Fed’s past Senior Vice President and Public Information Officer and a decade-long member of the Executive Leadership Team, Ms. Norman’s responsibilities included setting strategy and driving results for the Bank’s corporate, executive, and digital communications, and community and economic development initiatives. During her tenure, Alfreda amplified the Bank’s thought leadership to broad audiences promoting economic growth and inclusion and advancing understanding of the economy and the Federal Reserve System.

Among her other leadership roles, Norman was hired as one of Bank of America’s first neighborhood development officers where she directed the community reinvestment strategy to extend credit to low-income communities in Texas. She previously held management positions at the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and The Container Store corporate headquarters in Dallas. Norman served as Chair of the Communities Foundation of Texas, and Co-Chair of the Fort Worth Mayor’s Child-Care Blue Ribbon Action Committee.

Currently, Alfreda is Chair of Early Matters Texas, and Co-Chair of the Texas Opportunity Youth Network Leadership Council. She serves on numerous prestigious boards, including the Meadows Foundation, Commit Partnership, Dallas College Foundation, and UT Southwestern Medical Foundation. She is an advisory board member for Year Up Texas and the Jr. League; and is a member of the Charter 100, Dallas Assembly, and International Women’s Forum.

Norman earned a bachelor’s degree at Southern Methodist University and is an alum of the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Retail Banking. Alfreda and her husband raised two children in Dallas and are avid tennis players and world travelers. A highly sought out speaker and adviser, who always puts her mission and the entities to which she is dedicated first, Ms. Norman leaves a lasting mark on the organizations and people with whom she collaborates, those she mentors, and the lives she changes through her work.

Anne Kogan is a creative arts administrator specializing in the intersection of community engagement, impact generation, grantmaking, and professional development for artists and organizations.

In her current role as Director of Programs at TACA (The Arts Community Alliance), Anne oversees all mission-driven grantmaking and professional development programs. At TACA, she created the Arts Accelerator, a 10-month learning opportunity for small and emerging arts organizations to grow their skills in arts and nonprofit management and make strategic plans for sustainable growth.

Prior to TACA, Anne worked at the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture and the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and at Lisner Auditorium at The George Washington University. She previously held several positions at the National Council for the Traditional Arts, and produced US tours for Brazilian artists.

Anne was a member of the first cohort of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ Leadership Fellows Program, as well as a participant in their Emerging Leadership Institute. She holds an MBA from University of Illinois with specializations in Entrepreneurship & Strategic Innovation and Business Analytics, a Master of Music in Ethnomusicology, and a Bachelor’s in Oboe Performance.

As Community Investments Director for Communities Foundation of Texas, Ashley leads CFT’s place-based community investments strategy aligned with the organization’s strategic plan. Working within Strategy 2030’s target areas including South Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Cliff, and Singing Hills and Highland Hills – her team’s portfolio will focus on affordable housing, education and workforce, community health, nonprofit capacity building, and comprehensive community development.

Ashley’s role will involve strategic alignment with CFT’s Learning & Insights department, as well as, North Texas Giving Day, and Educate Texas. In addition, her role will involve building connections within the community through capacity building, grantmaking, and relationship building.

During Ashley’s tenure at CFT, she has grown and developed a nonprofit network focused on economic security through strategic investments and capacity-building. Ashley is a coach of people and organizations who is passionate about data, human connections and relationship building — keys to effectively supporting communities, nonprofits, and individuals so they are better able to connect their work and purpose to improving systems.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP / BOARD SERVICE
Ashley is the co-author of “I Said What I Said,” an anthology of Black women in nonprofit. Because of her expertise, she represents the Foundation on several boards and committees, including Co-chair, North Texas Asset Funder’s Network, Program Chair – Asset Funders Network, Tarrant County To and Through, Junior League of Dallas Advisory Board, Texas Opportunity Youth Advisory Council, Wells Elementary PTA, Previous Board Leadership include Workforce Matters (2020-2023), Encore Park (2022-2023), and DFW Regional Housing Consortium (2020-2022).

As founder and president of Brynn Bagot Public Relations, Brynn brings decades of experience in public and media relations, brand strategy, advertising and community engagement. Before launching her firm in 2001, she served as public relations manager at Neiman Marcus Willow Bend and held senior positions at several of Dallas’ top PR and advertising agencies, including Cooksey McGill, Gallier & Wittenberg, MBRK and Richards/Gravelle.

Brynn is active in the community, currently serving as a board member of the Highland Park Football Booster Club, Junior League of Dallas Community Advisory Board and member of La Fiesta de la Seis Banderas Guild. She has held leadership and board roles with organizations including The Family Place Partners, twice chairing its largest fundraiser, Partners Card; Genesis Women’s Shelter Alliance; Attitudes & Attire™; Dallas Challenge, Inc.; The Family Connection; Dallas Chi Omega Alumnae Association and American Heart Association’s Côtes du Coeur. Brynn was previously active in many groups including Cattle Baron’s Ball benefiting the American Cancer Society, North Texas Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), The Uptown Dallas Association Board, Children’s Medical Center Auxiliary and The Children’s Trust.

A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in broadcast journalism, Brynn has received several industry awards, including being named one of Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” awardees. She was recognized by the American Heart Association/Dallas Division with the 2000 Award of Merit and is also a recipient of the Chi Omega Symphony Award.

Above all, she is most proud to be the mother of three active children including her daughter, a junior at the University of Oklahoma, and her twin boys who are seniors at Highland Park High School. A consummate sports fan, Brynn loves cheering for her boys on the football field.

Byron Sanders is a passionate advocate for healthcare innovation and equity, leading Arete Health on a mission to revolutionize access to affordable, high-quality care. As the founder and CEO, he is driven by the belief that healthcare should prioritize people, not bureaucracy, ensuring that everyone—not just the privileged few—has access to preventative care, advanced biotech, and innovative insurance solutions.

Byron’s introduction to the complexities of healthcare began with Pfizer, where he observed how managed care and payer systems often dictated whether patients could receive the treatment they needed or if doctors could provide the best care. This firsthand experience shaped his resolve to change the system and center care around people.
Prior to Arete, Byron’s career spanned education, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. As President and CEO of Big Thought, he led efforts to close the opportunity gap for underserved youth. At Group Excellence, he helped scale one of Texas’s fastest-growing education companies, reaching over 250,000 students. His leadership positions at U.S. Trust and the Dallas Education Foundation helped unlock transformative opportunities for schools and communities.

Byron’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the Dallas Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award, the NCAA Legends and Legacy Community Award, and the CASEL O’Brien Award for Excellence in Social-Emotional Learning. As a Presidential Leadership Scholar, Byron also serves on the DISD Board of Trustees. Additionally, he is on the boards of the Dallas College Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, and Getting Smart, and serves as a trustee of his alma mater, the University of Tulsa.

At home, Byron’s greatest joy is spending time with his best friend and wife, Celeste, and their two galactically amazing children.

With over 25 years of industry experience, Damion has spent the majority of his career at Turner Construction where he brings a strategic mindset, operational expertise, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Working closely with project teams, clients, and trade partners, Damion provides leadership in safety, planning, resource management, quality control, and project cost control and profit. Through a hands-on, team-focused approach he drives positive results to construction operations throughout North Texas and Oklahoma.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Damion is actively involved in the community. Having worked closely with Turner’s Employee Resource Groups, Damion was named executive sponsor of the Veteran’s Network for Dallas in 2018 and immediately began working closely with Carry The Load, a local non-profit organization supporting military veterans, police, fire, and first responders as well as their families. Damion has helped with fund raising for Carry the Load since 2018. Damion was selected for Leadership Dallas through the Dallas Regional Chamber as part of the LD Class of 2019. He was a Class Advisor the following year supporting the Class of 2020 and continues his involvement with the Dallas Regional Chamber through the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association. Damion joined the Junior League Dallas Community Advisory Board in 2020.

Dana Ayres serves as Associate Vice President for Program Services and Donor Relations in Development and External Affairs at SMU. At SMU for 24 years, she oversees many signature events on campus as well as the central donor stewardship program. Now a sustainer, her involvement in Junior League of Dallas included a variety of leadership roles, including serving as Strategy Vice President. She is actively involved at Highland Park United Methodist Church and enjoys helping at her daughter’s school. She and her husband have one five-year old daughter and they spend a lot of their time cheering on the Mustangs.

Dr. Kesha O’Reilly, PharmD, MS, is a healthcare leader, elected official, and strategist with over two decades of experience advancing public health, education, and community development. She currently serves as Director of Global HIV at Gilead Sciences, where she leads global medical initiatives to strengthen healthcare delivery, optimize provider engagement, and support the next generation of clinicians. Her work also includes aligning long-term franchise strategy with real-world insights and future innovation.

Elected in 2024 as the District 7 Trustee for Dallas College, Dr. O’Reilly brings a forward-thinking approach to higher education governance. She launched a Community Advisory Board to build stronger connections between Dallas College and the communities it serves, focusing on workforce readiness and student-centered growth.

Dr. O’Reilly earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Howard University, holds a Master’s in Population Health, and completed a fellowship with the Mississippi Center for Health Policy. She is also preparing to pursue a law degree to expand her impact at the intersection of health, education, and public policy.

She is the founder of Catalyst for Change, a nonprofit that delivers youth-focused programming such as the Shine Squad Summer Cheer & Dance Camp. Beyond her professional and nonprofit work, Dr. O’Reilly actively mentors emerging leaders through the All Stars Project and the inSTEM Scholar Program, sponsored by the National Science & Technology Medals Foundation (NSTMF).

An active member of Concord Church and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Dr. O’Reilly leads with purpose and a passion for building systems that empower others—on campus, in communities, and across industries.

Froswa’ Booker-Drew, Ph.D. is a Network Weaver who believes relationships are the key to our personal, professional, and organizational growth. She has been quoted/featured in Forbes, Ozy, Bustle, Huffington Post, Modern Luxury, and other media outlets, due to an extensive background in leadership, nonprofit management, philanthropy, partnership development, training, and education. She is the founder of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC providing DEI, leadership training, community engagement strategies and philanthropic/partnership guidance for institutions.

Formerly the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas, Froswa’ was responsible for grantmaking, educational programming and community initiatives. More than 70% of organizations funded were led by people of color. As the previous National Community Engagement Director for World Vision, she served as a catalyst, partnership broker, and builder of the capacity of local partners in multiple locations across the US to improve and sustain the well-being of children and their families. She is also co-founder of HERitage Giving Circle, one of the first Black women Giving Circles in the State of Texas and co-founder of both Power in Action-Dallas and the South Dallas Employment Project.

Dr. Booker-Drew was a part of the documentary, Friendly Captivity, a film that follows a cast of 7 women from Dallas to India. She is the recipient of several honors including 2020 Each Moment Matters Awardee, 2020 Dallas Leadership Foundation’s Leadership Award, WFAA’s While I Have Your Attention (2020), 2020 TEDxSMU speaker, 2019 Dallas Business Journal’s Women in Business honoree, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Global Big Heart 2014, 2012 Outstanding African American Alumni Award from the University of Texas at Arlington, 2009 Woman of the Year Award by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and was awarded Diversity Ambassador for the American Red Cross (2012).

Froswa’ graduated with a PhD from Antioch University in Leadership and Change with a focus on social capital, diverse women, change management, and relational leadership. She attended the Jean Baker Miller Institute at Wellesley for training in Relational Cultural Theory and has completed facilitator training on Immunity to Change based on the work of Kegan and Lahey of Harvard. She has also completed training through UNICEF on Equity Based Evaluations. Booker-Drew is currently an adjunct professor at Tulane University in the Master of Public Administration Program teaching the Governance, Leadership and Sustainability course and is an affiliate faculty member at the Graduate School of Leadership and Change at Antioch University. She has also been an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Capital Seminary and Graduate School. She is the host of the podcast, The Tapestry and author of 3 books for women: Fly Away, Ready for a Revolution: 30 Days to Jolt Your Life and Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last.

Her latest book, Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy, published by Baylor University Press, was released in Spring 2022. Froswa’ serves on multiple boards including Buckner International, For Oak Cliff, Mayor’s Star Council, and Soul Rep Theater Company. She was a workshop presenter at the United Nations in 2013 on the Access to Power and in 2021, trained the Humphrey Fellows, a program of the US State Department. She has been a contributor for several publications globally, including as an advice columnist for professional women in The Business Woman Media, a global platform based in Australia and as an inspirational columnist for Texas Metro News.

Jennifer Scripps, a Dallas native, assumed the role of President and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc. in April 2022. She took the helm of the 100-employee organization during a period of unprecedented growth for Downtown Dallas, which includes over $6 billion in planned or ongoing development, the influx of thousands of new residents, and a series of high-profile corporate relocations. With a strong focus on guiding DDI’s strategic 360 Plan, Jennifer is spearheading several major projects set to launch in the coming years, including the redevelopment of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and preparations for FIFA 2026. Under her leadership, DDI has significantly enhanced security protocols and more than doubling programming in Downtown Parks.

She previously served for six years as the director of the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. In her prior role at Dallas City Hall, she oversaw a series of significant initiatives that elevated the arts throughout Dallas and across the country. Prior to her time with the City of Dallas, she served in multiple roles with the Perot Museum of Nature & Science, including overseeing the day-to-day aspects of the expansion project and business planning of the museum.

Scripps graduated from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 1995. She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. She and her husband, Andy, and their two young sons and black lab mutt are residents of the Swiss Avenue Historic District in Old East Dallas.

Jess Bass Bolander is driven to benefit her client’s greatest investment–their people. In her role as Senior Vice President at Lockton, Jess brings nearly two decades of experience in the healthcare industry to providing focused solutions that meet the unique needs of large, complex, and multi-location employers. Jess reviews, develops, improves, and manages employee benefits strategies. Her ability to increase value for her clients and their employees is her superpower.

Jess is an active member of the Dallas community. She is on the board of directors of The Family Place, AED de Mexicanos and her husband’s YPO chapter. She is also involved with Executive Women of Dallas and belongs to the President’s Circle of Kylde Warren Park. Jess is a mom of two boys, James 10 and Sammy 8. She loves traveling with her family, playing golf with her boys and hosting women’s networking events.

Jonathan Blum is a nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations attorney in Holland & Knight’s Dallas office. Mr. Blum’s experience includes assisting nonprofit leaders in managing their legal matters on a broad array of issues affecting charities, foundations, trade and professional associations, advocacy groups, educational organizations and other nonprofit organizations. Mr. Blum recognizes the importance of concentrating on the key issues affecting clients and moving quickly to identify practical legal options in order for clients to stay mission-focused and make informed decisions.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Blum worked in the nonprofit practice group for a national Am Law 100 firm in Dallas, where he served as counsel and later as shareholder. He also spent nearly seven years serving as in-house counsel for tax-exempt organizations such as a national breast cancer foundation and a private family foundation. In addition, Mr. Blum served as a transactional attorney for an international law firm headquartered in New York City. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law.

Mr. Blum is a frequent speaker on best practices in governance, fundraising, tax compliance and current developments for nonprofit organizations.

In addition to his law and undergraduate degrees, Mr. Blum has completed course work at the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Argentina and Universidad de Carabobo in Venezuela.

Texas Women’s Foundation President & CEO Karen Hughes White has spent the last 25 years leading non-profit organizations dedicated to improving (and saving!) the lives of women and children. She began her nonprofit career with Susan G. Komen, before joining St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as SVP, Strategic Partnerships, and then Tri Delta Women’s Fraternity where she served as the organization’s CEO for 10 years. When she’s not advocating for Texas women and girls, Karen enjoys spending time with her three adult children, practicing Pilates, playing pickleball, and cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Margaret Black joined LH Capital/Lyda Hill Philanthropies in 2016 to develop, manage, and evaluate strategic philanthropic projects and for-profit investments across a portfolio focused on science, nature and nonprofit empowerment. In this role, she co-founded the IF/THEN Initiative, serves as Producer for the Emmy-nominated series Mission Unstoppable, co-founded Smithsonian-presented #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit and launched the Better Together Fund, Lone Star Prize, IF/THEN Collection and Water Cooler at Pegasus Park.

Previously, Margaret served on the executive leadership team at Big Thought overseeing operations and programmatic systems. Earlier in her career she worked at Momentum Equity Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm in Boston.

She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University, a MBA from Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, and a MA from Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. She currently serves on the executive board of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Garden, the board of The Charter 100, the board of SMU DataArts, and on the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA.

Michael Jackson is a native of Dallas, TX and a Dallas ISD graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. He is HBCU proud as a summa cum laude graduate of Texas College in Tyler, TX, a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, and currently pursuing a doctorate in education leadership at the University of Texas at Austin as a fellow in the Cooperative Superintendency Program. He is also a 26-year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Fraternity, Inc.

As a 25-year veteran educator, he has served as a teacher, mentor, basketball coach, African American Student Success Initiative campus advocate, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, and elementary and secondary Principal – all in Dallas ISD. He’s been recognized as Campus Teacher of the Year, Master Teacher, Master Principal, Magnet School Principal of the Year, and Dallas ISD Principal of the Year.

As an administrator at Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, the campus earned the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon and as founding principal of Sudie L. Williams TAG Academy, the school has been recognized as the #2 middle school in the state of Texas and the #1 elementary school in North Texas. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni Awardee by the Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association, serves as Executive Director of Magnet School in Dallas ISD, and is President of the Dallas School Administrators Association. His motto is “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

Ruben E. Esquivel is Vice President for Community and Corporate Relations of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, a position he has held since 1995.

UT Southwestern is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, patient-care providers and research institutions. Its 3,200-member faculty has received six Nobel Prizes since 1985, and includes 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, and 21 members elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

A native of Cuba, Mr. Esquivel’s career began as an assembler with Multi-Amp Corporation (AVO International Inc.) While working full time he attended college at night and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering (NJIT). His work at Multi-Amp/AVO culminated in being named President and CEO of the company in 1985. In December, 2022, he received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from UT Arlington.

Active for many years in local community organizations, Mr. Esquivel serves as Director of AT&T Performing Arts Center, Best Southwest Partnership, the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Zoological Society, the State Fair of Texas, and the Stemmons Corridor Business Association.

Mr. Esquivel has served as Chairman of several organizations, including the Board of Managers of Dallas County Hospital District (Parkland Hospital), the Board of Directors of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation, the Dallas Foundation, the North Texas Commission, the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, the State Fair of Texas, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and President of the DeSoto I.S.D. Board of Trustees.

He has received recognition for community service and leadership from the Dallas Historical Society, Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, Boy Scouts, Dallas Concilio, and DeSoto City Council, among others.

Mr. Esquivel and his wife Alina reside in DeSoto, TX. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Sarah Kahn is the President and CEO of Housing Forward, the lead agency of the homeless response system in Dallas and Collin counties. Kahn served as Housing Forward’s Chief Program Officer from September 2021 to December 2023 where she played a critical role in building a robust and collaborative system, transformed by greater funding alignment and enhanced public-private partnerships.

For over 20 years, Kahn has pioneered solution-focused interventions, informing public policy, and mobilizing systems to solve homelessness. She has worked alongside communities to improve homeless response systems in the U.S. and internationally with HUD Contractor, the Cloudburst Group; KPMG’s Government Advisory Services in Sydney Australia and Singapore; the Council to Homeless Persons in Melbourne Australia; and the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Washington D.C.

Roslyn is CEO of DAWSON Communications + Strategy + Governance, a consultancy serving corporate and nonprofit organizations. She was previously President & CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation from 2011 to early 2022, where she led ambitious strategic initiatives in women’s economic security and women’s leadership.

From 1986 to 2011, Roslyn was Chair and CEO of Dawson + Murray + Teague Communications, a marketing communications agency she founded that served regional, national and global clients in a broad array of industries – from technology and telecommunications, banking and professional services, to healthcare and nonprofit.

She is former chair of the board of Tides, a global charity focused on shifting and strengthening power of historically excluded groups; a former chair and board member of Women’s Funding Network, the association of women’s foundations; and serves on the Community Advisory board of the Junior League of Dallas and the campaign councils for Metrocare and Trust for Public Land Texas.

She is active in the International Women’s Forum, The Charter 100, The Dallas Assembly and The Dallas Summit. She is a graduate of Baylor University (BA) and Vanderbilt University (MA). She is married to Rex Thompson, retired professor of finance at SMU. Their family includes three adult children.