The United Way of Tarrant County is proud to announce the new and returning members of the 2018-2019 Board of Directors.
“United Way of Tarrant County’s new board members represent our desire to unite and solve social issues that face our entire community. With diverse backgrounds and talents, it’s exciting to have these leaders represent our organization,” said TD Smyers, President and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County. “By taking on Tarrant County’s toughest social challenges, these individuals will help us make lasting changes in our community.”
Joining the Board of Directors for a Three-Year Term:
Carlo Capua is Co-Owner and General Manager of Z’s Café and Catering, a social enterprise partnership with local nonprofit, Samaritan House. Over the past 10 years, Z’s Café has put 136 low-income men and women back to work, helping them build self-esteem and job skills to return to the workforce. In 2017, Z’s Café won “Small Business of the Year” by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
Joseph DeLeon is President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. In addition to being an active community leader, he is a former captain of the United States Air Force Medical Services Corps and has served in healthcare management since 1991.
Melinda M. Johnston is Senior Financial Advisor for M2J Wealth Management Group at Merrill Lynch. A distinguished community volunteer, Johnston served as chair of the United Way’s Steering Committee for Women United and as a member of the board of directors and chair of the Heart Ball for the American Heart Association. She has also been recognized as a member of the Circle of Champions at Merrill Lynch. Ms. Johnston also will serve on the Executive Committee.
Patricia Linares, Ph.D. has served as Interim Superintendent of both Fort Worth and Crowley Independent School Districts. Now retired from education, Dr. Linares previously served as a teacher and elementary school principal for Dallas Independent School District.
Darwin L. Winfield is Manager of Public Affairs for the Mid-Tex Division of Atmos Energy Corporation. With over 30 years of experience in the energy industry, Winfield has been active in various industry and community associations, sitting on several boards of directors and serving in a variety of roles.
Dedicated members joining the Board of Directors for a second term include:
- Bridget Blaise-Shamai, Managing Director of Customer Loyalty and Insights, American Airlines
- Earnest Boone, Secretary/Treasurer, District Lodge 776, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
- Melody Johnson, Scholar in Residence, Texas Christian University
- Josh McNamara, CPA, CVA, Associate Controlling Manager and Principal, The Walton Group, LLC
- Hadley Woerner, President, Tarrant Region Frost Bank
Members of the current Executive Committee and Board of Directors are:
Executive Committee
- Board Chair: Riz Chand, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, BNSF Railway Company
- Chair of Annual Campaign: Mark Nurdin, CEO/Fort Worth Region, Bank of Texas
- Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and Compliance Officer and Treasurer: Scott Hickson, Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP
- Chair of Compensation and Benefits Committee: Jean Wallace, Vice President of Human Resources, Lockheed Martin
- Chair of Governance Committee: C. Corey Fickes, Attorney at Law/Partner, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
- Chair of Strategic Planning Committee: James Powell, Assistant General Counsel, North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Chair of Diversity Committee and Member-At-Large: Richard Casarez, Vice President of Fort Worth Customer Operations, Oncor Electric Delivery
- Co-Chair of Community Development Committee and Community Volunteer: Kristy Odom
- Non-Voting Member: TD Smyers, President, United Way of Tarrant County
- Non-Voting Member: Beverly Boyd, Corporate Secretary, United Way of Tarrant County
- Member-at-Large: Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent of Schools, Arlington Independent School District
- Community Volunteer: Sharon Leite
Board Members
Executive Committee
- Board Chair: Riz Chand, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, BNSF Railway Company
- Chair of Annual Campaign: Mark Nurdin, CEO/Fort Worth Region, Bank of Texas
- Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and Compliance Officer and Treasurer: Scott Hickson, Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP
- Chair of Investment Committee: Tommy Lawler, CEO and Managing Partner, Weaver
- Chair of Compensation and Benefits Committee: Jill, Lyttle, Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Leadership Development, First Command Financial Services, Inc.
- Chair of Governance Committee: C. Corey Fickes, Attorney at Law/Partner, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
- Chair of Strategic Planning Committee: James Powell, Assistant General Counsel, North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Chair of Diversity Committee and Member-At-Large: Richard Casarez, Vice President of Fort Worth Customer Operations, Oncor Electric Delivery
- Co-Chair of Community Development Committee and Community Volunteer: Kristy Odom
- Member-at-Large: Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent of Schools, Arlington Independent School District
- Non-Voting Member: TD Smyers, President, United Way of Tarrant County
- Non-Voting Member: Beverly Boyd, Corporate Secretary, United Way of Tarrant County
Board Members
- Mona Bailey, Community Volunteer, Texas Silver-Haired Legislator
- Dan Berce, President and CEO, GM Financial, Inc.
- Justin R. Chapa, Associate Attorney, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
- Brian Coltharp, P.E., President and CEO, Freese and Nichols
- Sean Donohue, CEO, DFW International Airport
- John Flack, Partner, KPMG, LLP
- Shannon Fletcher, Chief of Staff, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office-Chief of Staff Division
- Rachel Harris, Senior Director of Advancement Communications, Texas Christian University
- David Lester, BCCR, SLCR, President, Lester and Lester Realty Advisors, Inc.
- Allison Mullis, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Bell Helicopter, Textron
- Steve Newton, President, North Texas Operations, Baylor Scot and White Health
- Michael Onuscheck, Global Franchise Head, Alcon Surgical
- Glen Sirles, Community Volunteer
- Tom Stallings, Founder Firm, Strategist, Mosaic Strategy Partners
Board Members and Voting Ex-Officios
- Brian Golden, President, Tarrant County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO
- Ellen Jones, HEB ISD Board Trustee Chair, Northeast Steering Committee
- Marcia Etie, Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce Chair, United Way Arlington Committee, Special Projects Manager
- Amanda Robbins, MS, RN, GCNS-BC, Program Director Fort Worth Emergency Services, Chair, Area Agency on Aging
- Olivia Templeton, Director of Contracts and Joint Facilities, BNSF, Chair, Women United
