Meet the Team
With twenty years’ experience in construction, Texas government and nonprofit management, Amy Ledbetter Parham serves the 62 Habitat affiliates as Executive Director of Habitat Texas. Amy was a political campaign manager and a design professional for an architectural firm that specialized in public buildings and school districts. She has worked with more than 100 nonprofit organizations as a consultant in private practice, including Habitats, before coming to Habitat Texas. Amy holds a Master’s degree in Public Leadership from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and B.A. in Government from the University of Texas and a B.A. in Design from Texas State University – San Marcos.
Michele Burns comes to Habitat Texas with 15 years of affiliate experience with Midland Habitat for Humanity. Michele has over 40 years of experience in mortgage loan originations and servicing. She serves on the MPAR (Mortgage Procedures and Regulations) statewide team, is a Certified Homebuyer Counselor, a Certified Relocation Professional, has achieved a certificate in Non Profit Executive Leadership, and is a past recipient of Habitat Texas’ Mary Ruth Rodenbaugh Staff Excellence Award. Michele is experienced in Bootstrap loan processing plus various grants for down payment assistance. She holds a B.S. degree in Communication Sciences with specialization in teaching the deaf from Texas Women’s University.
Donna Poston Williams grew up in San Antonio and has worked in fundraising and marketing for over twenty years primarily in the Austin area. Before that she was an award-winning advertising copywriter, chief of staff in the Texas State Legislature, and political campaign manager. For the past decade Donna led the Individual Giving and Communications Department at an affordable housing organization based in Austin, where she quickly learned that the lack of stable housing was the largest barrier to educational success, robust health, and long-term financial security. That’s what drew her to Habitat for Humanity. Donna has a B.A in Journalism, Broadcast and Film from Trinity University.
Chris serves as the Grants and Mortgage Servicing Coordinator for Habitat Texas. He graduated from Indiana University – Fort Wayne with degrees in Business Marketing and Managment. He also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Maine Afterschool Network where he performed sustainability research for the federally funded afterschool programs.
Vinisha comes from Habitat for Humanity of Collin County with experience in administrative support. She is new to the world of nonprofits and loved working with Collin County. She truly was impacted by the families they were able to help during her time there. When she recently moved to Austin, Vinisha knew she had to reach out to an affiliate near her to continue her journey with Habitat families, so she now serves as Habitat Texas’ Office Manager. She loves what Habitat is all about, and it has been a pleasure being a part of something bigger than herself.
Rita Walker, a native Hill Country Texan, has worked for 20+ years in the mortgage industry, covering all aspects of the sector. She previously worked with a residential mortgage lender as a loan coordinator and now handles escrow analysis for HabTex Mortgage Services. Her passion is for serving the community and helping others.
Sharon came to Austin from Corpus Christi to attend U.T. (when the Austin population was fewer that 350,000) and has lived in the area since. She was a partner and CFO of Chaparral Professional Land Surveying, Inc for 23 years and finds reconciling statements and accounts to be very satisfying. Her adult children have forbidden her to give them any more Excel Spreadsheets, for any reason. Sharon is a foster for the Austin Animal Shelter and a Life Member of Girls Scouts of America. She cares deeply about the issue of affordable housing and the value of home ownership, and is delighted to be working with Habitat Texas!
2021-2022 Board of Directors
Effective July 1, 2021
Founding Partner at Engage Leadership Consulting, Miha Vindis comes to our board with an array of experiences. He teaches leadership and management strategy at the University of Texas at Austin; and offers related strategic and marketing consulting to senior leadership through Vindis International LLC. His research projects include the development of digital social capital models and their ability to influence engagement.
As the Director of Public Affairs at Foley & Lardner LLP, Chick brings over 24 years of experience in legislative and governmental affairs as a senior advisory in the Texas Legislature. His renowned expertise focuses on a variety of topics ranging from economic development, employment, environmental regulation, electric generation & transmission, housing, immigration, workforce, property rights, real estate, and transportation.
David M. McGuire is the President and Chief Lending Officer of the Spirit of Texas Bank and has served in those positions since 2009. Mr. McGuire received his Bachelor of Business Administration—Finance degree from Texas A&M University in 1987. With over 37 years of banking experience, Mr. McGuire’s extensive business and banking experience and his perspective, knowledge and extensive community relationships we are thrilled to have him on our board.
Partner at McGinnis Lochridge and head of its real estate (Land & Water) practice group, Schmandt has practiced real estate and corporate law in Texas for over twenty years representing developers, governments, and nonprofit entities. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the real estate development process, from entity formation and financing to acquisition, due diligence, and entitlements.
With her well-respected work in public relations and communications Shahreen Abedin brings her knowledge and talent to our board. Her background in nonprofit fundraising, marketing and media with companies such as CNN are some of her many accomplishments. Shahreen also has applied knowledge of the First Amendment and media law making her a well-rounded individual for her current role as Director of Communications for the Dell Medical School of UT Austin.
With seven years of experience with Habitat for Humanity, Andy York currently serves as the Executive Director of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity.
Her leadership in various areas of nonprofit development symbolizes her work in the community and as the Executive Director for the Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity. As an affiliate board member, LaJuan Gordon brings her criteria and quality insight to our board.
Hopkins currently serves as Executive Director of Midland Habitat for Humanity where, since 2018, he has helped families and communities through new construction and home rehabilitation programs. He also brings years of experience in real estate and working with a mineral fund to the board.
Stacy taught in Kerrville schools for ten years before beginning a career in banking in 1999. He served as Senior Vice-President for Union State Bank and Guadalupe National Bank before joining Habitat in 2015. As a 2001 graduate of the Kerr County Leadership program, Stacy enjoys being involved in a variety of community groups. Currently he serves as Executive Director for Kerr County Habitat for Humanity.
Many Thanks to Our Board.
Board Members Give Time, Talent and Treasure to help us make see everyone has a safe, decent place to live. For any nonprofit organization, board members should meet basic legal obligations including Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty and Duty of Obedience, but great board members do even more, offering servant leadership to their organization and community. Habitat Texas is blessed with such leaders from Habitat affiliates and community members.