The Leadership Board is a group of national and international volunteer leaders in the arts, business, and philanthropy. The Board is dedicated to expanding Texas Performing Arts’ world-class programming, positioning the organization as an international leader in the performing arts, and strengthening the bond between the performing arts and the communities we serve.
Brian Haley, Board Chair
Brian is the co-founder of CB Capital, an investment and real estate development firm. He also serves as Canada’s Honorary Consul in Austin, TX, a term member with the Council on Foreign Relations, a lead investor with Opportunity Austin, an executive committee member of the UT Systems Chancellor’s Council, and as a director on the boards of the Salvation Army of Central Texas, the Blanton Museum of Art, UT Austin’s Undergraduate College, The Texas Exes, and the UT School of Law, in addition to Texas Performing Arts. He previously served as a public safety commissioner for the city of Austin, a trustee for the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, and as the first student regent for the University of Texas System. Brian received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin.
Kristin Alexander
Kristin Alexander is a lover of the arts and an ardent believer in the value of arts education. Currently, Kristin is a Principal at Turbo Industries, the Alexander family office, and the Executive Director of the Alexander Family Foundation. She began her career with PwC, but transitioned to public service with her tenure at the State Auditor’s Office and as the Director of Compliance for the Texas Department of Transportation. Kristin earned her MBA from St. Edward's University and her undergraduate degree in Business Honors and Finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and a Certified Compliance Professional (CCP). Kristin lives in Austin with her husband, two daughters, and labrador retriever.
Malú Alvarez
Malú is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina, where she has served on the Art Collection Advisory Committee for the past nine years. In Austin, she serves on the board of The Contemporary and the Blanton Museum. She is originally from Mexico, grew up in San Antonio, and currently resides in Austin, TX. Malú’s career history is in magazine publishing, working in the art departments of Monument Saveur, and Travel + Leisure magazines. A passion for photography led her from the photo desk to the field, shooting freelance assignments for Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. She has had a fine art photography practice since 2009. The Alvarez family owns the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas – craft brewers of Shiner Bock. Malú is a proud ambassador of the Shiner brands, the oldest operating brewery in Texas.
Carly Christopher
As a lifelong lover of and believer in the power of creative arts, Carly works as a professional actor, producer and writer in Austin, TX, and Jackson, WY. In addition to Texas Performing Arts, she holds board seats at The Alchemy Theatre, a new black box theatre in East Austin, and Creative Action, a non-profit that uses the arts as a medium to inspire creativity, unlock potential, and transform the lives of students of all ages while building community and practicing social justice. Carly and her husband Clayton are passionate about giving and philanthropy. The Christopher Family Foundation focuses on supporting mothers and families, uplifting at-risk youth, the preservation of theatre and of the creative arts, providing education for all, and empowering entrepreneurship in future leaders.
Jaime Davila
Jaime is a private investor and the former chair and CEO of Univision and COO of Mexico’s Grupo Televisa, both leading Spanish-language media companies. Jaime co-founded Los Angeles-based Campanario Entertainment with his son, which develops film, television, and musical content in English and Spanish. Jaime and his wife Pilar live in Austin and spend time in Los Angeles, New York City and Connecticut. Jaime is an alumnus of UT.
Tamara Dorrance
Tamara Dorrance is an ethicist with Lighthouse Ethics Consulting, offering ethics based guidance to nonprofits, individuals and businesses. She is also president and co-founder of the Durant Family Foundation, a private foundation celebrating over 20 years supporting communities through solution-based programs and advocacy. Tamara is actively engaged locally with the Austin Advisory Board of the Texas Nature Conservancy and the National Leadership Board of The Blanton Museum of Art. Tamara was raised within an emergent theater and modern dance scene in Colorado, dancing with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, David Taylor Dance Theater, and Perry-Mansfield, eventually working as a freelance instructor and choreographer. She holds a BA from Colorado State University with a minor in Dance and a MS in Organizational Leadership and Ethics from St. Edward’s University. Tamara moved to Austin in 2000 with her husband Charles, where they are raising their two children.
Deborah Dupré
Debbie is a graduate of UT Law School and the University of Notre Dame and has called Austin home for over 10 years after previously residing in London, Geneva and Singapore. Debbie is currently the President of the Board of Trustees at The Contemporary Austin and is a member of the Circle at the Visual Arts Center at UT. She also serves as the municipal clerk and on the Board of Governors for her community in Rhode Island. Before moving to Austin, Debbie earned a post-graduate diploma in art history, worked for the Royal Collection in London and owned and operated a contemporary art gallery in London. She and her husband Richard Rothberg share a love for theater as well as contemporary and visual art and look forward to collaborating to build the Austin arts ecosystem.
Dennis Eakin
Dennis currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Austin Opera and is one of the original founders of Vive Les Arts Theater in Killeen, TX. He also served as Vice President for an insurance company, AMMEST Services, where he also was a board member, and has served on two bank boards and one water district board. Dennis currently owns a real estate development company, Dennis Eakin Kia, and Nolan Creek Vineyard. He is also currently a member of Knights of the Vine and Wine and Food Foundation in Austin and supports the Mailista Foundation, an orphanage in Tanzania, as well as several wildlife conservation nonprofits in Africa. As a lover of music and theater and former Vietnam helicopter pilot, Dennis meaningfully engaged with Songwriting with Soldiers, a nonprofit to create a safe and inspiring environment to help veterans work with professional songwriters to share their experiences through music. Dennis also shares his life with his wife, Kandace, who has also served on the Development Foundation Board for Central Texas College and One World Theater.
Deborah Green
Deborah Green is a philanthropist and avid supporter of all art forms based in Austin. She currently serves on the boards of The Contemporary Austin, Fusebox, and Ballroom Marfa, and she has perviously served on the boards of the Austin Film Society, Zach Scott Theatre, Planned Parenthood, and the Tate Museums Acquisition Committee in London. Deborah’s latest producing projects include being co-owner and buyer of Joy, a curated gift shop in downtown Austin, and getting involved with co-producing shows on Broadway, including Hadestown and The Inheritance (both won Tony Awards). She is hopeful that there will be more shows and more Tonys in her future. Deborah and her partner, Clayton Aynesworth, are home base for three adult children.
Sheri Henriksen
Sheri recently moved to Austin after living in Houston for 38 years. While living in Houston, Sheri was active in her children’s schools, including The Fay School, St. Francis Episcopal Day School, Episcopal High School, and The Kinkaid School. Her past interests have included the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and UTHealth School of Nursing PARTNERS. Sheri holds a BA in Journalism from Texas Tech University, a BS in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MLS from Rice University. After moving to Austin, Sheri completed the University of Texas TOWER Fellows Program in the McCombs School of Business. She sits on the Advisory Boards of the Glasscock School of Continuing Education, Rice University and Development Boards for UTHealth Houston, The University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas Fine Arts Council. Sheri is enjoying living in Austin by participating in the American Artist Project, KUT, KMFA, Austin City Limits Live and the Austin Chamber Music Center. A great lover of the theater, Sheri is thrilled to be a member of the Texas Performing Arts Leadership Board.
Michael Herman, MD
Mike is a radiation oncologist with Texas Oncology. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas in Houston. He completed his training at the University of Florida where he served as chief resident and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Mike and his wife Abbey moved to Austin in 2015, where they are raising their three kids. Mike currently serves on the Board of Trustees at St. Matthew’s School, and he is actively involved with the Flatwater Foundation, Wonders and Worries, and St. Andrew’s School.
Steve Houston
Steve is a graduate of the University of Texas, and the Columbia Business School. He remains active at UT and sits on the Liberal Arts Advisory Committee, Campaign Committee, and the Economics Department Advisory Committee. He is a passionate music supporter and former Board Member of National Sawdust, the performing arts center in Brooklyn, NY. He grew up in Houston, TX and now resides in Greenwich, CT. He currently works for the alternative investments firm, iCapital, and has spent the last 30 years working for Bankers Trust, Merrill Lynch and Barclays Bank. Steve was based in Asia for nearly 10 years of his career living primarily in Hong Kong and Tokyo. Steve and his wife, Mimi, have three children. Their oldest daughter is a recent graduate of UT and now resides in New York City. Their second daughter is currently a sophomore at UT and their son is entering high school.
Steve Kahng
Steve is the president of the Kahng Foundation and principal of Arboretum Capital, a family office investing in real estate, technology, and consumer sectors. Formerly, he was a General Partner of 4C Ventures, an early-stage high technology venture capital firm. Prior to this, he was a co-founder, chairman and CEO of Power Computing Corporation. Mr. Kahng has been a consultant for many major U.S. and international computer companies including Digital Equipment Corp, Compaq Corp and Motorola. Steve is a Board member of Stanford University's Hoover Institution, San Francisco Opera, The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and The Asia Foundation, among others. Steve resides in New York City and Austin.
Nancy and Angus Littlejohn
Angus currently serves as the president at Littlejohn Capital, LLC, a family office. He has worked within the private equity space for over 10 years after spending his early career in investment banking and consulting. Angus graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics. Nancy is a mother, nurse practitioner, and supporter of the arts. She is a lover of all art from theatrical and musical performances to experimental art installations. Nancy graduated from Samford University in 2017, where she received a M.S. in Nursing after receiving her B.S. in Nursing from Armstrong State University in 2014. She also graduated Appalachian State University, where she received a B.A. in Psychology. from Nancy and Angus moved their family to Austin, TX in 2019 and are excited to support the performing arts in our community.
Chris Mattsson
Chris is the President of the Mattsson-McHale Foundation and is an active supporter of the arts and culture community in Austin. She believes in the power of art to transform lives. She is an executive producer of several documentary films, including The Great Invisible, Order of Myths, and Be Here to Love Me, in addition to the Tony Award winner The Inheritance. She has served on the board of KLRU, Austin’s Public TV; KUT; The Contemporary Austin; Fusebox; and Waterloo Greenway.
Lauren Reid
Lauren Reid is the President of the John Gore Organization (JGO) who has built her career out of her lifelong passion for live entertainment. Driven by a commitment to extend the reach of Broadway, Lauren has helped steer the Tony and Emmy Award-winning JGO through its various subsidiaries to become the leading developer, producer, distributor, and marketer of commercial theater. Lauren first joined the JGO family in 1992, beginning a 13-year tenure during which she held a range of leadership positions. She left the company in 2006 to help launch and serve as COO of BASE Entertainment where she managed worldwide operations, produced live music acts and Broadway shows, and oversaw construction and operation of multiple venues in Las Vegas, China and Singapore. In 2010, she returned to JGO and was later named President in 2021. Lauren currently serves as chair of The Broadway League, the industry’s national trade association, and Co-Producer of the Tony Awards, along with membership on the boards of trustees for The Entertainment Community Fund, The Hobby Center in Houston, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fight Aids. She guest lectures at her alma mater, The University of Texas.
Marc Seriff
Marc was born and raised in Austin, earned a BA from UT Austin in 1971 and an MS in Computer Science from MIT in 1974. In 1985, Marc became a cofounder and CTO of America Online (AOL). In 1996, he retired from AOL and, with his wife Carolyn, returned to Central Texas. Marc has been actively involved in the non-profit community, having served as a co-founder and board member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes, a co-founder and trustee of The Seriff Foundation, a trustee of Austin Community Foundation, and a board member and Interim CEO of the Long Center for the Performing Arts. At UT Austin, he served on the Commission of 125 and as chair of the Director’s Council of the Department of Theatre and Dance. He is currently a trustee of Austin’s Zach Theatre and a board member of The Terrence McNally Foundation. Marc and Carolyn have been involved in commercial theater since 2011, and they have co-produced over eight Broadway shows and two off-Broadway shows and received two Tony awards.
Lisa B. Thompson
Lisa B. Thompson is the Patton Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and the College of Liberal Arts’ Advisor to the Dean for Faculty Mentoring and Support at the University of Texas at Austin. Her publications include Beyond the Black Lady: Sexuality and the New African American Middle Class, Single Black Female, and Underground, Monroe, and The Mamalogues: Three Plays. She has received support from a number of institutions including the American Council of Learned Societies, Hedgebrook, MacDowell, Millay Arts, National Performance Network, and the W. E. B. DuBois Research Institute at the Hutchins Center. Lisa serves on the board of the Austin Playhouse. She also co-hosts and co-produces Black Austin Matters, a podcast and radio segment on KUT.
Natasa and Michael Valocchi
Michael has 35 years of experience serving clients in a variety of roles and is currently the SVP-Head of Cognizant Consulting and Americas Strategy. In this role, he oversees a 3,000+ person consulting organization that drives an industry-based agenda infused with leading-edge processes and technology capabilities for Fortune 500 firms. Natasa was a Senior Event Manager with George P. Johnson, an experience driven events agency. In this role, she planned and executed executive level experiences for a Fortune 10 company. She also attended Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Her latest involvement is with My Wardrobe HQ, the first platform in the UK for luxury rental and resale with plans to expand into NYC. She is also a new addition to the Second Stage Theater Board of Trustees in New York City (where she resides) bringing a little bit of Texas to the Big Apple. Natasa served on the Board of Ballet Austin prior to moving to London and is a past chair of the annual Fête gala. She is also an active member of the Texas Women of the Arts serving on the Executive Committee and is past Chair of the Young Masters event. A 20-year member of the Junior League, Natasa has served in numerous capacities in the Austin, London and NYC chapters. She has chaired or has been a committee chair for A Christmas Affair, Boutique de Noel, Financial Development committee, Resale Shop, and has served in numerous volunteer placements.
Interested in learning more? Please contact Anna Langdell, Director of Development, at alangdell@texasperformingarts.org.