Mr. Neal Bondy is the President of the Optima Training and Consulting Group in Dallas, Texas. He began his career in Human Resource Management in 1964 while serving as a Captain in the United States Air Force. His undergraduate degree is in Latin American History with a minor in Spanish from Texas Christian University. He received his MBA in Organizational Behavior from Southern Methodist University. He spent twenty-five years working in Human Resource Management with Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). His last four years with ARCO were in Anchorage Alaska as a loaned executive to the Trans Alaska Pipeline Company known as Aleyeska. Mr. Bondy served for seven years on the faculty of the Graduate School of Management at the University of Dallas teaching in the MBA Program. In 1997, Neal was elected National Chairman of the Board for the world’s largest Human Resource Society (S.H.R.M.). Neal retired as a Regional Director of the Johnson and Johnson Consulting Group after serving in that capacity for fifteen years. Neal has consulted with Company Boards, Presidents and Executive Teams in many for profit and nonprofit organizations. He is an expert in Leadership and Executive Team Development. Neal was elected to the Board of New Hope equine Therapy in 2022. He is excited to serve as Chairman and help lead the board in their work to serve the North Texas community.

Mr. Ricardo Barrientos is the Vice President of Business Development for Bettaway Supply Chain Services and spent most of his career in Procurement/Supply Chain. He helps companies achieve superior supply chain value through the implementation of strategic sourcing initiatives/strategies focused on improving the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). He received his BS in Industrial Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Barrientos began his experience in supply chain working in management consulting for Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Mr. Barrientos then moved to Grupo Vitro, managing the procurement of raw materials, followed by 21 years at PepsiCo managing multiple procurement categories at the domestic and global levels. In his last position at PepsiCo, Ricardo led the Company’s Supplier Diversity Program. Under his leadership, the company achieved its highest percent of spend with diverse suppliers, hence building a positive corporate reputation, and he was recognized as one of the “Top 50 Leaders in Supplier Diversity”. Mr. Barrientos expects to help New Hope achieve its vision and growth objectives by leading efforts/activities to raise the necessary funds. Ricardo is on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-barrientos

Aaron is a Senior Director with Greystar Real Estate Partners in Dallas, Texas, where his responsibilities include all revenue and financial reporting for Greystar’s Advantage Solutions group, as well as management of property billbacks and national contracts. Prior to joining Greystar in 2010, Mr. Sturman spent two years with Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group, managing a portfolio of asset-backed lending facilities, and 15 years with Wells Fargo, where he held various management positions. Aaron attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his BBA with a double major in Finance and Marketing. Aaron’s passion for volunteer work and love of animals, as well as the opportunity to help others, drew him to this position.

Gavin Spence (he/him) is a successful education professional, analyst, and United States Army veteran. As a current Child Development PhD student with research focusing on health disparities in child life services; chronic illness disclosure and illness narratives in educational environments; and technology integration in public school curriculum. Gavin currently works as a pioneer in the field of virtual education assigned to Lancaster Independent School District’s growing virtual elementary campus, an initiative sponsored by the Texas Education Agency. On the Board of New Hope, he is serving as an advisor on accreditation. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, Child Development – Texas Woman’s University (Anticipated) Master of Education, Elementary Education – University of Texas at Arlington Bachelor of Science, Public Health – California Baptist University

Michelle Heyns is a dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Fueled by a passion for empowering individuals, Michelle has worked in residential care, community access, recreation, and education. Michelle holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Elizabeth in New Jersey, which has equipped her with a deep understanding of human behavior and the ability to provide compassionate support to individuals facing unique challenges. Additionally, Michelle holds a Master of Education in Special Education with a concentration on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Secondary Transition from the University of Oklahoma. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a licensed Behavior Analyst in Texas (LBA). As a passionate advocate for inclusive communities, Michelle is dedicated to the mission of New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy and looks forward to serving as a Board Member.

Dave is a 33 year IT professional currently employed as a Senior Product Manager by Oracle Corporation. He is an avid outdoorsman, and has the heart of a teacher. Dave coached all three of his children over a 14 year period in different sports, and spent eight years as a board member and tournament director for the Colleyville Girls Softball Association. Dave’s ability to troubleshoot problems and provide cost effective solutions is critical to New Hope operations. He enjoys getting to know the New Hope volunteers and getting his hands dirty while he takes care of the New Hope facilities and infrastructure.

Kathleen retired from IBM where she led the North America Industries Digital Marketing Team. She is drawn to help those with special needs because of her family connections as well as her experience volunteering for years with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She lends her business expertise to assist with web site management, communications and digital promotions. In her spare time, Kathleen enjoys gardening, yoga, playing golf and spending time with family.