2023-2024 Leadership Team
Lindsey Stuart
President
A native Austinite, Lindsey is committed to creating more equitable educational opportunities and outcomes for historically marginalized children. She began her career as a high school Spanish teacher, and later joined Austin ISD’s Office of Innovation and Development and the Austin Ed Fund, where she led planning, partnerships and fundraising efforts for the school district. Lindsey recently joined her father’s investment advisory practice, Carl Stuart Investment Advisory, Inc. Lindsey holds a Master’s in Teaching from American University, a Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Women’s Studies from Wellesley College. In her spare time, Lindsey enjoys yoga, traveling, and spending time with her husband and their young daughter, whose favorite activity is reading! Her favorite children’s books are: On the Day You Were Born (Debra Frasier), Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle), and the Ramona series (Beverly Cleary).
Marcia Del Rios
President Elect
Marcia has over 20 years of nonprofit experience across multiple fields–including education and law. She currently works on the Public Policy team at the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA). Marcia was introduced to BookSpring as an AISD parent and then professionally through her work at Partners in Parenting. Originally from Newark, NJ, Marcia has lived in Austin with her family since 2012. Why do I serve: Marcia is a voracious reader and knows that talking to and reading with your baby and young children is pivotal in creating meaningful interactions that help foster brain development and prepare children for success in early learning. Favorite Book: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena.
Carrie Conner
Secretary
Carrie is the founder of TravelToolsTips, launched in 2020, and has thirty years of finance and accounting leadership experience across varied industries. She has donated her accounting and advisory services to the Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta PI and Travis County Medical Alliance and Foundation. Carrie is a graduate of the University of Texas and Syracuse University. She enjoys spending time with her family, and friends, rescuing pups and traveling the globe. Favorite Children’s Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell.
Charlie Holleman
Treasurer
Charlie was born in South Texas (Corpus Christi), moved to Austin, TX at seven, and has lived in the area since. He attended Pflugerville High School and went to college at Texas State University in San Marcos, graduating with my Master’s in Accounting. Charlie has worked in public accounting as an auditor for 12 years and is currently a Senior Audit Manager with Atchley and Associates, LLP (a local CPA firm in Austin specializing in not-for-profit entities). Why do I serve? He also served as an auditor on the BookSpring audit engagement for 2 years and got to work with Emily Cicchini and learn more about the organization during that time. Charlie has a great interest in being involved with BookSpring and assisting with the organization’s mission. Favorite Children’s Book: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
Lydia Valdés
Chair, Nominations & Governance Committee
Lydia began her professional career as a high school teacher in San Antonio. During her teaching career, Lydia learned first-hand that most students who struggled academically would have benefitted from earlier interventions in reading and an emphasis on developing strong reading skills. It is difficult for students to capitalize on academic opportunities when underdeveloped reading skills hinder them. Currently, Lydia is a psychotherapist in private practice in Austin. She works with children, adolescents, and adults. Working with families reminds Lydia daily that life can stack the deck against you when you least expect it. Having skills of resilience and stamina can serve us all, and taking care of our community benefits us all. Why do I serve? BookSpring’s mission is a living, breathing way to serve a fundamental need in out community and across the state of Texas. I am honored to volunteer to help in this mission. Favorite Children’s Books: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats; Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion; Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree by David Korr; Island Born by Junot Díaz; and, Sonia Sotomayor; A judge grows in the Bronx/la juez que creció en el Bronx by Jonah Winter.
David Roe
Chair, Finance Committee
David is a CPA with over thirty years of leadership experience in audit, accounting, and finance. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian University, transferred to Texas a few years later with a Big Four audit firm, and now works in Austin at a financial technology company. David enjoys spending time with family, including reading with the grandchildren, and volunteers as an Academy 4 mentor working with 4th-grade students. Why do I serve? I was inspired by BookSpring’s mission of supporting literacy for children. It reminded me of fond childhood memories of reading numerous books through the local public library. Favorite Children’s Book: Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.
Susan Patterson
Chair, Development Committee
Susan graduated from Dartmouth College and worked in the investment banking and high-tech industries for 25 years before becoming a licensed real estate agent in 2007. She embraces the Austin lifestyle, lives downtown, and loves sampling all the city has to offer. Susan loves to catch local theater productions at the Austin Playhouse, exercise on a nearby hike and bike trail, and always try the latest restaurant. Susan is an avid reader that supports BookSpring’s mission. She has actively served on their Board, spending two years as President. Favorite Children’s Book: Where’s Wallace? by Hillary Knight.
David Rice
Chair, Community Advisory Council
David has always lived in Texas. Born in 1964 in Weslaco, he now divides his time between Austin and the Rio Grande Valley, where he teaches and mentors high school students in creative writing. South Texas and his Mexican American culture are the inspiration for his work. He is the award-winning author of Give the Pig a Chance, Crazy Loco, and Heart-Shaped Cookies. David’s stories have been included in several other anthologies for adults and teens. As a literacy consultant, David has created teacher workshops to build and grow confident readers and writers using his flash fiction stories in print and to be viewed in English and Spanish on YouTube.
Andrea Angelo
Chair, Major Gifts
Andrea brings her public library background, nonprofit expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and years of service on education and artboards nationally and internationally to BookSpring. Her love of books began early with story hour at Martin Memorial Library in York, Pennsylvania. Fast forward many years later, her first professional position out of graduate school was Extension Librarian at this very same library. Her professional career has taken her from public and university librarianship to fundraising as Director of Development for the Nevada Museum of Art, Armstrong Community Music School, and BookSpring. In her “retirement,” Andrea is delighted to remain engaged with BookSpring as a board member. Why do I serve? Andrea imagines a world where every child has a stack of books to call his or her own with the belief that literacy is not only an essential human right but also a springboard to a life full of possibilities. Her focus is on creating sustainable cultures of engagement and support through effective communication and relationship building – the key to advancing the critical mission of BookSpring. Favorite Children’s Book: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton.
Beth Hallmark
BookSpring Fest Chair
Beth is the Communications Division Director at the Texas Department of Transportation, where she oversees Media Relations, Executive and Employee Communications, Creative Services, Conference Planning, and Public Information Offices statewide. She brings more than 25 years of experience in communications and media, including work in the public and private sectors. Beth has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Science degree in Information Studies, both from the University of Texas at Austin. She and her husband, Gary, have two daughters who are blazing their own career paths through life in accounting and finance. Why do I serve? BookSpring combines two passions of mine: reading and helping all children reach their full potential. Favorite book: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.
Robert Lowrey
BookSpring Fest Co-Chair
Now that I am retired, I feel I have time to start serving on boards that interest me. Raised in Louisiana but have been in Texas for over 40 years and retired after 37 years in Pediatrics in Austin. I have always been an active reader and believe it is essential for young children. Favorite Children’s Book: Stuart Little by Rob Minkoff.
2023-2024 Board Members
Joshua Blank
Joshua Blank is the manager of polling and research at the Texas Politics Project. Born in New York, New York, he has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston University and a master’s and doctorate in government, from the University of Texas at Austin.
Arielle Sadler
Arielle is a Senior Technical Writer and Trainer at Texas Mutual Insurance Company, where her duties include educating hundreds of adjusters, policyholders, and agents across Texas. Arielle is a native of Houston, Texas, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Baylor University in 2008. Arielle’s love of reading began as a child when her mom (also an avid reader) introduced her to Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. She also sits on the Emerging Leaders Executive Committee for United Way and is the Chair of the 2022 LEAD Summit Committee for Austin Young Chamber. Additionally, she leads the volunteer engagement committee for Texas Mutual employees and volunteers with the Central Texas Food Bank. Arielle lives in Austin with her one-year-old daughter, Rowan Charlotte, and her husband, Chris.
Matt Rester
I am honored to serve on the BookSpring board. I am so impressed with the organization, and the quality of the board was so apparent during the recent acquisition process! I am originally from Kansas City, graduated from the University of Kansas and went to work for Hallmark Cards in varying roles of responsibility for 15 years. I then purchased and grew a chain of 4 Hallmark Card and gift stores in Central Texas for 15 years. I sold the stores in 2012 and have been practicing as a commercial real estate agent with Asterra ever since. I look forward to supporting the mission to help young children have books to read at home.
Jeremy Striffler
Jeremy is the Director of Real Estate for the Austin Independent School District. He has a B.A. in English from Colgate University, a M.B.A from the Rome campus of St. John’s University, and almost 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. Over the course of his career, he has worked with countless religious groups, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to help them maximize the value of their real estate assets. Outside of work, he serves weekly as a Warehouse Volunteer Leader for the Central Texas Food Bank. Jeremy is also a member of the Urban Land Institute Affordability Strategic Council and board member of the Austin Economic Development Corporation. Favorite Children’s Book: The Cartoonist by Betsy Byars and Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar.
Sarah Ruttan
As a bilingual librarian here in Austin ISD, I bring my expertise in education, language and literacy development, and book selection. Why do I serve? I am excited to help continue growing partnerships with local schools and am committed to BookSpring’s focus on equity. This is a wonderful opportunity to merge my professional experience with my personal commitment to serving the community. Favorite Children’s Book: The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo.
Kate Rhodes
Kate Rhodes is a Commercial Real Estate Broker at Cresa. She previously worked as a tech Software Developer and Product Manager after graduating from Texas A&M University with a B.B.A. in Management Information Systems. She has been a member of the Junior League of Austin since 2013 serving in various leadership roles such as Coats for Kids Chair, where she led the 50-women team to distribute the program’s one-millionth coat. Kate was also recognized as an “Austin’s Finest Honoree” from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for her efforts in fundraising and awareness of those with cystic fibrosis. She loves to travel, read, and volunteer. She also takes every opportunity to spend time with her husband, Will, and two young children, Lily and Benjamin. Favorite Children’s Book: Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies.
Stephanie Schweinfurth
Stephanie Schweinfurth is a recent transplant to Austin from Dallas. She has spent more than 20 years as a community volunteer spending much of that time on matters related to literacy and educational equality. Stephanie and her husband Ted founded Readers 2 Leaders in 2010 to provide literacy instruction, access to high-quality literacy materials, and targeted literacy support, training and programming for under-served children in West and South Dallas. Prior to 2010, Stephanie served as the West Dallas Coordinator for Watermark Church, working to build partnerships with the schools in West Dallas and provide service opportunities to improve conditions and morale in the schools. More recently, Stephanie served as co-chair of the Missions Committee at Grace Bible Church, overseeing funding and relationships with over 40 Global Workers serving in 20 different countries as well as being an administrator for a weekly preschool program for over 20 years. Stephanie has served in numerous other capacities for non-profit, educational and philanthropic organizations. Stephanie graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a BA in Finance and enjoys reading, cooking, live music and discovering Austin with her husband and Schnoodle, Henry. Favorite Children’s Book: Custard the Dragon and the Wicked Knight, The Gruffalo, The Napping House and The Saturdays.
Ginger Weber
Ginger attended the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in psychology and an endorsement in special education. After teaching 1st, 3rd, and Special Ed at Pillow Elementary in Austin ISD for 33 years, she decided to retire. At this time, she is a mentor and plans to volunteer, travel, and spend time with her son, daughter, husband, and friends. Why do I serve? Being an educator, Ginger knows the value of early reading intervention. She understands that having books at home enhances academic performance for all children and especially benefits disadvantaged families. She is proud that Pillow makes sure that every child in the school goes home for the summer with at least 6 new books to add to their library. Now that Ginger is retired, she plans to continue supporting programs promoting early literacy for all children. Ginger has many favorite children’s books. Favorite Children’s Book: The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series.
Stephanie Williams
As an entrepreneur, and a special needs mom with a social work background, who is “raising readers,” Stephanie has a heart for helping others and a passion for the amazing things that reading can do for an individual and for the family unit. Raised in Houston, she came to Austin to attend the University of Texas, graduating with BA in Psychology with a focus on Human Development and Family Sciences. Stephanie worked as a social worker with the non-profit LifeWorks, helping youth experiencing homelessness transition to safety and success. In 2009, her career took a sharp turn as she embarked on the journey of a small business owner, opening her first 24-hour coffee shop in Austin with her husband. This year she enters her 15th year as a successful entrepreneur having grown Bennu Coffee into a small chain with three locations and over 50 employees, however, she never left her heart for serving her community behind and has weaved that into her business model at Bennu. Outside of her professional life, Stephanie is devoted to her husband, son, and daughter who are all avid readers and is a true fan of the book, “The Read-Aloud Family” which has enriched her own family’s culture of reading immensely. As the mother of a twice-exceptional Autistic daughter, she has been grateful for the gift reading has been to her daughter who finds clarity and comfort in books. And now she is grateful to be a small part of sharing this gift with others as a part of BookSpring. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring, raising money and awareness for various Autism related causes, coaching vocabulary for academic competitions, supporting her kids in their passions, and relaxing with a good book! Favorite Children’s Book: Grover and The Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum, however it is no longer in print, so another very special children’s book to her is Mossy by Jan Brett.
Marvin Davis
Marvin is an accomplished Retail Manager with a rich history in the retail sector, including successful stints at Golfsmith and his current role at WorkQuest. With a strong focus on customer service, visual merchandising, and sales management, he is a results-driven professional who consistently exceeds expectations. Marvin’s diverse skill set, encompassing store operations, inventory management, and marketing, has earned him recognition and endorsements in key areas of retail expertise. Marvin enjoys checking in on volunteers at the WorkQuest warehouse, where BookSpring stores and sorts a variety of purchased and donated books.