COMMUNITY-LED. PASSION-DRIVEN.
Neighbors, volunteers, and community leaders working together to protect and enhance White Rock Lake.
NOT A BOARDROOM. A COMMUNITY.
The White Rock Lake Foundation is led by a dedicated group of volunteers who care deeply about this place.
They’re not here to direct — they’re here to serve.
Each member brings unique experience, but a shared goal:
To protect and preserve White Rock Lake for everyone.
THE WRLF BOARD
Kathleen Foley
Kathleen grew up in Texas and then relocated to Nevada where she earned a degree from UNLV in business with a concentration in finance. She has over thirty years-experience in a wide range of management positions in the hospitality, gaming, and real estate industries. After returning to Texas, she settled near White Rock Lake and began spending time there. Being very passionate about protecting the fragile nature of the environment made her want to actively participate in the foundation to help preserve the lake for families and visitors to enjoy. She is a commercial appraiser and real estate broker and tries to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
President
Maria Ganson
Maria Ganson is a 30-year practitioner specializing in health law and related litigation. Joining CHRISTUS Health in 2014, she currently serves as the CHRISTUS Health Vice President, Risk and Deputy General Counsel. Maria’s responsibilities include overseeing litigation both domestically and in LATAM and includes overseeing a team responsible for all phases of risk transfer and claims management in all phases of litigation in several states. In addition, she oversees Risk and Risk Finance including administration of a wholly owned subsidiary captive insurance company and securing all lines of insurance for all CHRISTUS Health’s providers and ministries. When Maria isn’t being a part of the CHRISTUS mission, she enjoys time with her family and two grown daughters either biking or traveling anywhere that is warm or serving on a foundation that supports White Rock Lake.
Vice President
Marcie Guidry
Marcie moved to Dallas in 1984, with most of the time since spent living near White Rock Lake and enjoying all it has to offer. A graduate of Texas Tech University, her career has been spent in the hotel business, first designing them and then becoming an independent sales rep providing products for hospitality projects. She has served on the boards of both business and community organizations in various capacities. Her love of nature inspired her to join the WRLF board and help support its mission of preserving the lake’s natural beauty for all to enjoy.
Secretary
Ted Ellis
Ted was born and raised in Dallas and has been a user of White Rock Lake Park for most of his life. He has been in property management, real estate sales and remodeling since 1980 and attended the University of Texas at Austin. He is passionate about the future of the lake and the goals of the White Rock Lake Foundation which was formed in 1989. Having been an active member he has been involved in many improvement projects and fundraisers through the years and remains committed to seeing the lake and park enhanced to its full potential. He has served on the board of the foundation since 1997 and currently serves as a board member.
Board Member
Kim Reynolds
Kim Reynolds is a nationally recognized health care leader with more than 30 years of leadership experience in finance, rating analysis, investment banking, and enhancing financial acumen. She joined the CHRISTUS Health team in 2005 as an Assistant Controller and, since that time, has proved herself as a respected leader with the ability to influence the organization’s stability and growth. Kim has gained a reputation for being a consensus builder and a highly effective leader by successfully demonstrating a record of fiscal accountability while leading sizable operating and capital budgeting processes, a tax compliance program, and grant reporting processes. Kim attended Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, where she received an advanced degree with a concentration in biochemistry and accounting. She received her undergraduate degree from Lamar University in Southeast Texas. She has numerous professional affiliations, including a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Healthcare Financial Management Association, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Treasurer
Sharon Van Buskirk
Native to East Dallas, Sharon grew up with White Rock Lake as a prominent backdrop to her early years – first picnic, first duck feeding, and that all important first big bike ride with just your friends. Her parents remember dances and swimming at the lake during their teen years. The lake has joyfully provided Sharon with many things including a stint at the Dallas Arboretum and the scenic landscape where her husband first popped the question! Preservation of the natural beauty and sometimes fragile ecosystem of the lake are driving forces behind her participation on the Foundation Board.
Board Member
Susan Falvo
Susan J. Falvo is a long-time White Rock Lake Supporter. She has been on The White Rock Lake Foundation Board for over 25 years and held several positions on the board including president for 6 years. She is currently the Chair of the White Rock Lake Task Force, a member of the White Rock Lake Partnership, on the Dallas Theater Center Guild Board, and the Advisory Board for the East Dallas Chamber. She is active in several organizations and has served on numerous boards in the arts and cultural area, community involvement and support, and environmentally focused entities. Susan has held Senior Management positions in marketing and communications in a wide range of industries for over thirty years. She is currently Principal with Involved, LLC, which is focused on community involvement and social responsibility, as well as marketing and communications for companies and corporations.
Board Member
Barbara Wardlow
Barbara Wardlow joined the White Rock Lake Foundation in 2017 after volunteering for the Foundation for several years. Barbara received a degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing, from the University of Texas at Arlington. She stayed in Dallas and developed a strong sales career in fine paper and printing. Her current employer is Big Box-Little Box which produces high-end specialty packaging and promotions, case bound books, and influencer marketing promotions for local and national accounts.
Board Member
John Botefuhr
John Botefuhr is a chiropractor and a 6th generation Dallas native . A Highland Park High School graduate, Dr. Botefuhr received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma whereupon he went on to receive a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles. In his free time, he enjoys biking around White Rock Lake, staying active at the White Rock YMCA, cooking, and Dallas history.
Board Member
Jenny Capritta
Jenny’s love for White Rock Lake came at an early age when her family purchased a home in Lakewood.
Life then was always an adventure as she and her siblings enjoyed exploring East Dallas, bike rides at White Rock Lake, shops at Hillside Village, and swimming at Tietze Pool.
When it was time for Jenny to make roots as an adult, the White Rock Lake area was an easy choice. After purchasing her first fixer-upper home at 21 years of age, Jenny realized her passion was helping her community buy and sell homes.
As a top producing agent since her first year in the business, Jenny has received many accolades from Rookie of the Year to the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jenny also serves as a board member for the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce and supports the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as a Miracle Agent.
Board Member
Michael Blackwell
Michael was born and raised in the North Carolina foothills, but visited family in Dallas every year as a child, moved to Dallas after college, and returned for good after a decade in the Washington DC and Charlotte, NC areas. His wife Mindy’s only requirement when they returned to Dallas in 2013 was that they live near White Rock Lake. They now live with their two kiddos and energetic Boykin Spaniel on Lanshire Drive in lower Lake Highlands in a pecan grove that was planted after the big dig for White Rock. Whether kid activities at Highlander School or the Arboretum, exercising at the White Rock Y, biking around the lake, or church activities in Lochwood, the Blackwell crew’s life pretty well revolves around East Dallas and WRL. Michael works from Mockingbird Station where he is Senior Managing Director in charge of the Dallas office for Mill Creek Residential Trust, a national developer, builder, and operator of residential and mixed-use communities, which originated from the Trammell Crow family of companies in Dallas. Michael is a proud graduate of the Executive MBA program at SMU and holds Bachelor of Arts from Hampden-Sydney College, where he previously served on the Virginia college’s Board of Trustees. In addition to the WRLF, Michael has served on the board of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the Foundation board for The Real Estate Council (TREC) in Dallas.
Board Member
Susan Morrison
Bio Coming Soon
Board Member
Scott Jackson
Scott Jackson has been a lifelong resident of East Dallas/Lakewood. As a 4th generation Dallasite he has enjoyed many years running, biking, rowing and paddle boarding around White Rock Lake. His grandfather was a lifeguard at the lake in the 50’s. Scott has been a board member of the Lakewood Neighborhood Association, Exchange Club of East Dallas, Lakewood Country Club and member of City of Dallas Board of Adjustment. He contributes extra time and resources to DISD schools, The Fowler Communities, The Wilkinson Center, Austin Street Shelter, Soupmobile, Men of Nehemiah, East Dallas YMCA and anyone in need. Scott has two grown children, Kendall and John and wife Kelley.
Board Member
Thomas E. Zepeda
Thomas Zepeda originally from Houston, Texas, made his home here in Dallas in 2007 and has been a licensed REALTOR for over 15 years. Thomas resides in East Dallas with his wife Christina and their beloved dog, Trixie. His affinity for the lake is deeply rooted in his love for outdoor activities. As an avid cyclist and runner, he often frequents the lake while running with community organizations such as the Dallas Running Club, cycling with Community Brewing Co, Brew Crew, and other local groups. Thomas can often be found enjoying all that White Rock Lake, Santa Fe Trail, and other hike & bike trails have to offer along with his wife & dog. Thomas cherishes the memories of proposing to his wife amidst the backdrop of the lake, a moment etched in their hearts forever. Beyond his personal endeavors, Thomas is an active member of his community serving as a Board Member of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce, is an active chairperson on local committees supporting local businesses and community groups, volunteering and fundraising for causes close to his heart, including but not limited to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Lupus Foundation of America, Neuro Assistance Foundation and The Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Board Member
Russ Kharas
Russ is a resident of Lochwood and was born and raised in DFW. He grew up in Plano and graduated from UTD in 2015 with a Bachelors in Computer Eng. With nearly 10 years of experience in technology, project management, strategy/planning and business development, he hopes to use his skills to continue to grow the local community that he loves so much. Outside of work, he is involved with his local religious community, ZANT, and always loves a walk around White Rock with his Wife, Sheila, and his dog, Cyrus. You can usually find him at a new restaurant or out with friends trying the newest bars in DFW. His love of all things DFW, his culture, and community combined with his passion and drive for Dallas life makes this position a true honor for him.
Board Member
Matt Henry
Matt and his wife Alicia have lived in the White Rock Lake area (Lakewood and Forest Hills) for more than 30 years. Two of their children graduated from Lakehill Prep. Matt practiced law in Dallas for 25 years at Wortham Forsythe Wooldridge, Hunton & Williams, and Vinson & Elkins. In 2018 Matt became the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Oncor Electric Delivery Company, responsible for all legal, regulatory, compliance, risk, governmental relations, and security matters for the largest electric utility in Texas. Matt and Alicia have a deep love and commitment for all things East Dallas and for White Rock Lake.
Board Member