2022-2023 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!

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 school teacher in San Antonio. She taught at a magnet high school where the students were chosen to attend through a lottery drawing. This system was developed so that any student would have the opportunity to get through the door and could then prove their abilities once they arrived. The goal at the school was to “level the playing field” for all who came to the school and to bridge the “opportunity gap” that existed for some of the students by teaching a gifted and talented curriculum for all, with proper support in place for those who were intimidated, or ill-prepared, for this curriculum. In her time at the school, Lydia learned that earlier interventions in reading and academic opportunities would have served many students well and could affect the most change in a student’s trajectory if there was family support. In her own family, she can see how opportunity and early exposure to books have placed her biological children on a path that is rich in vocabulary and curiosity, and academic “success.” Lydia can also see how the lack of early exposure to reading and lack of opportunities for her adoptive children has left them in a position of playing “catch up,” particularly in reading and vocabulary-building. Why do I serve? She believes in BookSpring’s mission and is living, first-hand, the need for a nonprofit focused on such a fundamental need. Favorite Children’s Book: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

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.

Arielle Sadler
Chair, Development Committee

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.

Marcia Del Rios
Chair, Community Advisory Council

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

Andrea Angelo
Chair, Capital Campaign

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.

Madison Jechow
Past President

Madison is an attorney with the Texas Municipal Retirement System. Most of his professional career has involved representing local governmental entities on transactional, governance, or human resources matters. Madison previously served on the BookSpring board during its launch from the merger of Reading Is Fundamental of Austin and Capital Area Reach Out and Read. Madison received law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas. He met his wife, Deena Perkins, a youth advisor with the Council on At-Risk Youth. Why do I serve? Literacy is a gateway to opportunity, and the gateway should be open to children regardless of their background. Involving children in reading provides future opportunities and strengthens bonds among the family members and teachers they read. BookSpring makes sharing stories possible for many young children. Favorite Children’s Book: The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary.

2022-2023 Board Members

Lucinda Cassidy

Lucinda Cassidy has been part of the Meals on Wheels Central Texas team since 2018 and oversees fundraising for the agency. Prior to assuming her current role, Lucinda served as Annual Giving Manager for MOWCTX. Her fundraising career started in 2009 in Washington, D.C. in the non-profit sector for an organization that advocated for education. She started as an event planner and continued to develop her fundraising skills which led to promotions with various organizations that championed health and choice options. Over the course of her career, she has raised over $11 million in funding. Lucinda graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Political Science. She enjoys music, attending concerts with her husband, and traveling.

Beth Hallmark

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

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.

Susan Patterson

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.

Terri E. Preston

Principal at Baker Tilly and Executive Director of the Valued Advisor Fund, Terri has been the principal author for over $4 billion in award-winning NMTC applications, development of a $3.5MM per year compliance monitoring system, founder of a new market tax credit, low-income housing, and impact assessment practices at her current firm. As Executive Director, Terri has secured over $368MM in NMTC allocation now deployed. Favorite Children’s Book: Where’s Wallace? by Hillary Knight.

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.

David Rice

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.

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.

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.

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