تنضح دالاس بطاقتها الفريدة من نوعها، والتي يغذيها ويغذيها ويزودها سكانها المتنوعون بالطاقة. يجسّد سكان دالاس روح المغامرة، وروح القدرة على الفعل، التي تتجسد في مشهد الفنون والترفيه المزدهر في المدينة، والثقافة الرياضية الشهيرة، وتأثير الطهي الإبداعي، والضيافة الدافئة والمرحبة.
إليك بعض سكان دالاس المحليين الذين يجسدون معنى أن يكون لديك روح المغامرة والقدرة على الفعل. يعيش هؤلاء الذين يستطيعون أن يفعلوا ما يشاءون من خلال الحالة الذهنية المثيرة للروح التي تجعل دالاس مليئة بالإمكانات التي لا حدود لها. ويدعو "القادرون على الفعل" المجتمع والزائرين على حد سواء إلى أن يكونوا أفضل ما لديهم وأكثر جرأة وشجاعة وجسارة بطريقة تنشط وجهتنا.
Chad Mantooth is the Associate Publisher and Advertising Director of Dallas Voice, the Head of the Cedar Springs Wine Walk, a proud Board Member of the Cedar Springs Merchants Association, and a familiar face (and voice) as the host of the Pride in Dallas Parade. In 2025, he was named the LGBTQ Chamber Champion Award Winner, though he’s quick to point out that it’s really the community he champions that deserves the spotlight.
As part of his work with the Cedar Springs Merchants Association, Chad helped support the recent funding of Dallas’ rainbow crosswalks, a colorful symbol of pride and inclusion in the heart of the city. For the past seven years, he has also volunteered his time with the Caven Christmas Show, helping raise thousands of dollars every year for underprivileged kids in Dallas. Known for his passion for bringing people together, he has made it his mission to showcase the vibrancy and visibility of the nation’s 5th largest LGBTQ community. Whether he’s rallying merchants, raising a glass at the Wine Walk, or keeping the Pride parade energy high, Chad’s work is about building connections, creating joy, and making sure Dallas’ LGBTQ community gets the recognition it deserves, all with a wink, a smile, and maybe a refill of your glass.
And if you don’t recognize him at one of these events, don’t worry…. he’s the guy lost in the middle of Cedar Springs trying to remember which meeting, show, or happy hour he’s supposed to be at.
Cindy Pedraza is the co-owner of CocoAndre Chocolatier and the visionary behind Olmo Market, a dynamic cultural and creative space in Oak Cliff, Dallas. As a proud firstgeneration Mexican-American entrepreneur, Cindy has helped shape the future of artisan chocolate by intertwining legacy, craftsmanship, and community through her work with CocoAndre, which she co-founded with her mother, master chocolatier Andrea Pedraza.
Under Cindy’s leadership, CocoAndre has earned national acclaim, winning Best Chocolatier in D Magazine’s “Best of Big D” multiple years in a row and ultimately being inducted into the Best of Big D Hall of Fame. Her entrepreneurial journey has taken her to the White House’s United State of Women Summit not once, but twice during the Obama administration and earned her recognition from the Tory Burch Foundation. She has led collaborations with notable brands including Kia Latino, Siete Foods, and most recently, Uniqlo, where she launched a custom CocoAndre-Uniqlo merch experience at the Dallas Galleria flagship store.
In 2023, Cindy won the UPS “Deliver Your Pitch” competition, sharing the stage with NFL legend Emmitt Smith and Dallas Cowboys’ star CeeDee Lamb. The following year, she was invited back not as a contestant, but as a guest judge, sitting alongside Emmitt and her self-proclaimed "bestie," CeeDee Lamb, to help select the next round of winners. Cindy and her family were also featured in a Puma sneaker campaign, thanks to the incredible team at Politics sneaker boutique, who recognized the Pedraza family's deep involvement and longstanding impact within the Oak Cliff community. The campaign celebrated their legacy and cultural influence, blending streetwear with storytelling.
Cindy’s commitment to cultural celebration and community organizing runs deep. She is the founder of the first-ever Dia de Los Muertos celebration in Oak Cliff, a beloved annual tradition now entering its second decade. She also co-founded the first Oak Cliff Orgullo (Pride) event in partnership with TX Latino Pride, helping carve out inclusive spaces that reflect and uplift queer Latinx voices in her community.
Beyond chocolate, Cindy is the creative force behind Olmo Market, which began as an extension of CocoAndre and has evolved into a vibrant neighborhood hub. Olmo hosts everything from small business pop-ups and art shows to social justice conversations and heritage-centered events. Through this space, Cindy has cultivated a platform for local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs especially women and BIPOC creatives to be celebrated and supported.
Whether she’s on stage with NFL legends, at the White House, or hand-pouring chocolate in Dallas, Cindy leads with authenticity, vision, and a deep commitment to uplifting her community all while building legacy, one bar (or bold move) at a time.
Curtis King is a visionary arts leader, director, and producer best known as the founder and president of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), one of the nation’s most esteemed cultural institutions. Established in 1977 from King’s dining room table with just $250, TBAAL has since generated more than $150 million under his leadership to support its capital campaigns, programming, and operations. Located in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, the institution now spans 250,000 square feet and welcomes more than 250,000 patrons annually. Its mission—celebrating and preserving African, Caribbean, and African American contributions to the arts—has flourished through King’s tireless vision, shaping Dallas into a national hub for cultural expression.
Often called the “King of Tributes,” King has produced and directed hundreds of acclaimed plays, concerts, and cultural events, collaborating with legends such as Maya Angelou, Cicely Tyson, Erykah Badu, Phylicia Rashad, and Stevie Wonder. His Emmy-winning Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement concert has become a Dallas tradition, blending artistry with activism and earning national recognition. He has also staged major productions like Bethune starring Esther Rolle, The Amen Corner starring Helen Martin and Juanita Moore, and the national touring show Don’t Start Me to Talkin’ or I’ll Tell Everything I Know. His work has extended to international stages in Paris, Addis Ababa, and Istanbul, amplifying Dallas’ reputation as a global cultural player.
Beyond his productions, King has curated unforgettable events that highlight history and social impact. These include I Remember…The March on Washington at the Kennedy Center featuring Dan Rather, Halle Berry, and Eartha Kitt; Symphony with the Divas saluting African American women in Congress; and the Riverfront Jazz Festival, which attracts more than 40 national and international musical artists each Labor Day in Dallas. His ability to bring world-class talent to the city while mentoring the next generation of artists showcases his unwavering commitment to creativity, community, and cultural preservation.
LaDondra Wilson serves as the Dallas Wing's Vice President of Social Responsibility and the inaugural Executive Director of the Dallas Wings Community Foundation. LaDondra leads the organization's community engagement efforts, advises leadership on the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and leads the social justice committee. A proud graduate of Leadership Southlake, and the inaugural class of Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy, LaDondra is a proponent of professional development and servant leadership.
After graduating from Texas State University, LaDondra worked as a Master level social worker, emphasizing Advanced Administrative Leadership for non-profit organizations. LaDondra's work has focused on addressing macro social problems and leadership development, non-profit management, program development, and evaluation. Ms. Wilson has been named the 2013 Tarrant County Case Manager of the Year. She obtained a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Center of Nonprofit Management (CNM), an Executive Sports Philanthropy Certificate from George Washington University, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.
A proud native of South Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX, currently LaDondra serves on the Engage Dallas , Educate Dallas, Parkland Health Foundation, and Rainbow Days Board of Directors. LaDondra serves on the UNT Sport Entertainment Management Advisory Board, Texas A&M-Commerce Sport & Recreation Management Board, Women in Sports and Events, and the Black Sports Professionals of North Texas Board of Directors, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc as the Public Relations Chair of her chapter. LaDondra was named a 2019 Millennial to Watch as a Community Server, a 2020 Community First Award recipient from the Parkland Health Foundation, the 2021 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Graduate Good Citizen Award, and a 2021 Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 award recipient. In 2023, LaDondra was named a Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40 recipient. Also in 2023, she was awarded a Women in Sports and Events 2023 Woman of Inspiration honoree. In 2024, LaDondra was a Cosign Sports Executive of the Year nominee and a PoliChic Bravery Brunch honoree. In 2025, LaDondra was named a DCEO Nonprofit Leadership Excellence Finalist.
Through sports, LaDondra champions diversity, drives equity, and builds inclusive spaces where all individuals are empowered to thrive.
Brittany Grignon Hays is the founder and creator of SESSION Pilates, the Dallas-born, music-driven reformer Pilates brand she launched in 2016 with its first studio in the Knox-Henderson area. Under her leadership, SESSION evolved from a single studio into one of North Texas’ most recognizable boutique fitness concepts, defined by a high-intensity, beat-based 50-minute method and a strong, community-first culture.
Recognized for brand building as much as for product, Hays and SESSION have earned multiple “Best Pilates Studio” honors, including D Magazine’s Best of Big D and Dallas Observer Readers’ Choice, with ClassPass also naming SESSION among its U.S. standouts. Her operator-led approach centers on instructor excellence, continuing education, and an incentive model that aligns the team around client outcomes—principles that fueled SESSION’s swift digital pivot during the pandemic with SESSION@Home and continue to underpin its growth.
Today, SESSION comprises six studios across Dallas-Fort Worth and, in 2025, expanded into Nashville’s Green Hills—debuting to sustained sell-outs, waitlists, and a surge of earned attention. Hays continues to scale SESSION while stewarding its culture, community partnerships, and philanthropic touchpoints—such as ongoing donation-class initiatives—alongside a commitment to rigorous instructor development. As SESSION nears its 10-year anniversary in 2026, Hays is launching the SESSION Foundation — a foundation that will support and uplift female entrepreneurs across the region. Her vision remains clear: deliver an elevated, modern Pilates experience that keeps studios full, clients loyal, and the brand unmistakably SESSION.
تخرجت أنجا ل. ساندرز من جامعة ساوثرن ميثوديست في دالاس، حيث حصلت على درجتي البكالوريوس والماجستير.
أنجا هي المؤسسة والمديرة التنفيذية لمبادرة "فيد أوك كليف" (FEED Oak Cliff)، وهي مبادرة غير ربحية تهدف إلى تعطيل الصحارى الغذائية في جنوب دالاس والقضاء عليها. وتشارك حاليًا في أنشطة تهدف إلى بناء متجر بقالة مجتمعي وحانة صغيرة صحية في الحي.
كما أسست أيضًا مهرجان دالاس VegFest، وهو مهرجان FEED Oak Cliff السنوي الذي تنظمه FEED Oak Cliff للترويج للتغذية والحياة الصحية والذي يجذب الحضور من جميع أنحاء الولايات المتحدة.
وهي تشغل منصب الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة Global HR Solutions LLC، وهي شركة استشارية للموارد البشرية تقدم خدمات الموارد البشرية بالاستعانة بمصادر خارجية محليًا وعالميًا. وهي حاصلة على شهادة كبير المحترفين في الموارد البشرية (SPHR)، وهي أعلى مستوى من الشهادات في مجالها، منذ أكثر من 23 عاماً.
أنجا هي الرئيس الحالي لمجلس إدارة مجلس المجتمع في دالاس الكبرى، وهي منظمة خيرية عمرها 80 عاماً مكرسة لتوفير الحراك الاقتصادي وخدمات المسنين والعافية المجتمعية. وهي أيضًا نائبة رئيس مجلس إدارة منظمة جرين سبيس دالاس، وهي منظمة لاستعادة البيئة وتنميتها.
وقد عملت سابقًا كعضو في مجلس خريجي جامعة SMU ومجلس الخريجين الأمريكيين من أصل أفريقي في جامعة SMU، حيث كانت القوة الدافعة وراء إنشاء منحة الخريجين السود في جامعة SMU. في عام 2016، تم إنشاء جائزة سنوية في جامعة SMU تكريماً لها. تُمنح جائزة أنجا ساندرز للتأثير المجتمعي كل عام لطالب من جامعة SMU أظهر باستمرار تفانيه ونشاطه الشخصي في الحرم الجامعي أو في خدمة المجتمع المحلي.
في وقت فراغها، تشارك أنجا في مجموعة متنوعة من الأنشطة المثيرة للاهتمام، بما في ذلك القراءة والسفر وإطعام المشردين والتزلج الهوائي والتزلج الهوائي والتزلج على الحبال.
تعرّف على الشيف أمبر ويليامز - من مدينة أوك كليف بولاية تكساس، وهي من مواليد أوك كليف، تكساس، نشأت في منزلها على مزيج من ثقافة ونكهات تكساس ولويزيانا، مما أثار حبها وشغفها الكبير لجعل الطعام تجربة لا تُنسى كعمل حياتها.
منذ عام 2014، تقوم الرئيس التنفيذي والشيف التنفيذي لشركتها Le Rouge Cuisine، بتنظيم تجارب طهي راقية لعملائها من الشركات والقطاع الخاص/الحصري والمناسبات الخاصة للاستمتاع بها - كل ذلك مع توهج الكريول فيوجن والسحر الجنوبي.
وسّعت الشيف آمبر، وهي نتاج صحراء غذائية، نطاق عملها من خلال مد يد العون للمجتمعات التي نشأت فيها والتي تعاني من التفاوتات الغذائية من خلال أحدث مشاريعها - مشروع النجاة من الصحراء الغذائية - وهو مركز موارد للموارد الغذائية يركز على توفير أدوات وبرامج ومنتجات تعليمية مستدامة وصحية للأغذية وأنماط الحياة. في نوفمبر 2023، أصدرت أمبر أول مشروع لها في إطار هذه المبادرة، وهو كتاب طبخ ودليل موارد صديق للصحراء الغذائية بعنوان "النجاة من كتاب الطبخ ودليل الموارد في الصحراء الغذائية."
بعد مشاركة خبرتها ومعرفتها في مجال الطهي في محطات الأخبار المحلية والتلفزيون الوطني ووسائل الإعلام، مثل شبكة Food Network وUSA Today ومجلة Essence، تأمل الطاهية الآن في توحيد الجهود ودعم الشركات والمنظمات التي تعمل على سدّ الطريق أمام الوصول إلى الغذاء الصحي والمستدام من خلال مبادرتها الجديدة لاستخدام معرفتها في الطهي والطعام لجلب نهج شامل لتغيير عقلية وحياة أولئك الذين يعانون من التفاوت في الغذاء.
لا تقتصر مهمة الشيف أمبر على ابتكار تجارب تعيد الطعام الرائع إلى قلب تجارب الترفيه وتناول الطعام فحسب، بل تتمثل مهمتها أيضًا في نشر رسالة مفادها أن الحيلة والمرونة هي السبيل إلى أولئك الذين يرغبون في حياة أفضل ويستحقونها، مدعومة بتعلم الجسم واستكشاف الطعام الطازج الصحي واللذيذ في آن واحد!
مع أكثر من 15 عامًا من الخبرة في تطوير المؤسسات الاجتماعية، تتيح لها رؤى إليزابيث واتلي الثاقبة واتساع معرفتها قيادة فورست فوروارد بخبرة عميقة. تكرس إليزابيث جهودها لدفع عجلة التنمية الاقتصادية في جنوب دالاس/فير بارك مع الحفاظ على التاريخ الغني والثقافة والفخر للمجتمع، فهي مهندسة مجتمعية.
سواء كان ذلك من خلال توسيع نطاق ما ينجح، أو التفكير في طرق مبتكرة لزيادة التأثير من خلال المنظمات غير الربحية والشركات، أو تنسيق استراتيجيات التنمية أو بناء شبكات التأثير الجماعي، فهي مكرسة لضخ الموارد في المجتمعات الأكثر حرمانًا في دالاس.
قبل انضمامها إلى فورست فوروارد، قادت إليزابيث مبادرات تحويلية في سيتي سكوير كمديرة للمبادرات الاستراتيجية وكلية بول كوين كمديرة لتعلم الخدمة. خلال الفترة التي قضتها في كلية بول كوين، قادت الجهود المبذولة لتحويل ملعب كرة القدم غير المستخدم في الكلية إلى مزرعة عضوية معترف بها على المستوى الوطني لمكافحة الحصول على الغذاء. في هذه الأدوار تمكنت من تحفيز النمو المركّز في جنوب دالاس مع جمع ملايين الدولارات لمعالجة أوجه عدم المساواة في التعليم والغذاء والإسكان والرعاية الصحية.
نظرًا لالتزامها تجاه دالاس وسكانها، منحت مجلة دالاس للأعمال إليزابيث في عام 2020 جائزة 40 تحت 40 المرموقة. في عام 2021، كُرِّمت إليزابيث بجائزة الخريجين الشباب المتميزين من جامعة SMU Cox، وفي ربيع عام 2022، اختارت مجلة DMagazine إليزابيث كواحدة من 78 امرأة من النساء اللاتي يجعلون دالاس رائعة. وفي عام 2024، اختيرت إليزابيث ضمن قائمة "أكسيوس دالاس باور بلاير" التي تُمنح للشباب الذين يصنعون مستقبل شمال تكساس. أكملت إليزابيث دراستها الجامعية في الاقتصاد في كلية سبيلمان في أتلانتا وحصلت على ماجستير إدارة الأعمال من كلية كوكس لإدارة الأعمال بجامعة SMU Cox للأعمال مع التركيز على الاستراتيجية وريادة الأعمال.
جيس جارلاند هي مغنية وكاتبة أغانٍ وفنانة تسجيل وأداء مقيمة في دالاس. وهي عازفة متعددة الآلات الموسيقية تجمع بين حلقات القيثارة والغيتار لاستحضار علامتها الفريدة من موسيقى البوب الطليعية السماوية مع نغمات الجاز الأثيرية. أصبحت جيس مؤخراً عضواً في أكاديمية التسجيل. وقد ظهرت مؤخراً في مجلة مودرن لاكشري كواحدة من أقوى عازفي ديسمبر 2023/يناير 2024 من قبل مجلة Visit Dallas. وفي مايو 2024، حصلت في مايو 2024 على جائزة أفضل رائدة أعمال لعام 2023 من بنك تشيس. كما ظهرت مؤخراً على غلاف مجلة Guitar Girl Magazine ومجلة Dallas Weekly في يونيو 2023. شاركت جيس مؤخراً خشبة المسرح مع الدكتورة أوبال لي وإريكا بادو في مسيرة الحرية في جونيتنث في فير بارك لصالح حملة Visit Dallas. افتتحت جيس حفل فرقة The Suffers في تيوليبس في أبريل 2024، كما قدمت عرضاً مع كام فرانكلين من فرقة The Suffers وجوقة بايو سيتي كومباك في مسرح ورثام مع فرقة Performing Arts Houston في يناير 2024. كما أنتجت وأدت في موسم 22-23 من مشروع المصعد في مسرح وايلي، حيث قدمت لأول مرة قيثارتها الليزرية المطبوعة ثلاثية الأبعاد. افتتحت جيس حفلة "درو هيل" في حفل مؤسسة ديب إيلوم 2023 في حفل كتلة جونيتنث 2023. قامت جيس بأداء وتقديم محاضرة في TEDx بعنوان "مواجهة الموسيقى": العثور على هدفك في أكتوبر 2022. كما افتتحت جيس أيضًا حفلًا لفنانة Stones Throw الفنانة MNDSGN وفنانة مجموعة وارنر الموسيقية أديا فيكتوريا. أحيت حفلاً في مسرح كيسلر التاريخي في 3 يونيو. باعت جيس حفلًا موسيقيًا في مسرح أندرمين في 19 فبراير 2022. في عام 2021، افتتحت جيس حفلاً لجاكي فينسون وهايدن بيديجو. كما افتتحت أيضاً حفلات جينجر شانكار ومدام غاندي. كما غنت جيس مع فرقة ذا سوفرز وذا سيراتونز. ومؤخرًا، حصلت جيس على جائزة الأسطورة المحلية في ناشفيل بولاية تينيسي من المدير الإبداعي لشركة وايلد ديك رومي ماثيو ماكونهي لإبقائها الموسيقى حية في دالاس.
في مايو 2021، أصدرت جيس فيلم "هارب آند سول" وهو فيلم فني وتأليف موسيقي يركز على العنصرية البيئية في دالاس والنسوية السوداء. شارك جيس في إنتاج الفيلم وتأليف الموسيقى لفيلم "حياتهم مهمة": حوار لتكريم الأرواح المسروقة من قبل سلطات إنفاذ القانون في دالاس.
شاركت جيس في شراكة مع She Shreds Media وظهرت في مجلة Guitar Girl Magazine و Kyser Presents Locals. كما عملت جيس أيضًا مع علامات تجارية أخرى للغيتار مثل D'Addario لتمويل وإمدادات أوتار البجعة. رعت جيس ألبوم "أصوات ديب إيلوم 100" من ألبوم "أصوات ديب إيلوم" على فينيل الذي سيصدر على تسجيلات إيدول. وبصفتها فنانة تسجيل، ظهرت جيس في ألبوم أتراكسيا الثلاثي + 2 لفرقة أتراكسيا الثلاثية "Nights Enter" الذي صدر على تسجيلات أيلر في مارس 2021. وظهرت أيضًا في الأغنية الرئيسية لألبوم "من الحقيقة إلى السلطة" الذي أصدرته بيلبورد، وهي مبادرة محلية لجمع التبرعات صدرت في يوم متجر التسجيلات في يونيو 2021. وهي عازفة قيثارة بارزة في ألبوم "هذه الآلات تفوز" لفرقة "هذه الآلات تفوز" في ألبوم "عبيد الآلهة"، بالإضافة إلى ألبوم "قرية الشمس المشرقة" الذي أصدرته فرقة "أشجار الجاموس" بعنوان "أشجار الجاموس أنقذت أبناء الشمس". صدرت أغنيتها المنفردة الأولى "Glow" الآن. كما أن أحدث أغنياتها المنفردة "I Tried (I Tried (Live Again)" متاحة الآن على جميع منصات البث.
جيس هي أيضًا الرئيسة والمديرة المؤسسة لفرقة Swan Strings، وقد تم تعيينها مؤخرًا مديرة تنفيذية في منظمة Girls Rock Dallas. وهي عضو في مجلس إدارة كل من "إنهاء استعمار غرفة الموسيقى"، و"أصدقاء إذاعة WRR 101.1 FM" و"تحالف معسكر فتيات الروك". عملت في مجلس إدارة الألفية في أكاديمية السود للفنون والآداب، والمجلس المساعد في مركز AT&T للفنون المسرحية ومجلس الفنون في مدرسة بوكر تي واشنطن الثانوية للفنون المسرحية والبصرية. شاركت جيس أيضًا في مجموعة الإنصاف العنصري الآن 2023-2024 في مجموعة دالاس للحقيقة والشفاء والتحول العنصري.
Jim Neil, Chief Executive Officer, USL Super League Dallas Team (Dallas Trinity FC)
Co-founder and CEO of Churchill Capital Company (established 1995). Churchill is a Real Estate Investment Bank which also invests for its own account (based in Dallas). Jim has been in the commercial real estate business in Dallas since 1980.
Jim received his MBA from the Harvard Business School and his BA from Yale University and has been a guest lecturer at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Jim played Varsity Soccer and Baseball at Yale, 1973-1976. He was a starter on Yale’s first soccer team to compete in the NCAA postseason tournament in 1973, where Yale was eliminated in the round of 16.
Jim has also been heavily involved in coaching youth soccer and baseball in Dallas for over 35 years. He is past President of the Dallas Amateur Baseball Association and coached two youth girls’ soccer teams. Jim has also been a major donor/supporter of the US Deaf National Women’s and Men’s Soccer Teams for the past 20 years.
Jim and his wife Jean were also instrumental in helping Ursuline Academy (Dallas) develop a girls soccer field in 2014. The Neil’s assisted in a 15-year process to get the necessary approvals and entitlements and then joined a capital campaign to pay for the state-of-the-art facility.
Jim (with his partners at Boxer Property Company) also acquired and redeveloped a 1.2 million square foot shopping mall in Fort Worth and turned it into an Hispanic themed town center catering to the local Hispanic Community, generating scores of jobs for local minority communities, and producing many millions of dollars of additional revenue for the City of Fort Worth.
Charlie Neil, President, USL Super League Dallas Team (Dallas Trinity FC)
Charlie Neil serves as Club President for USL Super League Dallas. Born & raised in Dallas, Charlie was an 8-time varsity letter winner in soccer and baseball at Yale University before being drafted in the 2012 MLB Player Draft, spending time as a professional baseball player in the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals player development systems. A graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Charlie worked in the League Economics and Operations group at Major League Baseball’s Office of the Commissioner before spending time in Baseball Operations with the Texas Rangers. Most recently, Charlie served as a senior executive for a sports technology company specializing in customer data insights & generating revenue for major league sports teams, leagues, and media companies.
Trip Neil, Chief Operating Officer, USL Super League Dallas Team (Dallas Trinity FC)
Trip played soccer in North Texas for Comets ’85. He graduated from St. Mark’s School of Texas and went on to play at Johns Hopkins University. His teams went 68-8-10, setting a record for fewest losses. He collected 2 ECAC Championships, 2 Centennial Conference championships, and made the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite 8.
Trip holds a BA in economics from JHU and an MBA from Duke University. He is a Partner for Churchill Capital Company.
In 2004, Trip was selected to the US Deaf Men’s National Soccer Team. He has attended 2 Deaf Pan American Games, 4 Deaf World Cups, and 3 Deaflympics. He holds the record for most International Caps of any US Deaf soccer player (50), most consecutive international tournaments with a goal (5), most consecutive matches earning a cap (43), oldest player to score a goal (39), and longest tenured captain (10 years). He captained the team that won the 2019 Deaf Pan American Championships.
Trip served on the board of USA Deaf Soccer Association from 2010-2023, including time as President. He has extensively supported both the women’s and men’s deaf national teams. In 2022, he successfully led the Deaf National Teams into the US Soccer Extended National Team program where all players are now treated equally (funding, staff, gear, access, opportunities, competitions, etc.).
Trip serves on the board of PowerSense, a North Texas nonprofit, which helps create communities for deaf and hard of hearing children, family, and friends.
He was elected to US Soccer’s Athletes’ Council in 2023. His wife (Whitney) worked for the Dallas Mavericks from 2012-2018, after time at the NBA, WNBA, and Duke Athletics. They are die-hard Dallas sports fans and proud parents to 2 girls and a boy.
Dori Neil Araiza – Dallas Trinity FC Founder & Principal
Dori Neil Araiza, an SMU alumna, began her professional career in 2009 in marketing at L’Oreal in New York before founding her own advertising firm in 2011. Neil Media Group represented various publications such as Allure Magazine, Inc. and Modern Luxury’s National Portfolio. Beyond her professional achievements, Dori is actively involved in her community as the former President of the Preston Hollow Early Childhood Association, current committee member for Cattle Baron's Ball, and co-chair of the Catholic Foundation, where she helped raise over $1 million for charitable causes. Balancing her entrepreneurial pursuits, Dori is also a mother of four children - two of whom she coaches in soccer, alongside her dad, Jim Neil. As passionate advocates for sports and for championing their community, Dori and her family founded Dallas Trinity FC, Dallas’ first professional women’s soccer team, deeply rooted in family values. Her commitment to philanthropy and community leadership underscores her dedication to making a positive impact both on and off the field.
Jenny Glenn – Dallas Trinity FC Founder & Principal
Jenny Glenn grew up in Dallas, TX where she was a two-time soccer state champion at Ursuline Academy. She then went to continue her soccer career at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where she played soccer all four years and met her husband, David Glenn. At Rhodes, Jenny majored in Business and was also a member of the Tri Delta sorority. After graduation, Jenny moved back to Dallas and started her career in banking. She then joined Goldman Sachs in their Private Markets Investment and Lending division where she underwrote over $2 Billion in financing commitment for alternative investment managers across private credit, private equity, and other asset classes. After three years at Goldman, Jenny joined her father Jim Neil’s company Churchill Capital. In her first year at Churchill, Jenny closed over $56 million in principal and brokerage transactions generating over $700,000 worth in fees to the company.
When Jenny is not working on real estate transactions or helping her family launch the first professional women’s soccer team in Dallas, she enjoys spending time at her family Ranch in Graford Texas. She and her husband love traveling, going out to dinner with friends, and playing with their nine (9) nieces and nephews.
Chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman, a 2023 James Beard Finalist, creates culinary wonders as executive chef at acclaimed restaurant José. Infusing her dishes with the vibrant flavors of her Mexican heritage, Quinones-Pittman expertly captures the essence of authentic Mexican cuisine. Her culinary mastery is evident in every dish, thoughtfully made with locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients, on José’s rotating menu. Quinones-Pittman’s dedication to culinary excellence extends beyond the kitchen, as she is active within the Dallas community with numerous charitable events and initiatives.

Cynt Marshall, the first black woman to lead an NBA team, has been CEO of the Dallas Mavericks organization since 2018. Prior to joining the Mavs, she had a remarkable 36-year career at AT&T, where she held diverse executive roles and culminated her journey as Senior Vice President – Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer. Beyond her corporate success, Marshall is deeply engaged in the community, serving on the boards of Dallas CASA, Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas Women’s Foundation, Texas 2036, T.D. Jakes Foundation, and as a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC).

Daron Babcock, a pioneering social entrepreneur, is the visionary founder of Bonton Farms, a transformative urban agricultural movement located in South Dallas. Leaving behind a thriving corporate career, Babcock and his wife, Theda, relocated from North Dallas to immerse themselves in the revitalization of the Bonton neighborhood. He shares his inspiring journey and insights at prestigious events worldwide, including TEDx Jacksonville, Philanthropy Southwest and engagements in Kenya, Romania, Brazil, as well as various forums across Texas.

Born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Cajun American father, Chef Michelle Carpenter's culinary journey reflects a rich blend of her diverse heritage and early experiences. Determined to become a true Itamae, she underwent two years of rigorous training in San Diego under master Itamaes. In 2007, Carpenter’s culinary journey reached a milestone with the opening of Zen Sushi in the heart of the Bishop Arts District. Her newest restaurant, Beatrice, pays homage to her Cajun family traditions and is rooted in Louisiana’s deep gumbo of cultures, cuisines, histories and peoples.

Daisha Board, CEO and founder of Daisha Board Galleries, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized artists, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and those with disabilities. Through her galleries, Board provides a platform for underrepresented artists, fostering inclusivity and empowerment within the Dallas arts community. Notably, she made history by opening the first Black-woman-owned art gallery in Downtown Dallas.

Twins Terrence and Tim Maiden, co-founders of the Maiden Foundation, have are dedicated to uplifting underserved communities in their hometown of Dallas, Texas. The Maiden Foundation provides impactful initiatives including, educational investments, community revitalization projects and youth development all aimed at creating a brighter, more inclusive future for residents of Dallas with limited financial resources.

Arike Ogunbowale, is a standout professional basketball player for the WNBA's Dallas Wings. Ogunbowale completed her collegiate career at Notre Dame as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,626 points. Her WNBA journey began in 2019 as the fifth overall pick for the Wings; during that season, she earned the runner-up spot for Rookie of the Year. In her second year, she led the league in scoring with 22.8 average points per game, securing a well-deserved spot on the All-WNBA First Team. Her international success is equally as impressive, with five USA Basketball medals and participation in competitions across six foreign countries. Away from the court, Ogunbowale is very active in numerous community service projects including Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House.
