Beril Berk is an Attorney-at-Law working in the DFW area. Prior to being licensed in the US, she worked as a corporate attorney in Istanbul for 15 years. She is a member of the Dialogue Institute of Dallas, a local non-profit organization located in Richardson, Texas, and leads the “Serve Together Committee” thereof.

She has a diverse experience in non-profits by serving the community also in Henderson, Nevada for 5 years before moving to the DFW area. She graduated from Leadership Richardson Class XXXVIII. She became an ambassador for the City of Richardson’s “Envision Richardson” program. She is also volunteering for the Women in Leadership Committee of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. She holds a master’s degree in law from Nottingham Law School in Nottingham, UK. She is married and has two boys and a cat. She enjoys history, good books, traveling, and movie nights with her family.

CJ has lived in Richardson and its school district since 1955.  Currently, he lives in far north Dallas with his wife of 53 years, Joy. He is a graduate of RISD schools and the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in economics and finance. Presently he is semi-retired serving as Chairman Emeritus of Capital Ideas, a money management firm he founded in 1984. He remains fully active as a partner of Alliance Financial a stock brokerage firm he helped found in 2008.

Ten years ago, he gave up his hobby and retired completely from SMU, where he enjoyed teaching investing and financial planning for 35 years. He served for many years on the board of

St. John’s Episcopal School where he helped advise on matters related to its rapid growth. He and Joy are members of Richardson’s First United Methodist Church where he served on the finance committee advising on budget and fund-raising issues. In his leisure time he enjoys working out and reading about new investment ideas.

Kristen Ceaser was born and raised in Richardson, and after living in Colorado and Georgia for several years, she and her family moved right back to Richardson.

Kristen is the Director of Communications at First United Methodist Church Richardson where she’s been on staff for 13 years. She leads a talented team that plans and creates everything from worship bulletins to a children’s celebration video to a quarterly magazine. She’s driven by connecting with people, storytelling, and building bridges for a greater good.

Kristen is passionate about serving in the community and supporting those caring for our neighbors. She’s been on the Board of Directors for HEROES, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Richardson Adult Literacy Center along with recently joining Network of Community Ministries.

She was part of Leadership Richardson Class XXX and is honored to have served in several different roles with LRAA, including class representative and publicity chair. She’s most recently served on the Leadership Richardson Advisory Board and is a “ROC” to the current class.

Kristen received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Texas Tech University and her master’s in Communication Studies from the University of Colorado. She and her husband, Ken, have three children. Natasha and Nico are RISD graduates and successfully adulting in Tampa and Denver. And the baby, Brooklyn, is a junior at JJ Pearce. She loves spending time outside, visiting new places, reading a good book, and at the end of the day, having a binge-worthy show to watch.

David Dugger is a Financial Planner and Partner at WDW Financial. After growing up in Richardson, David graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting. David spent four years with the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers prior to joining his current firm in 2000. He has been a CPA since 1996 and a CFP since 2002. David was a member of the Board of Directors of iGoGlobal, a Christian missions organization from 2004-2018 and he and his family are involved in their church. David and his wife have a daughter in college, a son in high school and two crazy rescue dogs. He spends his free time enjoying travel, the outdoors and live music.

Dr. Melissa Heller currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Strategy and Engagement for the Richardson Independent School District. In her role she supports the district strategic plan, as well as all internal and external communications, and Community and Family Engagement efforts for the district. She previously served as the Executive Director for Professional Learning and has had the opportunity to lead and serve in RISD since 2016. Previously, she worked in Wylie ISD supporting staff development and instructional technology staff training since 2004. Melissa graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Consumer and Family Sciences. She received her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University and recently completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership, also from DBU. Melissa has been active in civic work as part of her professional career, including having previously served as the Chair of the Wylie Chamber of Commerce and active in the local Rotary club. She is also a proud graduate of Leadership Richardson Class 37. She is a proud mom to a son who attends RISD schools and is also a local Richardson ISD resident. She is excited to serve as part of the Board to support the important work and services that Network provides to the greater Richardson community.

Jane graduated with a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M and earned a Graduate Marketing Certificate from SMU.  Her career in marketing and communications has spanned Fortune 500 companies, founder/owner of a marketing consulting firm and non-profit agencies serving the North Texas Community. She is currently working as the Global Vice President of Marketing for C&D Technolgy/ Trojan Battery Company, a multinational corporation in the telecommunications electronics equipment market. She is a graduate of Leadership Richardson class of XXXII.  Jane and her husband Paul have 2 children and are long-time residents of Richardson.

Jason has lived in Richardson for 34 years and is a graduate of Dallas Jesuit. Jason currently serves as the National Head of Hospitality for Embark which is a financial consulting firm based in Dallas. A certified public accountant who spent a total of 13 years at EY and Deloitte before joining Embark. Member of First United Methodist Church of Richardson. Jason and wife Sara have been married for 15 years and have 3 children who attend Canyon Creek Elementary in RISD.

Kathleen Sotomayor is originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala. She is the Missions Minister at The Heights Church in Richardson, Texas. She has served with The Heights for 2 years and has a background in missions and business. Kathleen is an alumna of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR with a BA in Marketing and Management. She is also an alumna of Dallas Baptist University with an MA in Global Leadership. 

Kathleen enjoys interacting with people from different backgrounds and contexts. She not only enjoys making global and local connections but to see them bear fruit.

Kathy Rogers is the Owner/Operator of Nothing Bundt Cakes – Richardson since 2016, and has been involved with that company since 2011. She is also Business Manager of Design Concepts and Graphics from 2001 to the present. Kathy is an alumna of Louisiana Tech University with both a BA and MPA in Accounting and a graduate of Leadership Richardson class of XXXIII. She was awarded the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Newcomer Award and has received the WOW Award for top customer service from Nothing Bundt Cakes, both in 2018. Kathy is currently active in her church and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador. She and her husband Bryan have three grown children and 2 grandchildren.

Lindsay Turman has led the Community Services Division for the City of Richardson for the past 7 years; she began her career with the City 14 years ago. Lindsay grew up in small-town west Texas and obtained her BFA in Acting from Texas Tech University prior to receiving her MA in Theatre from Texas Woman’s University. She also graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with her Masters in Public Administration.

During her career, Lindsay has enjoyed working with citizens and leaders of the Richardson community to ensure it remains a vibrant place to live. She is a graduate of Leadership Richardson Class XXXV, the former Secretary for the Richardson YMCA, and now serves as the President of the Neighborhood Engagement and Revitalization Alliance for North Texas.

Lindsay is the proud mom to an amazing 6th grader named Jonah and four sweet puppy girls.

Abigail “Abbie” Kauffman brings more than a decade of diverse experience in nonprofit and higher education to Network of Community Ministries. She began her full-time career as a Development Officer in the University of Texas System in Odessa, Texas, and found in her passion in social services as Development Director for Centers for Children and Families in Midland/Odessa. Abbie returned home to Dallas in 2015, where she joined the staff of Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas as Director of Communications, and later Director of Development. Most recently, Abbie served as Catholic Charities Dallas’ Director of Special Projects and Information Services and CitySquare’s Senior Director of Strategy, where she worked across the organization focusing on program sustainability, metrics alignment, and collaborative partnerships. Abbie holds both a Master and Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Oklahoma where she held positions in the Center for Applied Social Research, Department of Communication, and Graduate College. In her volunteer time, she serves as a member of the Junior League of Dallas and is involved in her Richardson neighborhood. She loves sparkling water, fly fishing, a good book, and spending time with her family.

Don Magner’s service as City Manager began March 1, 2022. As City Manager, Magner is responsible for the coordination and oversight of the activities of all City departments. His staff leads the financial and budget management process for the City and directs the City’s planning efforts. His staff also conducts research, develops policies and evaluates potential public programs in accordance with direction provided by the City Council.

Magner began working for the City in 1996. His service includes time in the Human Resources, Building Inspection, Community Services and Development Services departments. While serving in these capacities, he was instrumental in the development of the City’s first Neighborhood Integrity and Vitality Strategy, which includes many of the City’s neighborhood revitalization and engagement programs and services still active today. Magner moved to the City Manager’s Office in 2012, where he has held positions as Deputy City Manager, First Assistant City Manager and Assistant City Manager.

Magner earned a Master of Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is also a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs’ Public Executive Institute, the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service’s Leading, Educating and Developing (LEAD) Program, and the North Central Texas Council of Government’s New & Emerging City Managers Program.

Magner is a graduate of Leadership Richardson Class XX, the Richardson Citizens Police Academy, the Richardson Citizens Fire Academy and Leadership North Texas Class 10. He is an active member of the International City Management Association, the Texas City Management Association, the North Texas City Management Association, the International Economic Development Council and the Urban Land Institute.

Magner serves on the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Advisory Board and the Advisory Council for the University of Texas at Dallas. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the North Texas Commission and Ex-Officio Board of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Richardson Advisory Board.

Magner is the fifth person to be named to the position of city manager since the City’s adoption of a council-manager form of government in 1956.

Chief Gary L. Tittle began his career with the Richardson Police Department in March 2018 as a Captain and was promoted to Chief in 2021. Prior to that time, Gary spent over 30 years with the Dallas Police Department where he held every rank through Assistant Chief. During his Dallas tenure, Chief Tittle was responsible for numerous work groups to include the Strategic Deployment Bureau, which includes SWAT, Traffic, Love Field, Gang and the Criminal Intelligence Unit. He also oversaw the Patrol Bureau and Narcotics Bureau. As a Captain for the Richardson Police Department, Chief Tittle has served as commander of Support Division to include Communications, Detention, Crime Scene, and Property & Evidence and the Operations Bureau that included Patrol and Investigations. In 2019, during the 86th Texas Legislative Session, Gary represented the Chief of Police regarding criminal justice related matters, a role he has fulfilled since 2007. Chief Tittle has a Bachelor’s degree from Midwestern State University and a Master’s in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State University. He has also completed the Lieutenant Leadership Series at the Caruth Police Institute and is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.