Board Bios
John A. Kiltz
Chairman
John A. Kiltz is a Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Stonelake Capital Partners. Mr.Kiltz directs the firm’s institutional investment and acquisition program.
Mr. Kiltz also serves as a Member of the Stonelake Investment Committee having invested institutional capital for over 20-years. Prior to founding Stonelake, Mr. Kiltz was responsible for directing U.S. investments at Cypress Real Estate Advisors, a private equity firm in Austin, Texas. Mr. Kiltz was one of four Partners at Cypress and served on the four member investment committee.
Prior to joining Cypress, Mr. Kiltz was the President of CCG Venture Partners, a private equity firm, where he headed acquisition and disposition activity, joint venture structuring and corporate governance establishment.
From 1992-1997, Mr. Kiltz was Vice President of JMB/Heitman Financial, a large national pension fund advisor. While at JMB/Heitman Financial, he led acquisition activity in Texas and directed management operations. Prior to that, he was a Partner in the Houston office of Trammell Crow Company responsible for new industrial development and acquisitions.
Mr. Kiltz received his undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin and his Masters of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. Mr. Kiltz serves as a Board Member of Southwestern University and Seton Hospital.
LOU BAIL
Board Member
Lou moved to Georgetown in 2019, after working 35 years in the Midwest. Her roots and family are in Texas, which is where she grew up and lived and worked prior to moving to Chicago.
She would describe herself as results oriented with more than 45 years of experience in sales/marketing management, operations, corporate training and special education teaching. Her career began as a Special Education teacher, transitioned to medical claim adjudication, pharmaceutical sales, corporate training, marketing/management and software sales management. Area Vice President of the Central US and Western Canada was the position with the largest quota and responsibility of 10 direct report Branch Managers and a total of 65 employees in her area.
Each position, including teacher, sales rep, trainer, manager, and Area Vice President contributed to her abilities/successes in the areas of marketing, sales, strategy, operations, team leadership/people development, goal setting and attainment.
Her approach to success was having persistence, to lead by example, build solid relationships, enable strong teamwork, and be adequately involved but not be a micromanager.
Lou has enjoyed volunteering at Grace Episcopal Church with the Loaves and Fishes program and of course at BiG. She volunteers in the BiG Café and enjoys working special events.
Her Undergraduate and Master of Education/Testing are from Lamar University. She completed many corporate training classes in Business and Management.
Ashley Morgan
Board Member
Ashley Morgan is an attorney with Erben & Yarbrough in Austin, Texas and specializes in governmental affairs and administrative law. Prior to her current position, Ashley worked in Texas state government for almost twenty years in numerous agencies and legislative offices. Ashley grew up in East Texas and married her high school sweetheart, Jim. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Ashley and her husband live in Round Rock, Texas with their schnauzer Chloe. They are members of Saint Richards Episcopal Church, where Ashley has served on the Altar Guild, Pumpkin Patch Committee, Stewardship and Finance Committees, and also served as Church Treasurer. Ashley also sat on the Board of Penfold Theatre Company, and served two years as Chair. When Ashley is not spending time with her husband or working downtown at the state capitol, she enjoys time with family and friends, theatre, travel and sharing her love for BiG with others.
Linda Hutcheson Knebel
Board Member
Linda Hutcheson Knebel is a native Texan, born in Houston Texas, attended High School at Anderson High School in Austin since 1979. She graduated from University of Texas in 1986 with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Special Education.
Linda married Kenny Knebel and has two sons, a daughter in law and grand baby. Brady, Tommy, Kennedy and Connelly Kay. She has always been involved in her churches and her son's schools throughout the years.
Linda has a passion for connecting people in every aspect of life. Linda was a Founding Team Member and Director of Sales for Open Arms where they hired refugee women and paid them a living wage to make apparel out of up cycled materials.
Linda's is currently a Realtor with Victory Ranch Sales and Founder of Surachi Design, where she developed and designed women's hats for the outdoor active woman.
Linda is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a member of The Assistance League of Austin and currently on the Lake Pointe HOA Board in Lake Pointe Neighborhood where she and her husband have lived for 20 years. Linda had the parks built in Lake Pointe and has been the head of the Parks Committee since 1999 when they moved into the neighborhood. She has been on many fundraising boards and committees at Lake Pointe Elementary, Lake Travis Middle School, St. Gabriels, St. Michaels and Emmaus Catholic Church.
Linda has a passion for fundraising and working with people with special needs and the Citizens at BiG.
PJ STevens
Board Member
Mr. Stevens is the COO and a Principal with Steger & Bizzell Engineering, Inc., a Civil Engineering and Surveying firm headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. Mr. Stevens received his bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi and is a Registered Professional Land Surveyor for the State of Texas. In addition to his banking and finance background, Mr. Stevens brings with him over 23 years of experience in surveying and land development with a broad-based knowledge of state, county, and local government development requirements. Mr. Stevens is active in the Georgetown community, having been appointed to several boards and commissions, including current Chair of the City’s Unified Development Code Advisory Committee. He was also a recent appointee to the Georgetown 2030 Master Plan committee and the Georgetown Legislative Task Force created to enhance and expand the City’s Intergovernmental Affairs Program. Mr. Stevens previously served on the board of directors of the Georgetown Boy’s and Girl’s Club and is the past Chair of the Williamson County Historical Commission. Mr. Stevens resides in Georgetown with his wife, Holly. They have two adult children, a son in construction management located in Austin, and a daughter, a registered ER/Trauma nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Alan Stewart
Board Member
Mr. Stewart spent 20 years at Tenneco during which time he held positions of Assistant Treasurer for Tenneco, Inc., Treasurer for Tenneco International Inc. in London, Vice President Finance for Tenneco Financial Services and Tenneco Ventures, and Chief Pension Officer for Tenneco, Inc. In 1990, Mr. Stewart entered the investment consulting business as head of SEI Corporation’s Houston office. In 1993, Mr. Stewart joined The Cullen Foundation where he served as Executive Director for 24 years. Mr. Stewart holds a Masters Degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and is married; he and his wife Claudia have three daughters. He currently serves on the Boards of the Texas Presbyterian Foundation (Dallas), the Houston Junior League Foundation, Brookwood in Georgetown (BIG), and the Board of Trustees of First Presbyterian Church of Houston where both he and his wife are actively involved. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP).
Erin Kiltz
Founder
Erin Kiltz is the founder and Director of Brookwood in Georgetown (BiG). BiG is the first replication of The Brookwood Community in Brookshire, Texas.
Prior to moving to Georgetown, Erin co-founded His Grace Foundation with her husband, John, in 1998, a nonprofit organization that provides physical, emotional and financial support to patients and families on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of Texas Children’s Hospital. She also co-founded Wheels of Fun in 2006, a company that creates custom spoke guard covers for wheelchairs. Each of these endeavors was inspired by the youngest of the Kiltz’ three children, Gracie, who was born with Down Syndrome, battled leukemia, and was left with severe brain damage after serious treatment complications.
Erin’s love for her daughter and family, combined with her years of experience in nonprofit management and development, interior design and education make her a true visionary who has brought a “future and a hope” to our BiG citizens through her creativity, endurance and compassion.
On September 8th, 2018- Gracie unexpectedly departed for heaven. Erin and John are more committed than ever to seeing that Gracie’s life and legacy continue to thrive! She gives all glory and honor to God for giving her the privilege of leading the BiG mission. Erin has also discovered there is no greater joy than being a grandmother (GiGi) and spending time with her six grandchildren.
Tim Curtis
Board Member
Tim has been with us since our earliest days, helping provide our very first home as pastor of the Georgetown Church of Christ. In addition to his role as a member of the board, he has served as BiG’s Director of Mission Advancement and has been a regular volunteer. His wife, Sandy, is also a very active volunteer, serving at the main campus and at BiG LIGHT.
In his retirement, Tim continues to make an impact as the Legacy Pastor at Life Church and serves on the Board of Directors for the Legacy Coalition, an international ministry focused on fostering intentional Christian grandparenting.
Tim and Sandy have four adult children and seven grandchildren. Tim has a passion for the outdoors, enjoying activities such as hiking and fly fishing in the mountains.
Tom Franz
Board Member
Tom Franz is a CPA and the principal and founder of TJ Franz & Associates, a firm providing profitability and contract Chief Financial Officer services which he founded in 2003. Prior to that he served with a national CPA firm and as Chief Financial Officer for several mid-sized companies. Tom has served on the Board for a public company and on several nonprofit boards and city commissions in Oklahoma and Missouri. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Oklahoma State University
Tom and his wife Jeany moved to Georgetown from Joplin, MO in 2022 so their daughter Emily could be a BiG Citizen. Their son John lives in Salt Lake City. Prior to moving to Georgetown, Tom helped found SHINE Joplin which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to live more meaningful lives. Tom is a member of Rotary Club of Georgetown, a regular volunteer at the BiG Café, and is a certified Kansas City Barbeque judge. He and Jeany are members of Antioch Georgetown Church.
Paula Brent
Advisory Board
Paula Brent is a partner in a real estate team in Georgetown, The Power of 4- Team Excellence, which is a successful team of 4 Realtors who give their clients the help of 4 Realtors for every listing. She and her team make a contribution to the client’s charity of choice for every real estate transaction they close. Their team was recently named in the Platinum Top 50 Realtors in Central Texas for their community service, real estate production, and professionalism.
Paula and her husband, Bob Brent, are community leaders who give much of their time to help Georgetown be the best it can be. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown Rotary Club, and has chaired several business programs and fund raising events. Bob and Paula have 4 wonderful adult children and 5 amazing grandchildren who are the loves of their lives. They both confess that God is the center of life and it is His will they choose.
Paula has served as a volunteer for Brookwood in Georgetown since the first time she took a trip to Brookshire to see what this was all about. She remained silent all the way back as she knew this was an organization she wanted to help bring to fruition in Georgetown. Her love of the citizens has caused her to feel a lifetime commitment to be involved in our mission for them.
Tina Lawhon
Advisory Board
As a native Texan, you can’t get much closer to home than Tina. She went to Southwestern University on a volleyball scholarship, and received her degree in Kinesiology-All Level Physical Education and Health with a minor in Generic Special Education. Tina comes to BiG with 31 years of special education experience at Georgetown ISD where she was a Certified Adapted Physical Educator. She has also used her time and talents as a Special Olympics coach and advisor.for 25 years. Now that’s dedication!
Tina loves seeing the look of pride when citizens see what they have accomplished. She loves opening the kiln each morning to see all the beautiful glazed products they have created. Ever since she was in college, Tina has wanted to work with clay. Now she gets to play with pottery every day!
Tina is married and has three children. She has been practicing being a grandma to four granddogs in preparation for the birth her first grandchild! She spends most weekends with her close knit family. Tina is a focused athlete who describes herself as “very competitive”.
Tina’s experience, passion and drive have made her a welcome addition to BiG.
Nancy O’Meara Krenek
Advisory Board
Nancy O’Meara Krenek began her legacy with R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids in 1998 with one horse, four clients and a handful of volunteers. A school-based physical therapist at the time, she had a vision for making a difference in the lives of children with disabilities though partnering them with a horse. That vision blossomed into a dynamic nonprofit organization that now serves over 200 children, adults and veterans annually.
Nancy’s list of credentials and accomplishments is extensive. She holds a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy, is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist, an AHA, Inc. Member Therapist, a PATH International Registered Instructor and is the CEO, Founder and Director of Therapy and Research at R.O.C.K.
The guiding force for R.O.C.K., Nancy is actively involved in creating a culture of excellence with the board, staff and volunteers and the programs she directs. In 2011, Nancy began partnering with the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Mounted Parsons Calvary to develop an on-campus program for equine assisted therapeutic activities for children, adults and children She is also actively involved in research in partnership with several institutions of higher learning and has been published in two professional journals within the past year on topics related to Autism and Veterans and the healing process that results through partnering with horses.
Dr. Barbara Hallmark
Advisory Board
Through her service on the benevolence and missions ministries at The Worship Place, Dr. Barbara Hallmark has been an instrumental in fueling BiG’s mission. Barabara is a fifth generation Texan with deep ties to special Education. She tirelessly advocated for her younger brother, Bill Beggs born with cerebral palsy, deafness and aphasia. With his family’s support Bill became a beloved Sun City homeowner and his 2011 funeral was standing room only.
Barbara received her bachelors degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Texas, her masters in Education of the Deaf from Columbia University and her doctorate in 1966, in Special Education, from Columbia. Barbara taught at Southern Methodist University from 1971-1982. She served as full professor and department chair for the Department of Communications Disorders. She was president of both the Faculty Senate and Faculty Club.
Dr. Susan Upshaw
Advisory Board
Dr. Susan Upshaw has experience in almost every area of education. She has taught all levels of General Education as well as Special Education. She was in at the ground floor of creating and developing a private school where she was a teacher and later served as the Elementary Principal, and Director of Development. During that time she also participated in an arm of the private school accreditation standards committee for the Texas Education Agency.