New Staff and Board Members Join ILHIGH's Mission to Increase Local Generosity
I Live Here I Give Here welcomes two new staff members and six new board members representing a dynamic range of industries across Central Texas.
I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH) is proud to announce two new appointments to its staff and six new board members. These additions support our strategic plan and vision for Austin to become the most generous city in the nation, while also advancing long-term growth and success.
I Live Here I Give Here welcomes native Austinite Christian Wells as the new director of strategic programs and events. Boasting more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Wells began her career at Alzheimers Texas in August 2004, shortly after having received a Bachelor of Arts in government from The University of Texas at Austin. There, she worked in a variety of roles, including program director and development director, and was ultimately promoted to executive director before joining the ILHIGH team this winter. Serving in these roles has allowed Christian to form a wide-ranging skillset, including program implementation, executive leadership, organizational development, event planning, and more. Outside of work, she has participated on several local boards and coalitions, including the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Women's Symphony League of Austin.
ILHIGH also introduces Andrew Smullen to the team as director of finance. Smullen is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, having earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, United Kingdom, in 1974. Arriving in Texas in the mid-1990’s, he joined a venture capital team at Telinvest Management Corporation specializing in emerging global mobile telecommunications infrastructure and later served as a forensic accountant in litigation and dispute resolution. Holding the Certified in Financial Forensics specialist credential of the American Institute of CPAs, Andrew currently volunteers as treasurer at Congregation Tiferet Israel of Austin.
“I am ecstatic to welcome both Christian and Andrew to the I Live Here I Give Here team,” says Courtney Manuel, ILHIGH executive director. “Their expertise and involvement in our local community is extraordinary, and I am thrilled to collaborate with them to evolve our program offerings. As we continue to respond to our nonprofit community’s needs and engage an ever-growing local population in philanthropy, both Christian and Andrew embody outstanding leadership qualities that will make them great assets to ILHIGH.”
ILHIGH is also pleased to announce six new board members, community and business leaders from a variety of industries and disciplines. ILHIGH’s new board members include the following local residents:
Celeste Quesada, Events Architect and Producer
Celeste Quesada is an independent event architect as well as a local real estate agent specializing in affordable historical homes. A native Austinite, Quesada has over 20 years experience sharing her expertise, aiming to inspire and educate others, working with the community in support of cultural arts, and home-building. She has worked with a wide range of clients, including legendary Austin musicians, filmmakers, and tastemakers, as well as a number nonprofit clients, such as Austin Film Society, SIMS Foundation, Chula League, The Austin Chronicle, and more. She is an ILHIGH Changemaker, a See Jane Give mentor, a chair of the organization's Marketing and Communications Advisory Council, and she has also been recognized as a community leader by a handful of local media outlets. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in her South Austin home with her husband, their two daughters, and pets.
Melissa Anderson, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Windmuehle, LLC
Melissa Anderson serves as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of alternative asset advisory firm, Windmuehle, LLC. Having began her career in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Anderson has over 20 years experience in financial services, including operational due diligence and middle and back-office activities for various investment strategies. Melissa has worked as a principal, COO, and CCO of Meritage Capital, L.P., as well as a financial analyst and treasury controller at Dell Inc. Currently, Melissa serves on the Board of Visitors at Southwestern University and the Investment Committee of the Diocese of Austin.
Rabecca Cross, General Counsel and Vice President of Emancipet
Rabecca Cross serves as vice president and general counsel of Austin-based Emancipet, a nonprofit organization that provides pet owners with affordable veterinary care. Most recently, Cross worked as senior counsel at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation as well as general counsel at the Ed-Fi Alliance. She has also served as general counsel and corporate secretary at Michelson Found Animals Foundation and associate attorney at the law firm of Haynes and Boone. Throughout her career, she has focused on providing business and legal counsel for social impact initiatives benefiting children, animals, and refugees. A graduate of Columbia Law School and currently earning an executive MBA, Rabecca also serves on the board of Foster Village, a local nonprofit organization which helps children and families in the foster care system.
Rob Pennington, Senior Brand Director at Favor Delivery
Rob Pennington works at Austin company Favor Delivery as the senior director of brand and creative. A 2003 graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a degree in public relations and information technology, Pennington joined the team as an engineer in 2014 and now oversees the company’s holistic brand strategy, while also managing internal creative agency and brand marketing initiatives. Most recently, he oversaw the launch of Favor Delivery’s first statewide brand campaign in addition to overseeing the design and development of the recently opened H-E-B and Favor Eastside Tech Hub. Prior to Favor Delivery, he was founder and director at UWM, where he collaborated with a number of local agencies, businesses, and nonprofits — from McGarrah Jessee to Austin Film Festival — on design and marketing development strategies, and was director of web design and development at GKWco, an Austin-based strategy and execution agency.
Trevor Scott, We Are Austin Co-Host at KEYE-TV (CBS Austin)
Trevor Scott is a television co-host at local news station KEYE-TV (CBS Austin) for their morning lifestyle show, We Are Austin, which highlights local people, stories, and efforts. Scott’s career in television and storytelling spans over 20 years. Scott is a regular volunteer at a number of Austin’s nonprofits and has a passion for building a fair, inclusive Austin. Currently, he serves as event co-chair for the Austin Child Guidance Center’s Austin Originals Benefit Concert, Media Mentor at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Texas Youth Arts Initiative, Food Truck Team Leader for Mobile Loaves and Fishes, administrative board member at First United Methodist Church of Austin, and chair of the LGBTQ Reconciling Ministries Committee. Outside of work and volunteering, he enjoys family time with his husband and their two pets.
Zack Flores, National Philanthropic Programs Manager at Tito's Handmade Vodka
Zack Flores works as the National Philanthropic Programs Manager of Austin-based Tito’s Handmade Vodka, American’s original craft vodka. Flores manages the company’s nonprofit team, Love, Tito’s, which focuses on strategic nonprofit and brand collaborations through community engagement and fundraising programs. He plans charitable initiatives and fosters relationships with Tito’s dedicated nonprofit organizations, and aims to empower fellow employees and Tito’s fans to do good in their community. He also serves as the company’s disaster relief officer, working on national and international relief for impacted areas. Prior to joining the Tito’s team in 2015, Zack worked extensively in the nonprofit world, including facilitating group therapy and managing internal development and marking. He has also facilitated experiential brand marketing with notable lifestyle brands, including Converse, Apple Music, and VICE Media. In his leisure time, he enjoys exploring Austin with his wife and dog, seeing live music, and sipping on Tito’s cocktails.
“We are very excited to add these local philanthropists and community leaders to our board. Not only will they support our ongoing initiatives but they will also expand and diversify our team’s pool of expertise by drawing from a variety of industries,” said Kathy Smith-Willman, ILHIGH Board Chair. “With their support, we will continue to advance our goal of serving as Central Texas’ go-to resource for learning how to get involved with local nonprofits, leading conversation around generosity and philanthropy in Central Texas, and diving deeper into creating meaningful mentorship experiences for new and emerging philanthropists.”
Thank you to our community for helping us extend a warm welcome to these leaders! We hope to see you at one of our upcoming programs!