FORT WORTH, TX – Fort Worth Sister Cities International (FWSCI) welcomes eleven new
members to its Board of Directors: Pat Alva-Kraker, Julie Butner, Jason Byrne, Julian
Castillo, Lauren Findley, Zoran Gutic, Stae Hall, Anthony Hill, Rosalinda Martinez, Peter
Reilly and Gary West. Their terms begin October 1.
“Our board believes in the power of citizen diplomacy and that Fort Worth has an important
role to play in the international arena,” said Kippen de Alba Chu, President/CEO of FWSCI.
“These new members bring expertise spanning higher education, finance, business,
leadership development and community-focused nonprofits. We look forward to drawing
on their insights and international experience as we work to expand FWSCI’s impact and
serve more local students.”
Pat Alva-Kraker, Majestic Coaching Group | Alva-Kraker brings more than four decades of
business and leadership experience, including a 22-year career with IBM and leadership
roles with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. A business coach, speaker and three-time
Amazon best-selling author, she brings a global perspective shaped by extensive
experience in corporate leadership, technology, entrepreneurship and developing
connections across cultures and communities.
Julie Butner, Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) | Butner serves as President and CEO of TAFB,
where she leads a 13-county network serving communities across North Texas. Her career
spans healthcare, hospitality, food systems and business development, as well as service
as a U.S. Army Captain, bringing FWSCI extensive experience in executive leadership,
regional collaboration and building strong community partnerships.
Jason Byrne, Texas Christian University (TCU) | Byrne serves as Senior Director of
Corporate & Foundation Relations at TCU, where he oversees fundraising strategies
generating $25–$33 million annually. A graduate of Leadership Fort Worth and Leadership
ISD, he has held leadership roles with numerous civic and nonprofit organizations and
brings a strong record of building strategic relationships among businesses, educational
institutions and the community.
Julian Castillo, NBT Financial Bank | Castillo brings more than 28 years of banking, lending
and business development experience and serves as Senior Vice President and Branch
President for NBT Financial Bank’s North Fort Worth market. A graduate of The University of
Texas at Arlington with a degree in International Business and bilingual in English and
Spanish, he brings expertise in financial leadership and relationship development.
Lauren Findley, Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) | Findley serves as Vice President of
Enrollment Management at TWU, where she leads enrollment, marketing and
communications strategy for a diverse, Hispanic-Serving Institution. With more than a
decade of experience in student recruitment, strategic communications, community
partnerships and institutional planning—including international student recruitment—she
brings valuable expertise in connecting education and diverse communities to global
opportunities.
Zoran Gutic, Integrative Emergency Services (IES) | Gutic serves as Vice President of
Community Engagement at IES and brings more than two decades of Fort Worth business
and leadership experience. Fluent in English, German and Serbo-Croatian, with academic
training in political science and immigration studies in Europe, he brings an international
perspective along with extensive experience in strategic communications, relationship
development and community engagement.
Stae Hall, Institute for Success and Leadership | Hall is an award-winning emotional
intelligence expert, international speaker, entrepreneur and leadership facilitator with
nearly three decades of entrepreneurial experience. Through her work developing leaders
and organizations, she brings expertise in emotional intelligence, communication and
relationship building, along with a passion for helping people create stronger connections,
lead with purpose and make a lasting impact.
Anthony Hill, JPMorgan Private Bank | A Fort Worth-based private banker with JPMorgan
and former educator and school administrator, Hill brings a distinctive combination of
financial expertise, organizational leadership and community service. His experience
developing people and building relationships across the financial and education sectors
will support FWSCI’s work to create meaningful connections and expand opportunities for
global engagement.
Rosalinda Martinez, Tarrant County College | A longtime Fort Worth community advocate
and higher education professional with more than two decades of service, Martinez brings
extensive experience in community outreach, educational access, cultural preservation
and nonprofit leadership. Her career reflects a commitment to civic engagement and a
demonstrated ability to build relationships and bridges among Fort Worth’s diverse
communities.
Peter Reilly, Texas A&M School of Law | A Professor of Law at Texas A&M, Reilly brings
extensive expertise in negotiation, dispute resolution, legal scholarship and public service.
His career includes academic appointments at Georgetown University, UNLV and Texas
Wesleyan, as well as service as an Attorney-Advisor with the U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights, providing a broad perspective on communication, conflict resolution and civic
engagement.
Gary West, Racing Insights | An accomplished journalist, author and educator, West spent
more than a decade with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and has been a longtime member of
the Fort Worth community. Also involved in horse racing and breeding operations, he brings
decades of experience in communications, storytelling and education, along with a deep
understanding of the community FWSCI serves.
In addition to welcoming its newly appointed directors, FWSCI has named its slate of
officers for 2026–2028:
Chair: David Campbell
Chair-Elect: Staussa Ervin
Past Chair: Cindy Johnson
Secretary: Rachel Bradford
Treasurer: Jason Brown
About Fort Worth Sister Cities International
Fort Worth Sister Cities International (FWSCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
dedicated to cultivating global connections that enrich the Fort Worth community. Through
international exchanges, global education, business and professional programs, and
community engagement, FWSCI creates meaningful people-to-people experiences that
foster cross-cultural understanding and develop globally minded leaders. FWSCI manages
Fort Worth’s relationships with nine sister cities around the world and serves as a leading
local resource for international relationships, citizen diplomacy and peaceful civic
engagement.
For more information, visit fwsistercities.org.
