Board of Directors
David Lyon
President
David is a strategic marking executive. He is currently a Vice President with Tandem Theory, a consumer experience marketing agency in Dallas, Texas. He has a pulse on the marketplace and is very skilled at identifying trends and developing key marketing insights.
Prior to Tandem Theory David has deep experience in marketing and advertising working at Ansira Engagement Marketing, a leading Engagement Marketing Agency and was the former President of Temerlin McClain, a national advertising agency.
He also was Chief Marketing Officer of the Livestrong / Lance Armstrong Foundation, provider of navigation services to cancer survivors.
A graduate of the SMU – Cox School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance/Marketing degree.
Emily Factor
Vice President
Emily Factor is the Founder & Principal Designer of Sixteen Cypress, an equestrian sporting goods company combining high-performance products with innovative textiles. “16C” was launched in 2020 after more than a decade working in apparel, textiles, and product development. 16C combines her lifelong passion for horses into a tangible product range. Now a fast growing, internationally recognized equestrian brand. Known for infusing daily riding essentials with a timeless, classic aesthetic with exceptional quality and performance.
A seasoned equestrian, Emily began riding at age 5 and grew up competing on the West & East coasts in Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation. She has worked with an array of horses throughout her life and trained in multiple disciplines. She continues to actively ride and care for horses in the Texas Hill Country, where Sixteen Cypress is based.
Ruth Hughs
Secretary
Ruth Ruggero Hughs is an attorney and partner at Kelly Hart's Austin office and co-chairs the firm’s Public Law group. She most recently served the State of Texas as the 113th Secretary of State. Prior to her appointment as Secretary of State, Ruth served as Chair and Commissioner Representing Employers at the Texas Workforce Commission, where she worked to foster opportunities for economic growth by partnering with the business community, providing employers with a variety of resources to expand their businesses. She also previously served at the Office of the Texas Attorney General as the Director of Defense Litigation. She was responsible for successfully managing and overseeing the civil litigation divisions representing agencies across the state. Before her tenure in public service, Ruth worked as a licensed attorney and was a small business owner.
Jeff Bednarz
Treasurer
At an early age Jeff knew he wanted to be a storyteller and through directing he found his voice. An accomplished dialogue director, working with real people, his ability to communicate and genuinely connect with people has been a driving force in his success. Known for beautiful film, Jeff ‘s work for The Salvation Army integrated campaign features moving stories about humanity and help, and was featured in Communication Arts magazine. Jeff turned his attention to football in small town America in the compelling short documentary “6” which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. Bednarz captured the spirit and inspirational portraits of the people of Pin Point, Georgia in his award-winning film “Take Me To The Water,” earning Best Documentary at the 2012 Charleston International Film Festival.
Carol Sandlin
Carol is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Her background includes business management, finance, and succession planning. At Merrill Lynch, a global wealth management firm, Carol has a goal-focused approach to creating customized financial strategies built for the long term. Carol has been a volunteer for organizations such as the Williamson County Texas Museum, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Georgetown