Meet the New Officers of the Long Center’s Board of Trustees
We’re so pleased to announce the community leaders joining our Board of Trustees for the 2020-21 year! We want to welcome our new Board Officers, all long-serving and vital members of our Long Center Board over the years, and share our excitement for the future.
“Our board is a phenomenal group of leaders that are committed to elevating arts and culture in Austin. This group will continue the remarkable legacy of the Long Center while helping us realize our full potential to serve our community,” says Cory Baker, our President & CEO.
Our Board of Trustees guides the Long Center with overall management, both in money matters and strategy. As the governing body of the organization, the Long Center’s sustainability and growth as a nonprofit is their ultimate goal.
“I am honored to serve as Long Center Board Chair. While we have and will continue adapting to the pandemic, I want to underscore to the community from the Long Center Board and staff that diversity, equity, and inclusion will overlay all that we do. We sit in the heart of Austin, and our priority is ensuring Austinites of every color and identity see their experiences reflected here and feel welcome,” says A.J. Bingham, Board Chair.
We’re also so thankful to Dan Graham, Liz Arreaga, Tom Sellers, and Craig Hester whose board tenure has ended this year. “The contributions of these members are forever valued and have helped ensure our stability and growth for decades to come,” says Cory.
Get know our new Board Officers — they’re excited to see you back at the Long Center soon!
What’s next for the Long Center?
Our Board Officers got together to discuss exactly this on our latest Long Story Short, a members-first sneak peek for our Long Center Members. Watch along to discover how creativity, community, and equity & inclusion will guide the future.
Long Center’s 2020-2021 Board of Trustees
OFFICERS
A.J. BINGHAM, The Bingham Group, L.L.C.
BOARD CHAIR
A.J. is the Founder and CEO of The Bingham Group, LLC, a full-service lobbying firm representing and advising clients on government affairs, public affairs, and procurement matters in the Austin metro and throughout Central Texas.
Prior to launching the firm, A.J. served as Director of Government Affairs for the Real Estate Council of Austin. He began his lobbying career at one of Texas’ top lobbying firms, rising to Legislative Director over four years and two legislative sessions. He previously worked at a leading Texas government procurement firm as a consultant for medium to Global Fortune 500 companies.
Outside of work, he teaches an MBA-level government relations course at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business. He also enjoys developing the firm’s podcast, The BG Podcast.
A.J. is a past Austin Under 40 Awards finalist (Government and Public Affairs) and was ranked in the top 10 of Capitol Inside’s 2015 Rising Star (Texas Lobby Power Rankings). His philanthropy is focused on youth, education, and arts, and includes board service on The Bingham Group Foundation, Trail of Lights Foundation, Young Men’s Business League of Austin, and Austin Sunshine Camps.
VERÓNICA ROSAS FERNÁNDEZ, Claimbot
BOARD VICE CHAIR
An Austin native, Verónica is a seasoned finance professional with 20+ years of providing financial analysis and compliance guidance for companies like American Express, Merrill Lynch and AT&T. Verónica is currently the CFO/COO at Elephant Labs, Inc. – Claimbot, where she has been instrumental in their capital raise led by Google.
Verónica lends her skills to several local non-profit causes that are close to her heart. She is the current Board Chair and past Treasurer for Con Mi MADRE an organization that provides educational programming for Latina teenagers in Texas. At the Long Center she serves as Vice Chair, past Finance Chair and Secretary for the Board of Trustees, where she helps lead finance and development activities. Verónica is also a member of the Zilker Elementary PTA where she has led the charge for the implementation of a Spanish Immersion program.
Verónica is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and enjoys running at Lady Bird Lake. She feels blessed to raise her family here in Austin, her hometown.
LISA LUCERO, AT&T
BOARD SECRETARY
Lisa Lucero is a Director with AT&T External and Legislative Affairs. Lucero is currently Co-Chair of the Long Center’s Business Arts Council and a member of the Board of Trustees since 2017. Lucero also serves on the Board for Dress for Success Austin and the St. Austin Catholic School Advisory Board. Lucero is a former appointee to the Governor’s Commission for Women and OneStar Foundation, promoting volunteerism and overseeing the administration of the AmeriCorps programs for the state.
Lucero was honored with the Game Changer Award in 2013 by GirlStart, a local non-profit empowering young women with an interest in science, technology and math. Lucero began her appreciation for Austin’s performing arts while attending the University of Texas, Lucero and her daughters haven’t missed a Nutcracker performance in 22 years!
LYNN YELDELL, Seventh Scout
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Lynn’s professional experience spans financial services where she worked in mergers & acquisitions for Louisiana’s largest bank holding company and wealth management at UBS Financial Services. After being recruited away from financial services in 2012, Lynn is enjoying the second half of her career working with and investing in startups including such as Bazaarvoice, TicketBud, and L Style G Style. Her professional sweet spot is blending the structure of her business background with the insight of investing in and running startups to help guide our client partners through thoughtful and deliberative growth.
With a finance degree from the University of Alabama, Lynn was the first woman to be elected president of the Student Government Association and was recognized as one of the 20 trailblazing women to graduate from the University in the past 125 years. With an MBA from the University of Texas, Lynn was one of the first students to focus on the entrepreneurial case study program which later became the academic foundation of the Acton MBA.
Giving back to her community is deeply important to Lynn and, in addition to her appointment as an officer on the Long Center Board of Trustees, she is an Advisory Board member of KUT/KUTX, a Human Rights Campaign Federal Club Member, and many more.
TRUSTEES
Blake Absher BB&T
Jeff Bidstrup Morgan Stanley
Amber Bradbury Google
Mike Brown PlainsCapital Bank
Shayna Brown Chez Boom Audio
Solomon Cole AB Private Credit Investors
Griffin Davis Angel Investor
Todd Davis Marsh Wortham Insurance
Aysha Doman Kastner Gravelle, LLP
Pat Feigley PIMCO
Bob Feiner Dell
Jay Fox Baylor Scott & White Health
Amanda Gibson St. David’s Healthcare
Jennifer Gravenor Northern Trust – Austin Symphony Orchestra Rep.
Alex Ladage UBS – Ballet Austin Rep.
Frank Livaudais iFLY Indoor Skydiving
Elizabeth Medina Concordia University
JoAnne Midwikis Whitley Penn
Aaron Percy Blackbaud
Josh Petrawksi General Motors
Brian Powell Stravaro, LLC – Austin Opera Rep.
Jim Taylor Retired
Robin Thigpin Wells Fargo
Andrew Weber Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP
Mark Wheeler Oil and Gas Consultant
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
Joe R. Long Chair Emeritus
Jare Smith Honorary Trustee
