10/02/2026
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 began today - 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
