Executive Team

Cookie Gregory Ruiz, C.F.R.E., Executive Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 110

Ms. Ruiz has more than 25 years experience in the areas of strategic planning, program development and non-profit fund-raising/management, which includes work with the United Way and the American Red Cross. In 2002 she was awarded the professional designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive (C.F.R.E.) by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Her community honors include Austin Business Journal’s “Profiles in Power” award, Austin Community Foundation’s Beverly S. Sheffield Award/Excellence as Nonprofit Executive, The American Red Cross “Clara Barton Medal of Honor,” Volunteer of the Year for the Austin Independent School District, the Lone Star Girl Scout Council “Women of Distinction” Award and is a former President of The Junior League of Austin. Ms. Ruiz is a member of the Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s Citizen Cabinet and is a graduate of Austin’s City Works Academy.

Ms. Ruiz is the immediate past Chair of the national Board of Trustees of Dance/USA, the Chair of the “CreateAustin” city-wide cultural planning process, a member of the national Board of Directors of the Performing Arts Alliance (Washington DC), a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Board of Directors of Texans for the Arts, the Board of Directors of GENAustin, the Board of Directors of Con Mi Madre, the Community Advisory Board of KMFA, and a Community Advisor to the Young Women’s Alliance (YWA).  As a 1995 graduate of Leadership Austin, Ms. Ruiz co-founded the diversity/principle-based curriculum for the Teen Leadership Austin program and served as a member of the Leadership Austin Board of Directors. Additionally, Ms. Ruiz provided the research and development for the nationally recognized Junior League of Austin Hispanic Mother/Daughter Program (Con Mi Madre), as well as three other nationally replicated social service programs.

Ms. Ruiz has served as a speaker, facilitator and presenter for a variety of leadership conferences, including the National Conference on Community Leadership, the National Performing Arts Conference, The Governor’s Women’s Business Leadership Forum and the Texas Commission on the Arts. In 1996 Ms. Ruiz joined the staff of Ballet Austin as development director, became general manager in 1997 and executive director in 1999.

	Barbara Shack, Executive Administrator // 512.476.9151 ext. 110
	Gail Romney, Director of Operations & Finance // 512.476.9151 ext. 111
	Lance Johnson, Marketing Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 118
	Christi Cuellar , Development Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 124
	Pei-San Brown, Community Education Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 178
	Sandra Krempasky, Sales Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 119
	William Piner, Director of Schools // 512.476.9151 ext. 123
	Vicki Parsons, Managing Director of Schools // 512.476.9151 ext. 126
	Vlada Sheber, Pilates Program Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 135
	Brooke Holmes , Senior Development Associate // 512.476.9151 ext. 114
	Tracie Fitting, Development Administrator // 512.476.9151 ext. 109
	Brooke Rogers, Special Events Coordinator // 512.476.9151 ext. 134
	Josephina Fredericks, Sales Associate // 512.476.9151
	Adam Rasmus, Manager of Marketing Integration // 512.476.9151 ext 137
	Jennifer Taylor, Accounting Associate// 512.476.9151  ext. 102
	Billie Buddenhagen, Facilities Director // 512.476.9151 ext. 122
	Eric Caruthers, Schools Registrar // 512.476.9151 ext. 138
	Stacy Dunavan, Patron's Services // 512.476.9151 ext. 100
	Michael Owens, Patron's Services // 512.476.9151 ext. 100