CONOZCA AL EQUIPO

Dr. Tihalia Brown

Chief Program Officer

Dr. Tihalia Brown

Chief Program Officer

Email: tbrown@familiesempowered.org

Meet Dr. Tihalia Brown, our new Chief Program Officer!
Dr. Brown joins the Families Empowered team with a unique understanding of how impactful education in the non-profit space can be for Texas families.
Dr. Brown aims to use her extensive background in Early Childhood Education, non-profit program development, and operational management to enhance our team and continue serving and empowering families across state lines.
When Dr. Brown isn’t helping families find the best educational space for them, she’s spending time with her loved ones exploring tropical vacations, and enjoying social outings.

Theresa Callaway

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Theresa Callaway

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Email: Email: tcallaway@familiesempowered.org

Theresa Callaway is a passionate communications professional with a strong administrative background that specializes in content strategy, social media management and content creation. She comes to Families Empowered with a background in Journalism, Media Design and an ever-growing passion for learning new things and exploring new opportunities. She is passionate about using her skills to continue helping others, giving back to her community and using her background to tell engaging stories in new and creative ways. Theresa aims to continue using her skills to give back and make a difference in the communities she serves.
Theresa lives in Georgetown with her two cats, Gemini and Gizmo.

Patricia Castillo

Operations Manager

Patricia Castillo

Operations Manager

Email: pcastillo@familiesempowered.org

Prior to working at Families Empowered, Patricia was the Office Manager at USA Car Sales from October 2011 to February 2019. In March 2003, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and opened a popsicle factory to help her two younger sisters go to college. In addition to being the founder of that business, she managed finance, administration, and production. The work that Families Empowered does every day is something Patricia holds close to her heart, and she considers it an honor for her to be able to work alongside a team that is making such an impact and difference in the lives of others.

Ayla Dehghanpoor

Director of Marketing & Communications

Ayla Dehghanpoor

Director of Marketing & Communications

Email: adehghanpoor@familiesempowered.org
Phone: (832) 955-7664

Ayla Dehghanpoor is a communications professional who specializes in marketing strategy and creative content production. She comes to Families Empowered with a background in print media and spent much of her career at a local lifestyle publishing house and advertising agency in Texas. She is passionate about bringing accurate, quality information to the audiences she serves, and sharing stories that make an impact.

She lives in Houston with her husband, Zach, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Parker.

Colleen Dippel

Founder & CEO

Colleen Dippel

Founder & CEO

Email: cdippel@familiesempowered.org
Phone: (713) 589-8767

Colleen Dippel began her career as a public school teacher. She left teaching to help launch a private-sector education technology start-up. She’s served as the Director of the KIPP School Leadership Program, the Director of Alumni Support for Teach For America- Houston, and as the Director of Education Initiatives at Aquinas Co. At Aquinas, she launched Families Empowered, which she leads today.

Colleen is the proud mother of two active children.

Wilson Sheaffer

Customer Service Representative

Wilson Sheaffer

Customer Service Representative

Email: Email: wsheaffer@familiesempowered.org

Wilson Sheaffer comes to Families Empowered with a rich background in customer service with local philanthropist, Joanne King Herring and sales at Renewal By Anderson Windows. Wilson is a bilingual Houston native, Bellaire High School alumni and a current student at Houston Community College. Wilson has previously volunteered with Families Empowered in the past and is eager and excited to be officially joining the FE family! With a unique school choice story, Wilson aims to use his background and passion to help families find the school that works for them.

Deanna Sheaffer

Strategic Gifts Manager

Deanna Sheaffer

Strategic Gifts Manager

Email: dsheaffer@familiesempowered.org
Phone: 713-589-8767

Deanna Sheaffer has more than 15 years of non-profit advancement/development experience, primarily in education. Most recently, Deanna worked with the Advancement Team at KIPP Houston as Senior Events Manager. Prior to her work at KIPP Houston, she was the Director of Alumni Support for Teach For America’s Houston office. She originally came to Houston as a 1991 Teach For America corps member. In 1999, Deanna joined Rice University as the Director of Alumni Engagement and Finance.

She is married to a native Houstonian and is the crazed, yet proud, mother of four energetic boys.

Allison Squier

Bilingual Customer Service Representative

Allison Squier

Bilingual Customer Service Representative

Email: asquier@familiesempowered.org

Allison Squier joined the Families Empowered team to support parents searching for schools as a Bilingual Customer Service representative.

In her previous career as a business development executive, she played a critical role in helping businesses expand into Latin American countries. In her role as a Financial Client Service Representative at Bank of America, she regularly attended to the needs and finances of international clients.

In her free time, Allison loves to paint, travel with her family, and above all, enjoy good food and wine with friends.

Dr. Tihalia Brown

Chief Program Officer

Bio

Email: tbrown@familiesempowered.org

Meet Dr. Tihalia Brown, our new Chief Program Officer!
Dr. Brown joins the Families Empowered team with a unique understanding of how impactful education in the non-profit space can be for Texas families.
Dr. Brown aims to use her extensive background in Early Childhood Education, non-profit program development, and operational management to enhance our team and continue serving and empowering families across state lines.
When Dr. Brown isn’t helping families find the best educational space for them, she’s spending time with her loved ones exploring tropical vacations, and enjoying social outings.

Theresa Callaway

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Bio

Email: Email: tcallaway@familiesempowered.org

Theresa Callaway is a passionate communications professional with a strong administrative background that specializes in content strategy, social media management and content creation. She comes to Families Empowered with a background in Journalism, Media Design and an ever-growing passion for learning new things and exploring new opportunities. She is passionate about using her skills to continue helping others, giving back to her community and using her background to tell engaging stories in new and creative ways. Theresa aims to continue using her skills to give back and make a difference in the communities she serves.
Theresa lives in Georgetown with her two cats, Gemini and Gizmo.

Patricia Castillo

Operations Manager

Bio

Email: pcastillo@familiesempowered.org

Prior to working at Families Empowered, Patricia was the Office Manager at USA Car Sales from October 2011 to February 2019. In March 2003, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and opened a popsicle factory to help her two younger sisters go to college. In addition to being the founder of that business, she managed finance, administration, and production. The work that Families Empowered does every day is something Patricia holds close to her heart, and she considers it an honor for her to be able to work alongside a team that is making such an impact and difference in the lives of others.

Ayla Dehghanpoor

Director of Marketing & Communications

Bio

Email: adehghanpoor@familiesempowered.org
Phone: (832) 955-7664

Ayla Dehghanpoor is a communications professional who specializes in marketing strategy and creative content production. She comes to Families Empowered with a background in print media and spent much of her career at a local lifestyle publishing house and advertising agency in Texas. She is passionate about bringing accurate, quality information to the audiences she serves, and sharing stories that make an impact.

She lives in Houston with her husband, Zach, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Parker.

Colleen Dippel

Founder & CEO

Bio

Email: cdippel@familiesempowered.org
Phone: (713) 589-8767

Colleen Dippel began her career as a public school teacher. She left teaching to help launch a private-sector education technology start-up. She’s served as the Director of the KIPP School Leadership Program, the Director of Alumni Support for Teach For America- Houston, and as the Director of Education Initiatives at Aquinas Co. At Aquinas, she launched Families Empowered, which she leads today.

Colleen is the proud mother of two active children.

Wilson Sheaffer

Customer Service Representative

Bio

Email: Email: wsheaffer@familiesempowered.org

Wilson Sheaffer comes to Families Empowered with a rich background in customer service with local philanthropist, Joanne King Herring and sales at Renewal By Anderson Windows. Wilson is a bilingual Houston native, Bellaire High School alumni and a current student at Houston Community College. Wilson has previously volunteered with Families Empowered in the past and is eager and excited to be officially joining the FE family! With a unique school choice story, Wilson aims to use his background and passion to help families find the school that works for them.

Deanna Sheaffer

Strategic Gifts Manager

Bio

Email: dsheaffer@familiesempowered.org
Phone: 713-589-8767

Deanna Sheaffer has more than 15 years of non-profit advancement/development experience, primarily in education. Most recently, Deanna worked with the Advancement Team at KIPP Houston as Senior Events Manager. Prior to her work at KIPP Houston, she was the Director of Alumni Support for Teach For America’s Houston office. She originally came to Houston as a 1991 Teach For America corps member. In 1999, Deanna joined Rice University as the Director of Alumni Engagement and Finance.

She is married to a native Houstonian and is the crazed, yet proud, mother of four energetic boys.

Allison Squier

Bilingual Customer Service Representative

Bio

Email: asquier@familiesempowered.org

Allison Squier joined the Families Empowered team to support parents searching for schools as a Bilingual Customer Service representative.

In her previous career as a business development executive, she played a critical role in helping businesses expand into Latin American countries. In her role as a Financial Client Service Representative at Bank of America, she regularly attended to the needs and finances of international clients.

In her free time, Allison loves to paint, travel with her family, and above all, enjoy good food and wine with friends.

JUNTA DIRECTIVA

Leo Linbeck III, Chair

President and CEO, Aquinas Companies, LLC

Leo Linbeck III, Chair

President and CEO, Aquinas Companies, LLC

Jason Bernal

Superintendent - Premier High Schools

Jason Bernal

Superintendent - Premier High Schools

Debbie Hurwitz

Community Leader, Parent and Coach

Debbie Hurwitz

Community Leader, Parent and Coach

Alison Porter

Owner, Apex Leadership Company

Alison Porter

Owner, Apex Leadership Company

Annette Van Brunt

President, Van Brunt & Associates, Inc.

Annette Van Brunt

President, Van Brunt & Associates, Inc.

Leo Linbeck III, Chair

President and CEO, Aquinas Companies, LLC

Bio

Jason Bernal

Superintendent - Premier High Schools

Bio

Debbie Hurwitz

Community Leader, Parent and Coach

Bio

Alison Porter

Owner, Apex Leadership Company

Bio

Annette Van Brunt

President, Van Brunt & Associates, Inc.

Bio