The Hope Rising Board of Directors reflects a wide range of viewpoints, backgrounds and expertise. We believe that diversity is a core attribute of a well-functioning organization, and we are proud to work with these amazing leaders who are passionate about putting an end to domestic and sexual violence.
Lisa Miller, President
Lisa Miller is a Freelance Professional Theater Lighting Designer. She works with many organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area including, Texas Ballet Theater, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Theater Three, and Kitchen Dog Theater where she is a proud company member. She is also lighting Director for the Island East End Theater Company in Galveston, Texas.
Lisa has a wonderfully supportive Husband, Alan, a terrific daughter, Brittnye and three fantastic step children, Dakota, Katy and Dylan; ask her about her two handsome grandchildren, Dallas and Emmitt.
Lisa is a founding member of Hope Rising, where it all began with a premiere production of The Vagina Monologues in McKinney benefiting The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center of Collin County. The cast formed such a terrific bond that they decided to do so much more and they have! Many times her creative, crazy ideas start with “It will be fun…..”
Sue Goodner, Vice President
Sue has lived in Collin County since moving to the area in 1995. She is actively involved in community theatre in and around the metroplex and is also actively involved in her church, Sent Church (Plano). Sue and her husband, Steve, have three children among them: Kyle, his wife Carrie and their daughter, our precious 2-year old Olivia, who live in Tulsa Oklahoma; Kelsey Beth who practices law in Missouri but will hopefully be returning to Texas this coming summer; and Erin who lives in Arizona and just completed her Masters from ASU. They are quite proud of their family! Sue and Steve own their own company and work in the energy sector.
Domestic violence in all forms is out there. Sue’s mission, along with all those involved with Hope Rising, is to make sure the public is aware of the devastation it leaves in its wake . . .no one is immune . . . no one is exempt . . . it strikes and hurts all of us.
TBD, Treasurer
Position available. Contact Lisa Miller for more information.
Ruth Stephenson, Secretary
Ruth Stephenson is a Stage Manager in the Dallas area. She has worked with many theaters in Dallas including Second Thought Theatre, Martice Enterprises, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas and Kitchen Dog Theater, where she has been a company member for many years.
Ruth is a founding member of Hope Rising, and she is very proud seeing what the organization has already accomplished in its short life.
Ruth moved to McKinney with her family in 1988 and loves that this organization helps out the ones in this area.
Nancy Cecco, Board Member
Nancy Cecco is honored to join the board of Hope Rising and is eager to help in any way that she can to bring awareness to the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual abuse and raise money for organizations that help survivors.
Nancy is one of the founding members of both Allen Contemporary Theatre and the Dark Night Players and is active in the local theatre community as an actor, director and volunteer.
Nancy works as a Virtual Assistant and lives in Allen with her handsome and supportive husband, Jerry and their two dogs, Jackie and Ella. She is also the proud mom of her wonderful son, Mitchell, who is currently studying at UTD.
Sarah Duc, Board Member
Sarah Duc is very proud to be on the board of Hope Rising. She has been involved since August of 2013. She feels that it is so important to actively oppose domestic violence and sexual abuse, to speak up for those who can’t.
Sarah is a high school teacher at LV Berkner High School in Richardson, where she has taught since 2008. She enjoys a healthy balance of Bikram Yoga and junk food. Sarah is active in the Dallas theater community and is a company member at Kitchen Dog Theater.
Sarah’s inspiration is her mother, Leslie Anne Davidson. Leslie is a survivor and an incredible human being. Sarah couldn’t do all she does with the undying support of her husband Adam, and sweet puppy dog, Vern.
Pamela Harden, Board Member
Pamela Harden graduated from Northwestern University in Theatre. She has been a member of Hope Rising since Lisa Miller asked her to direct “The Vagina Monologues” in 2013. This was the first of many Hope Rising projects that began with, “It’ll be fun!”
Pamela is a former McKinney Arts Commissioner of five years. She was part of the team to implement McKinney’s Public Art Master Plan beginning with the city’s first public art mural.
Pamela was accepted into the Leadership Arts Program sponsored by the Business Council for the Arts from which she graduated in 2014.
She is inspired by all her fellow members of Hope Rising and hopes to continue working to foster healing and empathy through the arts.
Molly Lake, Board Member
Molly Lake joined this fabulous group in the fall of 2014. Molly, her husband, Larry, and their four-legged children Gracie, Jack and Topher moved to Plano in 2010 from Chicago. While in Chicago, Molly and Larry volunteered for Gateway for Cancer Research and served as committee members and co-chairs for a run that benefited the Walter Payton Cancer Fund. Molly is very excited to be involved with Hope Rising and is looking forward to future events and helping those impacted by domestic violence. Molly works for Exponent Technologies in Addison as a Benefits Implementation Specialist.
Laura Powers, Board Member
Laura is the Director of Product Marketing at Interplay Learning. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Laura’s career spans many facets of marketing, PR, social media and communications. In her current role, Laura leads a team responsible for marketing EdTech solutions to skilled trades businesses, educators, and workforce development organizations.
Among her many accomplishments, Laura was honored with a Communicator Award presented by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. Laura has been active in the local theatre community and was the director of a local church drama ministry for many years. She is also a founding member of the Dark Night Players theatre and improv group. She is thrilled to be involved with Hope Rising and hopes that one day all women can live free from domestic and sexual violence. Together, we can make it happen!
Follow Laura on Twitter at @powersla
Kathleen Vaught, Board Member
At her core, Kathleen Vaught is a creative theatre artist who also works as a public relations professional focused on local government communications. She is the founding creative director for the Dark Night Players, an ensemble of performers who create original works and incorporate all the artistic disciplines into one game-show-style night of fun. Kathleen earned her BA in Drama at the University of North Texas and continues to perform in the North Texas region as often as possible. She lives in Allen with her husband and partner of over 30 years, and together they have two amazing adult children.
Kathleen is honored to join Hope Rising and looks forward to working with these passionate leaders to help those impacted by the devastation of domestic and sexual violence.
Trudy Ware, Board Member
Trudy Ware is an environmental consultant at an environmental consulting firm in Dallas and has been living in Frisco with her wonderful husband and fur/feather babies since 2012. She was a theater kid in high school and participated in theater productions at the University of North Texas that raised money for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence during her last year in graduate school and also in 2013 and 2014. In February 2016, she did a Google search to find if there were any similar productions closer to Frisco and stumbled across Hope Rising’s website. She has been an active member since and is honored to be on the board. Jean Wadsworth, Board Member
Jean is an Insurance agent with the Harbor Insurance Agency in downtown McKinney. She has been a part of the McKinney arts since 1996 and has been involved in over 100 productions over the years. She is a founding member of the McKinney Repertory Theatre and is passionate about the arts. She lives in McKinney with her husband, Sam and two crazy fur babies, Buster and Lizzie.
Jean has been on the board of Hope rising since the beginning and is thankful to be involved with this wonderful group. She joined to honor her mother, Jolene Roberts, who was a survivor of physical and emotional abuse throughout her life. She loved the arts and whenever she could would attend all of our shows whenever she could. Miss you mom!