2023-2024 Board of Directors
Dr. Liz Strand Cimini, Board President
Adjunct Professor SMU, Cox School of Business
Liz Strand Cimini joined SMU’s Cox School of Business as Adjunct Professor of Management and Organizations in 2020. Professionally, she spent many years in the high-tech speech recognition industry, based in Silicon Valley, before transitioning her career to focus on nonprofit management and poverty alleviation efforts in Collin County.
Liz currently holds leadership roles on a number of nonprofit boards in North Texas, including serving as chair of the Community Lifeline Center Board of Directors, and chair of the Texas Health Resources Community Impact Leadership Council for Collin County.
Liz has been a music lover all her life, and she and her family appreciate music of all genres. She started Suzuki lessons on a quarter-size violin at age 6, then moved on to piano and flute, which she enjoyed played through college as part of the University of Minnesota Symphonic Band. She’s participated in many different instrumental and vocal groups through the years, and she currently sings with the Celebration Choir at Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney. Liz and her husband Dean Cimini live in McKinney with their college-age daughter Olivia, and their two rescue cats Milton and Felix.
Adjunct Professor SMU, Cox School of Business
Liz Strand Cimini joined SMU’s Cox School of Business as Adjunct Professor of Management and Organizations in 2020. Professionally, she spent many years in the high-tech speech recognition industry, based in Silicon Valley, before transitioning her career to focus on nonprofit management and poverty alleviation efforts in Collin County.
Liz currently holds leadership roles on a number of nonprofit boards in North Texas, including serving as chair of the Community Lifeline Center Board of Directors, and chair of the Texas Health Resources Community Impact Leadership Council for Collin County.
Liz has been a music lover all her life, and she and her family appreciate music of all genres. She started Suzuki lessons on a quarter-size violin at age 6, then moved on to piano and flute, which she enjoyed played through college as part of the University of Minnesota Symphonic Band. She’s participated in many different instrumental and vocal groups through the years, and she currently sings with the Celebration Choir at Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney. Liz and her husband Dean Cimini live in McKinney with their college-age daughter Olivia, and their two rescue cats Milton and Felix.
Samantha Ettari, Volunteer Coordinator
Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie
Samantha is a Senior Counsel in the Privacy and Data Security Group at Perkins Coie LLP in their Dallas office. Samantha counsels clients on privacy, data security, product launches, data management, and use of large data sets to train AI models. She has first- and second-chaired numerous federal and state trials and hearings, as well as domestic and international arbitrations. Samantha maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising small businesses and nonprofits in establishing or developing existing privacy programs, helping draft global privacy and data retention policies, terms of use, information security procedures, and internal trainings.
Samantha was exposed to and developed a love of classical music at an early age. She began piano lessons at the age of six and enjoys playing show tunes and pop classics. She also enjoys listening to Italian opera and all things Rachmaninov. She and her husband David had a Met Opera subscription for nearly a decade when living in New York and are excited now with their relocation to Dallas to support the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra. She and David live in Frisco and are avid supporters of the arts at home: their eighth-grade daughter Maddie is a cellist with the Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra and their sixth-grade son Lou has recently taken up the oboe. Their Frenchie Colette and two cats Jacob and Wilhelm (the Brothers) Grimm enjoy all the musical racket.
Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie
Samantha is a Senior Counsel in the Privacy and Data Security Group at Perkins Coie LLP in their Dallas office. Samantha counsels clients on privacy, data security, product launches, data management, and use of large data sets to train AI models. She has first- and second-chaired numerous federal and state trials and hearings, as well as domestic and international arbitrations. Samantha maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising small businesses and nonprofits in establishing or developing existing privacy programs, helping draft global privacy and data retention policies, terms of use, information security procedures, and internal trainings.
Samantha was exposed to and developed a love of classical music at an early age. She began piano lessons at the age of six and enjoys playing show tunes and pop classics. She also enjoys listening to Italian opera and all things Rachmaninov. She and her husband David had a Met Opera subscription for nearly a decade when living in New York and are excited now with their relocation to Dallas to support the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra. She and David live in Frisco and are avid supporters of the arts at home: their eighth-grade daughter Maddie is a cellist with the Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra and their sixth-grade son Lou has recently taken up the oboe. Their Frenchie Colette and two cats Jacob and Wilhelm (the Brothers) Grimm enjoy all the musical racket.
Julie Daniels, Vice President & GNTYO Chair
Director of Orchestras, Frisco High School
Julie Daniels graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music Education. While at OU, she studied Violin performance with Michael Ma and the art of Cello with Marjorie Cornelius. After completing her degree, Julie taught Elementary Music in Moore, OK, then moved to Stillwater to begin a lengthy career as an Orchestra Director. While teaching in Oklahoma, Julie performed with the OU Symphony Orchestra, Norman Community Orchestra, and the OSU Symphony Orchestra.
Julie moved to Texas to take a position with the Carrolton/Farmers Branch ISD as an Elementary Strings Teacher. In 2002 she accepted a position with Frisco ISD to begin a new orchestra program in the district. Teaching at two of the then four Middle Schools, Julie opened Wester Middle School and also taught at Clark Middle School. She was the Director of Orchestras at Wakeland High School and Frisco High School simultaneously from 2006-2008. From there, she opened Hunt Middle School in 2010 as the Director of Orchestras while maintaining the Director position for Frisco High School. Currently, Julie is the Director of Orchestras at Frisco High School. Julie actively supports the Arts in Frisco, is a violinist with the Stonebriar Community Church Symphony, and is a former board member for the Arts of Collin County. Julie is the proud mother of five children and a soccer mom!
Director of Orchestras, Frisco High School
Julie Daniels graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music Education. While at OU, she studied Violin performance with Michael Ma and the art of Cello with Marjorie Cornelius. After completing her degree, Julie taught Elementary Music in Moore, OK, then moved to Stillwater to begin a lengthy career as an Orchestra Director. While teaching in Oklahoma, Julie performed with the OU Symphony Orchestra, Norman Community Orchestra, and the OSU Symphony Orchestra.
Julie moved to Texas to take a position with the Carrolton/Farmers Branch ISD as an Elementary Strings Teacher. In 2002 she accepted a position with Frisco ISD to begin a new orchestra program in the district. Teaching at two of the then four Middle Schools, Julie opened Wester Middle School and also taught at Clark Middle School. She was the Director of Orchestras at Wakeland High School and Frisco High School simultaneously from 2006-2008. From there, she opened Hunt Middle School in 2010 as the Director of Orchestras while maintaining the Director position for Frisco High School. Currently, Julie is the Director of Orchestras at Frisco High School. Julie actively supports the Arts in Frisco, is a violinist with the Stonebriar Community Church Symphony, and is a former board member for the Arts of Collin County. Julie is the proud mother of five children and a soccer mom!
David Kelly, Development Chair
David Kelly is the Government Affairs and Special Projects Manager for the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). In addition to the management of Federal, State and local-level policy issues, he is focused on the development and implementation of NTMWD's strategic plan. Before joining NTMWD, David served as the Executive Director of Orant Charities, a Dallas-based nonprofit working in Malawi. David previously lived in Washington, D.C. for ten years and worked for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Governor Rick Perry, was an appointee in the Bush Administration and managed Congressional Relations for an agency at the Department of Agriculture.
Moving to McKinney with his mother in 1984, David attended Greer Elementary and Slaughter and Dowell Middle Schools. He deeply loves his hometown, particularly the downtown areas, and was blessed to return in 2015. He is currently vice-chair of the McKinney Community Development Corporation, is a member of the McKinney Rotary Club and is a graduate of the Leadership McKinney Class of 2019. David lives in McKinney’s Historic District with his wife Barbara and their dog Rose. David and Barbara are both longtime classical music lovers and have previously maintained subscriptions with both the National and Dallas Symphony Orchestras.
David Kelly is the Government Affairs and Special Projects Manager for the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). In addition to the management of Federal, State and local-level policy issues, he is focused on the development and implementation of NTMWD's strategic plan. Before joining NTMWD, David served as the Executive Director of Orant Charities, a Dallas-based nonprofit working in Malawi. David previously lived in Washington, D.C. for ten years and worked for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Governor Rick Perry, was an appointee in the Bush Administration and managed Congressional Relations for an agency at the Department of Agriculture.
Moving to McKinney with his mother in 1984, David attended Greer Elementary and Slaughter and Dowell Middle Schools. He deeply loves his hometown, particularly the downtown areas, and was blessed to return in 2015. He is currently vice-chair of the McKinney Community Development Corporation, is a member of the McKinney Rotary Club and is a graduate of the Leadership McKinney Class of 2019. David lives in McKinney’s Historic District with his wife Barbara and their dog Rose. David and Barbara are both longtime classical music lovers and have previously maintained subscriptions with both the National and Dallas Symphony Orchestras.
Jennifer Parker, Treasurer
President, Impact Brands
Jennifer Parker, a driven and accomplished professional, is the President of Impact Brands, headquartered in McKinney. The North Texas native is a University of North Texas graduate with expertise in business, marketing, and consumer behavior. In April 2024, she is opening BODYBAR Pilates McKinney, bringing her passion for fitness and wellness to the community.
She co-founded Actual Innocence Review, a nonprofit organization focused on rectifying wrongful convictions and criminal justice reform alongside her husband, Daryl. Jennifer has served on several nonprofit boards for the last two decades.
As a music lover who appreciates diverse genres, Jennifer Parker has cultivated a lifelong passion for the art form. In her youth, she played the violin and piano. Jennifer's love for music remains unwavering. Jennifer resides in McKinney and enjoys spending time with her goldendoodle, Kylo, two college-age daughters, Allison and Ashlyn, and husband, Daryl.
President, Impact Brands
Jennifer Parker, a driven and accomplished professional, is the President of Impact Brands, headquartered in McKinney. The North Texas native is a University of North Texas graduate with expertise in business, marketing, and consumer behavior. In April 2024, she is opening BODYBAR Pilates McKinney, bringing her passion for fitness and wellness to the community.
She co-founded Actual Innocence Review, a nonprofit organization focused on rectifying wrongful convictions and criminal justice reform alongside her husband, Daryl. Jennifer has served on several nonprofit boards for the last two decades.
As a music lover who appreciates diverse genres, Jennifer Parker has cultivated a lifelong passion for the art form. In her youth, she played the violin and piano. Jennifer's love for music remains unwavering. Jennifer resides in McKinney and enjoys spending time with her goldendoodle, Kylo, two college-age daughters, Allison and Ashlyn, and husband, Daryl.
Mark Read, Secretary
Ecosystems Technical Sales, Accenture
Mark Read is a 35+ year veteran of the global consulting firm Accenture. He is part of a Technology Sourcing organization and works with clients in numerous geographies, with global peers and support team.
Mark has a degree in Music Therapy from West Texas A&M University. He was employed as a Rehabilitation Counselor with the Texas Commission for the Blind upon graduating from college. After that, he and his wife Linda [a Commercial Artist] opened a Graphics business in the Richardson/Plano area.
Mark studied piano as a child – and then picked it up again as a late teenager. During his college years, he was an accompanist for vocal students as well as the accompanist for the Collegiate Chorale. In his senior year, the Chorale was the featured group at ACDA. For the past 20 years – he has been the organist for his church in Plano. He also is a member of the local Community Chorus – Sostenuto. Mark and his wife Linda live in McKinney.
Ecosystems Technical Sales, Accenture
Mark Read is a 35+ year veteran of the global consulting firm Accenture. He is part of a Technology Sourcing organization and works with clients in numerous geographies, with global peers and support team.
Mark has a degree in Music Therapy from West Texas A&M University. He was employed as a Rehabilitation Counselor with the Texas Commission for the Blind upon graduating from college. After that, he and his wife Linda [a Commercial Artist] opened a Graphics business in the Richardson/Plano area.
Mark studied piano as a child – and then picked it up again as a late teenager. During his college years, he was an accompanist for vocal students as well as the accompanist for the Collegiate Chorale. In his senior year, the Chorale was the featured group at ACDA. For the past 20 years – he has been the organist for his church in Plano. He also is a member of the local Community Chorus – Sostenuto. Mark and his wife Linda live in McKinney.
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