Board of Directors

2025–2026 Season

Dr. Yvette Almendarez
Federico Cavazos
Marisa Cunningham
Dr. Brent Fessler
Victoria Lopez- Herrera
Dr. Michele Hoskins
Brenna Nava
Adriana Moreno
Joe Smith

Founders & Advisors

Susanne Reem Cooper
Susan Petty Arnim
Anna Barber
Nancy Billups
Margaret Galvan
Gretchen Huddleston
Naomi Lederer
Kathy Lux
Anabel Rodriguez
Maureen Schiele
Janice Wolf

Federico Cavazos

Federico Cavazos is an Architect and Design Director with LPA Design Studios. He has dedicated his life to projects that serve the public realm – the more impactful, the better. Over 20 years of practice, he has led projects big and small in Central and South Texas and would love to tell you about any of them! He has a deep passion for maximizing projects that don’t have special budgets or schedules but need special outcomes. Born in the border city Laredo, TX into a family of architects, Federico leads integrated teams of architects, interior designers, engineers, and landscape architects to singular design solutions and tries to make sure the owner, design and construction teams all feel purpose and joy along the way. He loves being a husband and father to three girls and is grateful they support him and his running habit!

Victoria Lopez-Herrera

Victoria is the Director of Strategy and Impact Initiatives at NASPA, bringing more than 25 years of experience in higher education. She currently serves as Vice President on the International Council of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, where she helps guide organizational strategy and governance. Victoria’s connection to BCSTX is deeply personal—her children have been students at the school, and her son is part of the Company. She is especially passionate about the Conservatory’s outreach to Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children, as both of her children attended there. Supporting the growth of BCSTX and expanding opportunities for young dancers in the community is a mission close to her heart.

Marisa Cunningham

Marisa Cunningham hopes to help the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas flourish for the next generation of dancers. She brings skills in strategy, communications, and community building from her career in marketing and leadership, where she has supported global brands like New Balance, and now serves as Chief of Staff at Simple Academy AI. In this role, she helps professionals navigate the changing landscape that artificial intelligence is bringing to the workforce, preparing them to reinvent their skills and build flourishing futures. At BCSTX, Marisa applies this same commitment to reinvention and growth to strengthen fundraising, strategic planning, and community engagement efforts. A Canadian-born traveler and fitness enthusiast, she now calls San Antonio home with her family and is most proud of being mom to two amazing daughters.

Brenna Nava

Brenna Nava is an attorney with more than 15 years of experience advising companies on complex legal matters, including contract negotiations, employment, privacy, security, governance, litigation, and regulatory compliance. She also holds a BFA in Dance and brings over 20 years of experience as a dancer and 10 years as a dance educator. Her performance background includes two summers in Texas, the long-running outdoor musical in Palo Duro Canyon, which deepened her appreciation for storytelling through dance and theater. Brenna serves on the board of the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas, where she is inspired by the organization’s mission to broaden access to the arts for young people. Her favorite part of serving on the board is watching dancers grow not only as artists but also as confident, resilient individuals. In addition to her professional and board service, Brenna enjoys curating meaningful travel experiences, spending time with her family, and supporting local cultural and community initiatives.

Dr. Brent Fessler

Brent is the CEO of Kinected and Principal at Integreaters. With a professional background in engineering and higher education, his doctoral research in adult character formation informs his current work helping companies integrate values into their cultures and cultivate flourishing employees. Through Kinected Coworking and Integreaters, Brent focuses on building organizations where people thrive. He serves on the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas Board, inspired by his daughter’s experience as a BCSTX alum and his belief that BCSTX is a vital pillar of San Antonio’s ballet ecosystem. Beyond his professional and board service, Brent enjoys playing the piano, recording music, and leading worship at his community church in Boerne. He also contributes to the community through service on the ONEsource Board, Trinity University’s Engineering Advisory Board, and the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

Joe Smith

Joe Smith is an entrepreneur who owns and operates multiple franchise businesses across Texas and New Mexico. He brings practical experience in business growth and leadership to the Ballet Conservatory board, which he joined in 2025. Inspired by his daughter’s love of ballet, Joe is excited to support the Conservatory’s mission of providing a welcoming place for young dancers to learn and thrive. He and his wife have three active children, and Joe is closely involved in their lives and activities, from school to sports to the arts.