Our Board
John Emley (Chairman and President) is Valero’s Vice President of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement for Refining Operations, having held the position since 2003. He has been with Valero and its predecessor companies including Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation (UDS) for over 30 years. Mr. Emley is a graduate of the University of Michigan, receiving a B.S. in electrical engineering. He also received an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Emley and his wife, Peg, have three children -- Meredith, Scott, and Sarah. His hobbies include golf, biking, sailing, hunting and computers.
Shannon Gunn (Vice-President) is the single mother of 7-year-old twins, one of who has autism. She was the Parent Liaison at the Village of Hope, an evaluation center for autism for three years and is currently on the March of Dimes board. A native of San Antonio, Ms. Gunn is also involved with Southwest Foundation Forum, San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum, Los Compadres, Saint Mary's Hall, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
Katherine Tapley (Secretary) is an associate attorney with the Energy & Real Estate practice groups of the San Antonio office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Her practice focuses on all aspects of commercial and multi-family residential real estate matters, including development, acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing, and operation of improved and unimproved real property. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Tapley worked in marketing for industries including optometry/ophthalmology, semiconductors and electronic design automation, Internet technologies, digital photography, and financial services.
Eric Abati (Treasurer) has over ten years of experience in tax and accounting. He is a senior manager in the Construction & Real Estate and Not-for-Profit & Government groups where he provides tax and general business and strategic planning services to help his clients achieve their business objectives. Mr. Abati is a 1997 graduate of Florida State University, Tallahassee, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting
Lorene Dillard is the mother of three children, two of whom have a diagnosis of autism. She oversees parenting programs at Brighton School, Parent Alliance for Learning and Support and Precious Minds New Connections.
Wilson Wayne Grant, MD is a pediatrician in private practice with a special interest in child development. Dr. Grant has a BA degree from Howard Payne University and MD degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in child development at University of Texas Medical Branch. He has been on the clinical teaching facility of Pediatrics at the Health Science Center. He is married to Veronica and has two children and four grandchildren. His hobbies are writing for parents, camping with grandchildren and gardening.
Linda Davidson is the Autism Education Specialist for Region 20. She is a graduate of George Washington University. Linda Davidson has seventeen years teaching experience working with students with special needs at the elementary and secondary levels; her emphasis has been placed on working with children with autism. She has served as the Autism Specialist with Education Service Center, Region 20 for the past eight years. Linda received her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from The University of Memphis and her Master’s in Educational Administration from The George Washington University studying under Dr. Stanley Greenspan founder of the Floortime methodology. She is currently a candidate for a Doctorate of Philosophy in Special Education Leadership from Capella University.
Chris Plauche (Johnson), M.Ed., MD, is a Board Certified Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician and retired as a Professor of Pediatrics at University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio in 2007. She was the Founder and Volunteer Medical Executive Director of Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) Inc., a 30-year-old United Way agency that serves children with autism. She served on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Committee on Children with Disabilities from 1997-07 and as Co-Chair of the Autism Expert Panel from 2003-07. She serves on several editorial boards and has published chapters, review articles and commentaries addressing autism, mental retardation, developmental screening, normal development and family supports. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s program at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio.
Manuela Rodriguez - Manuela lives in Boerne, Texas and is a practicing nurse. She has a son with autism spectrum disorder.
Halie Marie Washington - H. Marie Washington is Vice President of USAA Policy Service Regional Operations. She has been employed with USAA for 23 years. Ms. Washington is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her Masters from Trinity University. She has a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. Ms. Washington and her husband Bill, have an eight year old son, Drew.