Staff

Leadership

Val Benavidez (she/her/ella)

President & Executive Director
Val Benavidez is the chief spokesperson for the organization in all public matters. She is responsible for the development, planning, staffing, and implementation of all programs. Val became president in November 2020 and was previously the Texas Freedom Network’s chief program officer. Read Val’s full bio.

Carisa Lopez (she/her/hers)

Deputy Director
In addition to overseeing TFN’s day-to-day work and implementation to ensure we meet our priority goals and maximize collaboration and impact, Carisa serves as a strategic resource and helper within the executive team on issues relating to board development, fundraising, and strategic initiatives.

Dr. Lawrence D. Green (he/him/his)

Senior Organizational Advisor & Ombudsman
Lawrence serves as the ombudsman at TFN and as a thought partner to the President, Board of Directors, and senior leaders on key organizational matters.

Kelsey Hitchingham (she/her/hers)

Vice President of Finance & Operations
Kelsey oversees TFN’s operational, administrative, and financial functions and works with the President and staff leadership to guide the strategy and programs of the organization.

Marti Bier (they/them/theirs)

Vice President of Programs
Marti oversees the creation and implementation of programmatic work for TFN. They are a member of the leadership team and work with the Executive Director and VP of Finance & Operations to help guide the vision and strategy of the organization.

Staff