Staff
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Javier Valdez, Executive Director
With a proven track record in nonprofits, education, technology, and startups, Javier has skills and experience that converge in his role as Executive Director of HealthStart Foundation. Once a corporate executive, he now works to scale HealthStart’s growth thoughtfully and inclusively. In this role, his strengths range broadly from connecting with people to discovering insights in data. Authentic and approachable, Javier focuses on developing a collaborative, team-centered culture where everyone has input—and then everyone has a sense of ownership and pride in the output. Javier builds strong relationships among stakeholders, including C-suite executives, community leaders, donors, and volunteers. Javier also enjoys mentoring the people on his team and helping them reach the next level professionally. He fosters open communication as he helps his mentees pioneer their futures. This style aligns beautifully with HealthStart’s programs, which nurtures children’s education and curiosity so that they are equipped to build lifelong healthy habits. With an engineering and science educational background, Javier gets excited about HealthStart’s science-based approach to healthy eating habits. With an active lifestyle, he realizes the importance of taking care of his body! Drawing from his background in technology and operations, Javier also brings in tech that helps HealthStart function productively, blending entrepreneurial efficiency with nonprofit nuance and a heartfelt mission. When he’s not working, Javier enjoys fitness, especially cycling and doing Pilates. He loves eating healthy foods and trying new restaurants. He also enjoys live music at all the cool local venues. |
Board of Directors
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Lucio Calzada Jr. - TALAS, Chair
Dr. Lucio Calzada has accumulated over 30 years of service to our country’s most precious resource, our children. He began his education career as a high school mathematics teacher at Kingsville High School in Kingsville, Texas. He began his administrative career as an assistant principal at Taft Jr. High School. Soon after this position he became the mathematics consultant for all of Corpus Christi I.S.D. He lead his first school as principal of South Park Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas. While serving as consultant for Achieve, Inc., he met Dr. Kaye Forgione, wife of then superintendent Dr. Pat Forgione. It was not long before Dr. Forgione recruited Lucio to join the Austin ISD team as principal of Fulmore Middle School. After seven years at Fulmore, Lucio was placed at Garcia Middle School for one semester and then was named the principal of Austin High School in June, 2008. Under his leadership, Austin High School became a State Recognized High School. In July of 2012, Dr. Ralph Draper, Superintendent of Spring ISD, invited Lucio to join his executive leadership team as an area superintendent supervising thirteen schools (K-12) with over 14,000 students. Dr. Draper then asked Lucio to take over the Spring ISD Human Resources Department for a year. In July of 2014, the new superintendent, Dr. Rodney Watson asked Lucio to supervise all high schools in Spring ISD as the assistant superintendent of high schools. In January of 2015, Lucio was invited to join the Hays CISD executive leadership team by superintendent, Mr. Michael McKie, as the assistant superintendent of secondary schools. Lucio earned his doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2002. He served his country as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve for eleven years. In his spare time, he has served as an adjunct professor for Concordia University, St. Edwards University and Texas State University because he “loves teaching”. He also serves as a board member for the Central Texas Communities in Schools (CIS), he serves his church as a Vincentian with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is the mentoring director for the Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. Lucio is married to Dr. Donna Calzada, a fellow educator and is very proud of his three grown daughters, Amanda, Catherine and Hannah and two grandchildren, Brantley and Brylee. Lucio loves to play golf and is an overly invested Dallas Cowboys fan. |
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Will Penny - Child, Inc., Treasurer
Will Penny is a CPA in Texas. He has over 25 years of experience in banking, investments, and accounting. Will has dedicated himself to the accounting profession since 2012. Before that, he was selected in 2004 by senior management at Wachovia Bank in NY and moved to TX to be part of a new expansion team. While a branch manager, he was awarded the President's award for turning around an ailing branch. His last role in the bank was as a commercial banker. Will has applied his broad background and experience throughout his career to be a trusted advisor, mentor, facilitator, and team member to boards, management, and project teams. As an accounting & finance executive, he has helped companies establish policies, procedures, integrations, financial reporting & performance management, staff evaluations, audit planning, and scaling business needs. His core strength is identifying and nurturing talent. As a CFO for a premier non-profit, Will successfully pursued and closed a pivotal $13M New Market Tax Credit financing deal, guiding the organization through a rigorous application process that required extensive coordination with banks, attorneys, and government agencies. Will has two children in college and has been married for over 25 years. He enjoys high-performance driving events. |
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Tatiana Jitkoff - L’Aiglon Foundation
Tatiana has deep roots in Texas. She and her family have a long history of charitable giving to Texas communities. In addition to her board service with HealthStart Foundation, she is a Social Venture Partner with Mission Capital. Beyond her experience guiding charitable organizations, Tatiana brings expertise in business and product development which she is pleased to use to help HealthStart grow and expand its impact. When she is not working with L’Aiglon or her real estate company, you can find Tatiana doing improv theater around town. |
Cynthia Webber - Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
Dr. Cynthia Webber currently serves principal of Saginaw High School in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. She brings 20 years of public education experience with the last 10 years in school administration at the high school, middle school, and elementary school levels.
Originally from New York City, Webber began her career at a charter high school in Fort Worth where she taught Algebra 1 and provided students with college and career guidance. She has spent 16 years serving the families of Northwest ISD where she taught PPCD, Pre- K, Dual Language Kindergarten and 3rd grade, as well as serving as a campus interventionist and district ESL instructional coach.
Webber received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University, her Master’s in Special Education from Texas Christian University, and her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Rice University. During her free time, Webber enjoys spending time watching her sons playing sports.
Dr. Cynthia Webber currently serves principal of Saginaw High School in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. She brings 20 years of public education experience with the last 10 years in school administration at the high school, middle school, and elementary school levels.
Originally from New York City, Webber began her career at a charter high school in Fort Worth where she taught Algebra 1 and provided students with college and career guidance. She has spent 16 years serving the families of Northwest ISD where she taught PPCD, Pre- K, Dual Language Kindergarten and 3rd grade, as well as serving as a campus interventionist and district ESL instructional coach.
Webber received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University, her Master’s in Special Education from Texas Christian University, and her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Rice University. During her free time, Webber enjoys spending time watching her sons playing sports.
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Marta Johnson- Leander ISD
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Jeff Pinsker - Mondo
Jeff Pinsker has founded and sold three companies in businesses ranging from practical jokes to children’s TV and publishing to toys and games. Accomplishments include:
Pinsker is President of Mondo, a subsidiary of Alamo Drafthouse, where he serves on the senior management team. Most recently, he was CEO of Amigo Games, the US subsidiary of one of Germany’s top game companies. Previous positions include top management roles at: Cardinal/Spin Master, Pressman Toy, Scholastic’s Klutz division, and University Games. Board service includes: Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), Project Genius, Mashup Foods, Cooloo, Trophy Skin, DASH Robotics, National Education Week, Stanford’s Entrepreneurs Group, Stanford Health Library, and the Tech Museum’s Tech Challenge. Pinsker has written 13 children’s books, holds a master’s and two bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University, and is the proud father of two grown children and a 17-year-old stepson. |
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Ana Moreno VanDiver - Stanford Alumni Association
Ana Moreno VanDiver was raised in El Paso and lived in Northern California after her college days at Stanford University. She worked for her alma mater for over 14 years in alumni engagement, fundraising, and event planning. The draw of family and "real" Mexican food drew her back to Texas in 2016. Eager to dive into local community engagement, she joined the Junior League of Austin staff as their Donor Operations Project Manager to help the organization complete their capital campaign for a 48,000 sq ft Community Impact Center. She returned to the staff of the Stanford Alumni Association in 2020 and works remotely from Austin (a Covid-19 silver-lining) as the Senior Manager of Diversity and Inclusion. Raised by educators, Ana passionately supports equitable access to all levels of learning. Ana thrives on volunteering, traveling with her husband, studying art, entertaining friends, and training her rescue dog. |
