KRIS CLARK: PRESIDENT
Kris Clark has worked in the medical device/pharmaceutical sales industry for 17 years and currently works at a Gastroenterology Biotech company based in Vero Beach, Florida. She has proudly served three terms as a Gubernatorial Appointee of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. Kris volunteers as a member of the Battle of Flowers Association and loves watching her boys sporting events. She received a BA from the University of Texas at Austin. Kris is married to Robert C. (Chris) Clark and together they have a blended family of six children. Kris and her family live in Alamo Heights and are members of Alamo Heights United Methodist Church.
Jeff Higgins: Treasurer
Jeff Higgins brings over 25 years of financial expertise to his role as Board Treasurer. As Managing Partner and Qualified Plans Director at Partners Wealth Management, he specializes in investment strategies, retirement planning, and charitable giving. His credentials include Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®).
Jeff's commitment to community service is demonstrated through his extensive nonprofit involvement, including serving as Co-Founder and Board Member of the Tony Leffingwell Foundation and RISE School of San Antonio. He has also provided fundraising assistance to numerous organizations including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Communities in Schools of San Antonio, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Texas.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Jeff maintains active memberships in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). His combination of financial acumen and dedication to nonprofit causes makes him well-suited to serve as Board Treasurer.
BRYAN BOYNTON
Bryan Boynton is the Branch Manager and Managing Director of a Fortune 250 Financial Advisory Company. He has been providing strategic planning and investment services to individuals and institutions for more than 42 years. Bryan has served on multiple Chairmans, Presidents & Director Councils for several different firms throughout his career. He graduated from the University of Texas, McCombs Business School, with a degree in Finance. A longtime resident of Alamo Heights, Bryan has stayed active in his community through involvement with several charitable organizations. He enjoys spending time in Port Aransas with his wife, three grown children, and three grandchildren.
DR. MICHAEL A. LEONARD
Dr. Michael A. Leonard received a B.S. from SUNY Stony Brook (1989) and received a M.D. from New York University School of Medicine (1994). He served in the Air Force where he was the Director of Spine Surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center 2004, after which he opened the Alamo Neurosurgical Institute. His son Mikey was diagnosed with autism when he was almost two years old. He has been an advocate for those with autism, working with local school administrators to improve the curriculum for students with autism and has sponsored several events in the community aimed to raise autism awareness and funding.
Susan Mengden, PhD, CEDS-s
Susan Mengden is a licensed psychologist who has specialized in the field of eating disorders for 30 years. She founded the Eating Disorder Center at San Antonio in 2007. Susan received a BA and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a MA and PHD from Boston College. Susan and husband Peter Ellis have four children. Catherine, their oldest, has Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Susan has served on the state board of Early Childhood Intervention and founded Animal Botanical, a special needs camp at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Susan is CEO and Clinical Director of Esperanza Eating Disorder Center.
alcide longoria
Alcide Longoria has over 18 years of commercial real estate experience in South Texas and Mexico and has been involved in acquisitions and sales of various real estate product types. He graduated from Babson College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 2006, Alcide completed a leadership development program with Ford Motor Company of Mexico and in 2009 he completed the Real Estate Council of San Antonio Leadership Development Program. Alcide serves on the board of directors for Fletes Mexico Carga Express, Grupo AMLO, and San Antonio Academy. He is a Texas Cavalier and an active member of the San Antonio community.
Adriana Notzon
Adriana Notzon has been a friend to SA Life Academy since 2019 when she attended her first gala. As a mom of five adult children, she has always been highly involved in all areas of their life, including assisting with galas and other fundraising efforts. Prior to having children, Adriana worked for a marketing company based in Fresno, CA. Adriana thinks the mission of SA Life Academy is incredibly important, and she is excited to use her talents and life experiences to further the organization’s long-term objectives.
Cheryl Vollmer: Secretary
In 1992, Cheryl joined Alamo Heights United Methodist Church which led her to new experiences in leadership, projects, and outreach. She served on the church board for two different terms; volunteered in the office and receptionist position; volunteered in the pumpkin patch and wrote a pumpkin patch book for children where all proceeds were used for outreach; she organized and led the Guest Services (hospitality); served on the committee for New Heights contemporary service; worked with the Seniors On the Go and their events; served as a vacation bible school leader and a Sunday school leader from pre-school to high-school, approximately 16 years.
Cheryl is passionate about Communication both verbally and written. She wrote and self-published a children’s book in 2009, A Hungry Lion in My Tummy, and was inspired to host and teach a basic manners class to elementary children in the community. Additionally, in the Alamo Heights School District, she mentored at the Junior school.
In March of 2021, Cheryl started mentoring women at Adult and Teen Challenge who are in transformation from addiction to freedom. She is very passionate about mentoring with God as her voice. Cheryl is a Communication Liaison for Vollmer Products International and Aid Water Global. She is married to John, a mom to their daughter, Kimberly, and loves to play golf.
Bill Ford
Willam “Bill” Ford is an attorney and shareholder at Ford Murray, PLLC. Over the past 35 years, his practice has covered a broad range of cases focused on unique issues. Commercial litigation, family law property divisions and custody issues, theft of trade secrets, insurance issues, construction disputes, contract claims, fiduciary litigation, professional negligence claims (legal, engineering, and architectural), constitutional land use, wrongful death claims, and employment claims are among those that Bill has handled. In particular, Bill recently negotiated to completion one of the largest property divisions in the United States in a marriage dissolution. He has successfully represented national corporations in federal and state litigation within, and outside, of Texas.
Beyond his national recognition for trial advocacy, Bill is consistently recognized by his state and local peers for his legal expertise. Bill was recognized in Texas Monthly Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Attorneys in the Central and West Texas Region" in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017. He was also named as one of "San Antonio's Best Lawyers" by both Texas Monthly Magazine and Scene in SA Magazine for ten years in a row. Bill is a former President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and has devoted a substantial portion of his professional life to the Texas Bar Association at many levels.