Waco Foundation's Staff

Ashley Allison is the executive director of Waco Foundation, where she manages all aspects of a $60 million community foundation with the mission of improving the quality of life in McLennan County.

Ashley obtained her Bachelor of Arts in economics at Baylor and a Master of Arts in political science from West Texas A & M University.  During her early career, she worked at a Council of Governments writing grants for public infrastructure projects through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.  Since 1994, she has worked in the community foundation field, including a total of nine years of service with the $150 million Amarillo Area Foundation where she left as vice president, and two community foundations in the Boston area where she was president & CEO.  During her career, she has raised over $25 million in grants and contributions for various community foundation efforts. 

Ashley is a member of Waco Rotary, where she was recently elected to the board of directors.  She also serves on the Waco Business League, Waco Leadership Forum, the Waco Visioning Board, the Waco Chamber Advisory Board and the Greater Waco Education Alliance Board and Summit Planning Committee. She also serves the membership committee of the Southwest Conference on Foundations.   She is a graduate of Leadership Waco (class of 2009) and Leadership Texas (2000).

Email Ashley | Ashley Allison's electronic business card

Jana Bland graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University with a major in marketing with a minor in French.  During her time at Baylor, Jana spent her senior year interning with the Baylor University Department of Community Relations.  This opportunity allowed her to be more involved with the Waco community, while developing valuable networking skills.

Upon graduating, Jana accepted the Executive Assistant position with Waco Foundation.  Jana manages all communication and arrangements for the executive office. As Executive Assistant, Jana works closely with the Foundation's Executive Director and Board of Trustees to coordinate all board and committee meetings and events.  In addition, Jana works with the Director of Grants and Capacity Building during the discretionary grant cycles to help prepare proposals for board review.  Most recently, Jana has assumed responsibility for the coordination and management of LeadershipPlenty.

Email Jana | Jana Bland's electronic business card

Rachel Hobbs recently joined Waco Foundation as the Planned Giving Coordinator. Her initial responsibility will be the development of Waco Foundation’s planned giving program. She will work closely with donors, advisors and area nonprofits to establish a valuable resource for planned giving within our community.

Rachel graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor in Business Administration and a major in accounting, subsequently obtaining her CPA license. Prior to joining the Foundation, she began her career in public accounting with Jaynes, Reitmeier, Boyd & Therrell, P.C. in Waco, where she worked more than 14 years in the Tax Department, concluding her career there as a senior tax manager. During her public accounting career, Rachel worked extensively with high net worth individuals, partnerships and corporations.

Rachel is native to the Waco community and remains very involved in community activities and area nonprofit organizations, both personally and professionally.

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Melissa Miller recently joined Waco Foundation as the Director of Communications & Donor Services. In addition to managing the marketing for Waco Foundation, Melissa works with philanthropists and fundholders of the Foundation, providing service and support to enhance giving in McLennan County. She serves as a part of the Waco Foundation team assisting donors and nonprofit organizations in establishing and managing a range of charitable fund vehicles. She also helps to connect donors to charities, organizations and efforts that match their giving interests.

Melissa is excited to engage with the community and to help Waco Foundation continue to fulfill its mission. She understands that reaching the right people with effective communication and meeting donor’s needs are essential to Waco Foundation’s goals.

Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication from Florida State University. She previously held the position of Director of Membership Services for the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club in Panama City, Florida. She has lived in the Waco area since 2011, having moved here from her home along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Leslie Mitchell graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor in Business Administration and a major in accounting, subsequently obtaining her CPA license.  She spent 20 years of her accounting career with Jaynes, Reitmeier, Boyd & Therrell, P.C. in Waco, where she worked in the Audit Department, Employee Benefit Services Department and the Tax Department, concluding her years there as a Tax Manager. 

At the Foundation, Leslie prepares monthly financial statements and reports the results to the Board of Trustees.  She is responsible for overseeing the annual audit and Form 990 preparation, as well as creating and maintaining accounting policies and procedures and overseeing special projects related to financial matters. 

Through her work, Leslie has gained the confidence of donors and fundholders by conducting accurate and timely financial reporting, which ultimately maximizes the amount Waco Foundation has available to grant every year.  Leslie has been with the Foundation since 2008.

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Sterling Moore, who joined Waco Foundation in the spring of 2012 as an executive office intern, recently received a promotion and now serves as the MAC & Scholarship Coordinator. With this position, he will support the Director of Scholarships with all activities related to the MAC Scholarship Program. Sterling is currently studying economics and psychology as a Business Fellow at Baylor University and will graduate in May 2013. Sterling is the president of the Baylor University Undergraduate Mock Trial Team and is also affiliated with APO, a service fraternity on campus.

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Grant Sheehan has a unique history with Waco Foundation that makes him an exceptionally well-rounded member of our team. He began as an intern in the summer of 2009, helping upgrade the Foundation's record keeping systems and developing our nonprofit resources website (www.McLennanNonprofits.com). It was during this time at Waco Foundation that Grant discovered a passion for community work and nonprofit operations management.

After graduating from Baylor University with a Bachelor's degree in International Studies in May 2010, Grant moved into a new experience. He worked for Sterling Trust Company here in Waco, learning about finance and business. Yet still he maintained his passion for community involvement. In this vein Grant spent time volunteering with his church's neighborhood outreach programs, which put his administrative skills into service as he helped organize events, and also helped build meaningful relationships with members of the community.

From there, Grant rejoined Waco Foundation staff in August 2012 and now serves as the Finance & Administration Coordinator. He balances many different areas to keep the Foundation's business operations running smoothly, including office administration, policy development, contract management, technology strategy and a variety of accounting and bookkeeping functions. He also supervises the Foundation’s growing team of interns. Grant’s prior experience with the Foundation as an intern, combined with his passions for using his skills as an organizer to empower others, makes him a perfect fit for this position.

Grant loves music, playing piano, board games, and long road trips. One day he hopes to go to graduate school, but for now, he is excited to be part of Waco Foundation and support its great works in McLennan County.

Email Grant | Grant Sheehan's electronic business card

Robbie Stabeno came to Waco Foundation with an accounting background as one of its first two employees.  She took over as Director of Scholarships five years later and now oversees all scholarship funds at Waco Foundation.  

Through the MAC Scholarship Program, she helps McLennan County high school seniors with the financial aid process for college.  She has become a resource in the community for up-to-date college financial aid information.  By helping students complete their college or technical training goals, the MAC Scholarship program is truly improving the quality of life in the greater Waco area.

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Ashley Weaver, a native Wacoan, brings to her position as Director of the SmartBabies Initiative extensive knowledge, background and passion. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas State University in Elementary Education as a certified teacher. She continued her education at Brown University where she received her Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy. Ashley not only exemplifies the meaning of integrity of heart and character, but she also has a passion for the education of children and recognizes their success begins before entering school. Having served as project coordinator for the Greater Waco Community Education Alliance, Ashley gained valuable knowledge about the successes and challenges of this great community. Strategic planning and coordinating are not new skills to her, as she has extensive experience with community-based projects at a local and national level, bringing together stakeholders to achieve a goal. Ashley's academic preparation, and significant experience, together with her numerous accolades, fellowships, scholarships and professional memberships, make her uniquely qualified for this most pressing position as we strive towards a community of SmartBabies.

Email Ashley | Ashley Weaver's electronic business card

As the Director of Grants & Capacity Building, Nicole oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking efforts, administers capacity building programs and services for area nonprofits, and facilitates the administration of various projects, including Today’s Action Tomorrow’s Leaders civic leadership skills development efforts.

Nicole has held a lifelong interest in and commitment to serving the public sector, promoting community development and facilitating quality of life enhancements. Her work in the nonprofit sector began in 1994 as a program assistant in the fund development division of the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee.  It was here that her interest in nonprofits first emerged. She has been working in the sector since that time, providing program development and administration, as well as fundraising assistance for the various community projects she has been involved with. A former Waco resident, Nicole served as Economic Development Liaison between the City of Waco and a local nonprofit, promoting downtown, Brazos River Corridor and industrial development in Waco for seven years. Her experience also includes time overseas, where she provided support to international nonprofits serving the health, education and general social service sectors.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Georgia State University and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Baylor University.

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Brittany Borrego joined Waco Foundation as a marketing intern in the fall of 2012. Originally from Copperas Cove, Texas, she is currently a junior at Baylor University, majoring in marketing. Brittany is a member of the American Marketing Association and the Baylor Bruins, a sports recruiting and alumni networking organization. She also serves as a counselor for the Christian Leadership Institute, a summer camp held at Baylor for high school seniors. After graduation, Brittany plans to attend graduate school for Public Relations. Her career goal is to obtain a position as a marketing or public relations manager for a business that is highly involved with charitable organizations and giving back to the community.

Jem Marshall is a Waco, Texas native and a recent graduate from the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in development & family studies with a minor in Spanish.  She plans to further her education by earning a master's degree in the field of community counseling.  Her long-term goal is to start her very own nonprofit dedicated to helping youth make smart, informed decisions in life, as well as to help build strong, healthy families within the Waco community.

Kaitlyn Rollins joined Waco Foundation as the marketing intern in the spring of 2012. She is a Waco native and is currently a junior at Baylor University. Kaitlyn is majoring in public relations, with a concentration on design and a minor in History. Kaitlyn enjoys being able to do numerous design projects in her internship, as design is one of her passions. She is also the I.T. Director for her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and is very involved as a leader in the youth group at her church, First United Methodist of Waco. Kaitlyn’s newest adventure will begin in January 2013 where she will intern at Walt Disney World for the spring semester in the Disney College Program. She will return to Waco Foundation for a summer intership but plans to study abroad for a semester in London in the fall of 2013.

Michelle is a Baylor University senior from Houston, Texas. She is currently working on her Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies.

Michelle joined Waco Foundation in the summer of 2012 and will be working with the SmartBabies Early Childhood Initiative.

Michelle has been an elected officer of Baylor’s Student Government for three years as a class officer and a senator. She is also a member of Baylor University’s Cultural Ambassadors, which work closely with the admissions department of Baylor, as well as Texas high schools to increase minority enrollment. Michelle is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and NAACP.

After graduating, she plans to work for the Peace Corps specializing in environmental health and regulation in communities, followed by attending graduate school and attaining a master’s degree in environmental policy.