Staff

As SVP of Philanthropic Partnerships & Investor Relations, Jenny is responsible for leading and managing PeopleFund’s partnership development and fundraising/fund development strategies. As a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) she is passionate about bringing resources to nonprofits and underserved populations. Prior to her role at PeopleFund, she was responsible for managing programs raising millions in grants and donations for several Central Texas nonprofits. She has extensive experience in business operations and fundraising and has spent 20 +years leading and managing a small for-profit business. She understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners. Jenny holds a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. She enjoys traveling, camping, and volunteering.

Cris Houston, Esq. obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Harvard Law School and Bachelor of Science in Finance from Hampton University. Cris is a licensed attorney and mediator in Texas. Cris's career as a professor, attorney, program director, and compliance professional spans 18 years. She has taught courses including Business Law, Employment Law, and Bar Preparation, and has practiced law, primarily in wills and estate planning, for 18 years. She served as the Compliance Officer at Waco Family Medicine, helping expand access to health care for underserved residents of Central Texas. She also volunteers as a pro bono attorney with Lone Star Legal Aid of Waco. Since 2018, Cris has passionately performed mediation services across a wide variety of cases. She completed an American Arbitration Association A. Leon Higginbotham Fellowship and serves as a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrator. Cris serves her community through the Harvard Alumni Association Early College Awareness Program, the Waco Civic Theatre Board of Directors, the Greater Waco YMCA Board of Directors, and The Links, Incorporated Waco-Central Texas Chapter, among others. She enjoys traveling, yoga, dancing, and trying new cuisines.

Janie is an accomplished HR executive with more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, including leadership roles in HR with Texas' CDFIs LiftFund and now PeopleFund. Played critical roles in building organizational talent through the employment cycle (recruiting, onboarding and offboarding) facilitating effective management of conflict resolution, professional development and promoting an ethical company culture and ensuring conformity to internal HR policies, procedures and practices. Effective company representative in the community, monitored HR developments and communication to employees regarding benefits, compensation, disciplinary action, performance evaluations, recruiting and selection, and employment law-related updates. She holds B.A. degrees in Business Administration and in Psychology from the University of The Incarnate Word. 

Patricia joined PeopleFund as a Development and Finance intern and was quickly promoted because of her experience and work ethic. She graduated in December 2012 from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Business Administration. Prior to joining Peoplefund, she assisted a UT professor with her research about the socioeconomic returns in education in developing countries and volunteered in other organizations, such as Latinitas, Candlelighters, and the American Cancer Society.