Mike, a DePauw graduate, was degreed in law by the University of Michigan and practiced with Faegre, Baker, & Daniels for 42 years. He was instrumental in opening the Firm's China offices prior to retirement. He is a Trustee of DePauw University. He then pursued the non-profit and philanthropic world - Indiana Repertory Theatre, Mental Health Assn. of Indiana, and more. In Horseshoe Bay, Mike is President of the HSB Property Owners Assn., serves with the Men of Faith Steering Committee at The Church at HSB, and a Board Member of the local Kiwanis Club. His sweetheart wife, Sue, has continued to claim him for 55+ years! Mike reads music, sings with the Highland Lakes Men's choir, and the Church at HSB choir, and chairs our Program Committee.

John graduated Western Illinois University with a BS in Education, and served two years on the Quincy, Ill. Board of Education in Speech Therapy. John then joined American Express Investment Sales for 7 years, followed by being an investment advisor with Edward Jones from 1971--78. Success with Edward Jones led to become a General Partner responsible for hiring investment advisors from 1978 - 2001.

John is married to the energetic and charming Kay (White) Borota of Horseshoe Bay.

 Sandy was at the right place at the right time - HemisFair 1968. Sandy was hired to open the Braniff International Club at the San Antonio Airport where her networking career began by developing personal relationships not only with local companies, but Fortune 500® corporations as well as international companies. She also met the love of her life Gary Howard, a successful attorney who she later married. Gary was Board Certified in Personal Injury and Civil Law, Fellow in the prestigious International Society of Barristers which is limited to 600 Lawyers in the World. Sandy & Gary opened Howard Consultants in 1974 by this time they both had a large network of companies and personal relationships that made Howard Consultants a very successful company, which they subsequently sold.

Sandy then used her network to begin her philanthropic career: starting with the Billy Graham Crusade as well as many Women’s Conferences.
Through the years Sandy and Gary have fed their networking career with numerous Charities and Fundraising.
They both feel that Horseshoe Bay is the perfect retirement community to enjoy with many good friends, who, through the years, have become like Family.
They feel that the “Missing Link” is Cultural events and education, and in their Sunset Years they want to leave Horseshoe Bay a better place than they found it.  HSB Cultural Enrichment is the “Missing Link”

Bruce Baccus is currently retired after over 40 years of banking spanning the U.S. and Canada.  Bruce began his banking/finance career with the Farm Credit System in Houston as well as in the Texas Panhandle.  Bruce’s career progressed into banking commercial and corporate agribusiness in addition to production agriculture through his employment with community, regional and national/international banking organizations in Texas, Colorado, California, Missouri and Canada.  He spent his last 22 years with Dutch bank Rabobank Nederland.

Bruce received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Business from Texas Tech University in 1973 after participating in various college clubs and teams.  He was named an Outstanding Alum of the Animal and Food Sciences Department in 2017 and also was appointed to the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dean’s Advisory Council in 2016.

As an agriculture/agribusiness banker, Bruce managed both client relationships and banking groups/divisions/subsidiaries dedicated to providing financial capital and products to both privately and publicly owned agricultural enterprises throughout the U.S. and Canada.  He finished his career as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Rabobank Nederland Canadian Branch.  

Additionally, Bruce also served several years on the Ag Bankers’ Advisory Committee of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  He has served one term on the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners Association Board of Directors with the last two years as Treasurer.

Bruce is married to Mary Baccus, and has lived full time in Horseshoe Bay since 2013.  

He wants to continue for one more term serving the POA members and Board of Directors in meeting community/membership needs through developing and executing sound financial and policy decisions.  

Leslie Koehlinger Russ, Governance, Strategy

Leslie, a DePauw University graduate in music education, continued studying vocal performance with the legendary Metropolitan Opera diva and jazz artist, Eileen Farrell, at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music master’s program. Leslie also has her Master of Business Administration in entrepreneurial studies from San Jose State University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Global Leadership. After an extensive career as a Management Consultant inspired through her experience in start-ups, strategy, corporate development and information technology outsourcing while living in Dallas, Leslie is focused these days on philanthropy. She currently serves on a number of non-profit boards in the performing arts and education, sings with the Church at Horseshoe Bay choir, and is excited to join the HSBCES in championing vibrant cultural programming in the Horseshoe Bay area. An empty nester, she is proud of her three gorgeous, accomplished daughters.  She and her husband Don, a business and tax attorney, are thoroughly enjoying the Lake LBJ sunsets!

Susan Estelle Kelso, Ph.D., Arts & Music

Born in San Antonio Susan was constantly active in theatre and music.  She graduated from Trinity University and earned her PhD in Dramatic Literature at the University of Kansas.  At McNeese State University she was a Professor, Department Head and Director of Theatre until retirement.

Susan and husband of 35 years Peter Dart were drawn back to the beauty of Texas and especially Horseshoe Bay in September 2017. Over the years they have performed together in many stage and film productions and they sing in the Church at HSB choir and he in the Highland Lakes Men’s Chorus. Their daughter Bonnie Cullum is artistic director of Austin’s VORTEX theatre.

As a playwright, Susan has seen her plays produced in Austin and Lake Charles. Her performance of her play, a one woman show “Prairie Fire,” toured four Midwestern states for eight weeks.

As a director Susan has staged numerous productions from Shakespearean tragedies to whimsical farces, to children’s theatre. 

Further. Susan has been involved in 13 academic appointments, 18 major creative works, publications, and papers;  13 personal stage performances, directed over 5 live stage performances, garnered 12 Honors & Awards,  as well as  8 performing arts and women's advancement grants.

Susan eagerly looks forward to working toward continuing advancement of Cultural Enrichment in Horseshoe Bay, and surrounding communities.

Dana fulfilled a dream by retiring to the Hill Country and living in Horseshoe Bay for the past three years.  She was elected to the HSB Property Owners Association board two years ago.  Dana also serves on the Highland Lakes Texas Exes Chapter board as Communication Chair. Additionally, Dana is a board member of Services of Hope, an organization dedicated to providing educational services to disadvantaged children in Dallas.  She began volunteering for the Cultural Enrichment Society last year and has loved each and every performance.

Dana received an associate degree in Mental Health from Amarillo College.  Her B.S. is in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Texas, School of Allied Health at Southwestern Medical School.  Dana earned a master's degree in Counseling and Administration from University of North Texas and worked on a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology.  She was briefly in private practice as a licensed psychotherapist in Dallas.  Most of her career was in healthcare consulting and hospital management. Rushing opened and managed Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine in Boynton Beach, Florida, for the last 12 years of her career. She has lived in Texas, South Africa, Florida, and Seattle.  

Dana's daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren live in Steiner Ranch. Her favorite moment is when her three- and four-year-old grandchildren run toward her, screaming "grandmama" and wrap their arms around her.  Pure joy.

Her first book, A View from the Far Side, was published in November 2017. Dana's next book will be published in November 2020.  She is a frequent contributor to The Beacon.

Michelle Herring, and her husband, Brooks, made Horseshoe Bay their full-time home in the summer of 2019 after residing in the community part-time for the past decade.  They returned to Texas via Houston after living in Asia as expats in Singapore and Tokyo for almost 11 years. Michelle has been part of the Horseshoe Bay community for more than 40 years, being introduced to the community by her father who was an architect, land developer, and long-time resident of Horseshoe Bay. 

Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University and is a 25-year marketing and corporate communications veteran serving the Fortune 500 global marketplace. Prior to moving to Singapore, Michelle served as Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications for BindView Software (acquired by Symantec) with responsibility for all global marketing and communications, including corporate sales and marketing programs, public relations, advertising, and Internet.

Prior to joining BindView, Michelle served as Executive Director, Marketing Communications for Williams Communications, a subsidiary of Tulsa-Oklahoma-based The Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB).  She was responsible for directing all activities related to the organization’s corporate identity, messaging, and positioning, including Internet and advertising. 

Michelle has served on the boards of various volunteer organizations in the Houston area, Singapore, and Tokyo. 

In addition to travel, Michelle enjoys photography, scuba diving, reading, Bible Study, and playing bridge and mahjong.  She and her husband, Brooks, have been married for 39 years and have two sons and two grandchildren. 

As the native Texan of the group, I'm responsible for all things that go right with the organization. I don't know who is responsible for things that go wrong  :-o 

I started in Information Technology (IT - computers, data, and all that) at the age of 16 when mainframes were the size of your house; "mini-computers" could almost fit in your garage. Was a programmer for 1/2 of my career, then got into sales support, marketing, team leadership, partnerships & alliances, Venture Capital investments/funding, mergers, and senior management, including as CEO of three north american organizations.

Am blessed with working for two large global hardware & software companies, and four start-up software companies - 1 failed miserably, 1 did kind of OK, and 2 were very successful - one buyout, and one went public.

After 25 years with my lovely and supportive wife all over this country, we've made our permanent home here in HSB in 2017. Elizabeth has extensive experience with corporate high-tech and non-profits, and I recently did 3 years non-profit disaster relief field work (floods) with an Austin-based organization.

Our heartfelt gratitude and everything we have to offer.

Priority parking, front or 2nd row seating, invitation to special donor party, a "meet the artist" reception, name in programs, advanced ticket notification

Priority parking, front area seating, invitation to special donor party, a "meet the artist" reception, name in program, advanced ticket notification

Front area seating, invitation to special donor party,, a "meet the artist" reception, name in program, advanced ticket notification

A "meet the artist" reception, name in program, advanced ticket notification

Supporter $100+ name in program