Our Team

Our people share our passion.

The Dream Come True Foundation is made possible by a combination of dedicated staff, committed board members, trusted mentors, and resilient Dream Achievers. United in our mission, vision, and values, we work side by side to eliminate obstacles, build bridges, and make dreams come true.

Board of Directors

Lorie Ledesma-Ramirez

Board President | Amazon Web Services

Lorie Ledesma-Ramirez

Lorie is a proven leader with over 30 years of experience in IT and public service, now bringing her expertise and passion to the Dream Come True Foundation as its President. After dedicating nearly three decades to Texas State Government providing IT Services, Lorie transitioned to Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she focuses on helping state and local governments enhance citizen experiences through cloud modernization. Her extensive background in both public service and cutting-edge technology uniquely positions her to lead the Foundation's mission of empowering individuals to achieve sustainable independence.

Throughout her career, Lorie has attributed her success to a supportive community of mentors and champions. This experience has fueled her dedication to mentorship, a cornerstone of the Dream Come True Foundation's approach. As President, she is committed to scaling the Foundation's impact, ensuring that more individuals have the opportunity to realize their potential and break the cycle of poverty.

Beyond her professional achievements, Lorie finds joy and inspiration in her family life. She has been married to her husband Daniel for 29 years. They are both multi-generational Austinites, and together they are proud parents to their daughters, Ashley and Juliana.

Heather Bailey

Board Secretary and Past President | HBailey Group

Heather Bailey

With nearly 40 years of utility operations, finance, accounting, and auditing experience, Heather Bailey has worked as a regulator, utility executive and consultant. She is a respected leader in the industry and has consulted on operations, financial, regulatory, and strategic issues, as well as 19 years managing various operations at one of the largest public power organizations in the country. Throughout her career she has worked with political organizations and has a proven track record of providing vision as well as collaborating with regulatory and legislative officials on policy issues. She has spent the last five years helping the city of Boulder Colorado evaluate and implement a plan for taking over the electric system serving the city and creating a model for the utility of the future. Over the years she has followed her personal passions for animals, the environment, and education through her work on the Boards of Austin Pets Alive, Save Town Lake, PTA, and Dream Come True. She is a lifelong Austinite, lover of the outdoors, and has fostered dogs for many years. She served as a mentor for Dream Come True and was Dream Come True’s first Board Treasurer. She is married with two sons in college.

Shaquille Gould

Board Member | Workrise

Shaquille Gould

Shaquille (Shaq) is a distinguished Board Member of the Dream Come True Foundation, where he also serves on the nomination committee, helping to drive board membership and organizational growth. With over a decade of experience in sales, operations, and process improvement, Shaq has established himself as a versatile entrepreneur and business leader. His career spans an impressive range of organizations, holding roles at early-stage startups, investment firms, and some of the largest Fortune 50 companies, including Google, PepsiCo, Workrise, and Quake Capital Partners.

Originally from Antigua, Shaq holds a bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management from Texas A&M University. This educational background, combined with his diverse professional experiences, has equipped him with a unique perspective on business operations and strategy.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Shaq is deeply committed to giving back to the community through mentoring and his work with the Dream Come True Foundation. In his personal time, he enjoys spending time with fiancé, traveling, learning new skills, and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Ronald Dittmar

Board Member | C.P.A.

Ronald Dittmar

Ronald Dittmar, currently serving in the role as Co-Treasurer for Dream Come True Foundation, is a Certified Public Accountant, providing tax, consulting and bookkeeping services for more than 100 clients. Ronald was the Treasurer of Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, for several 3 year terms between 2003 and 2017, and remains on the Parks Committee of BCNA, doing greenbelt and park cleanup and improvement. He is also currently the Treasurer of Austin Science Education Foundation, which produces the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair for Elementary through High School students annually. A native Austinite, Ronald went to Austin High School, Austin Community College and University of Texas. He is married with two young children. He was also a professional musician for many years, before completing the CPA classes and exam, and currently plays music occasionally with the band ‘Brass Buckle’.

Michael Rayos

Board Vice President and Past President | SADA Cloud Security Solutions

Michael Rayos

Michael Rayos is the Dream Come True Foundation's first achiever to join our board of directors. Michael has gained recognition for his leadership and example of true success, where his experience and expertise proved to be invaluable. Michael served as outgoing Board Chair and President and continues to drive the Foundation's mission with continued service as Vice President.

As a Dream Achiever, Michael understands the importance of an education and a strong support system. He completed his degree in Network Engineering in May of 2017 and was offered a permanent position with Indeed after serving as an intern. His experience led him to become a Cloud Security Engineer with SADA.

Being a single dad of three, Michael is no stranger to hard work and perseverance. Michael has been such a strong and positive force within the Dream Come True family, and will continue to be an asset as we work together to change lives.

Sam Myers

Board Treasurer | Proactive Finance Group, LLC

Sam Myers

Sam earned a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978 (Business Honors Program-Accounting) and a MBA from University of Texas at Austin in1979. He has a vast range of experience in the financial industry includes audit work for Ernst & Young and a role as general manager/controller for Cone Biotech. He worked as an independent consultant for seven years before taking a position with Proactive Finance Group where he still works today.

Since 1980, Sam has been active in various activities and committees at Tarrytown United Methodist Church and its outreach projects in the Austin area. He is an avid runner and has been involved with various other civic and professional associations over the past 30 years.

Yvette Niemeyer

Board Member | Foundation Development Chair

Yvette Niemeyer

Yvette Niemeyer has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive experience in the private sector, including GTE Mobilecomm, Dell, 3M, Hewlett Packard, Ascension Healthcare, as well as with the public at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Department of Transportation, the University of Texas System, and the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston.

Her professional background spans the PC and printer manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, transportation, state, academic and healthcare systems in technical roles and as a Senior Technical Project Manager and Program Manager.

For the last ten years she has volunteered her services with organizations such as the Global Austin non-profit, who through various State Department programs share our economy, architecture, environment, city government, technology, and entrepreneurial culture with international visitors to the capital of Texas. Most recently she assisted with the Colin’s Hope Foundation whose mission is to save children from drowning and has joined The Dream Come True Foundation to lift individuals out of poverty.

Carmella Lucero

Board Member

Carmella Lucero

Support Team

Stephanie Hernandez | Board Liaison

Stephanie Hernandez is a multifaceted entrepreneur and owner of Safire Events, LLC and SHEA Administrative Consulting, where she leverages over two decades of event planning and administrative expertise to drive brand growth and operational excellence. Simultaneously, she serves as the Senior External Relations Associate at Texans Care for Children, where she masterfully orchestrates fundraising events, legislative gatherings, and annual luncheons. Stephanie has been civically engaged in her community through volunteerism and leadership roles on local, state, and national boards. Through her ability to foster relationships, she has worked with local, state, and national community advocates. Beyond her professional achievements, Stephanie’s personal story is one of triumph over adversity. As a former teen mom, survivor of domestic violence, and mental health advocate, she approaches her work with a servant’s heart. Stephanie’s life experiences have forged her into a resilient, empathetic leader who continues to make significant impacts in both the business world and her community.

Founders

Carol Kallendorf Speer, Ph.D.

Carol is an Austin, Texas entrepreneur with a passion for people, excellence, possibilities, community-building and social justice. With her life partner, Jack Speer, she runs Delta Associates, an organizational development firm dedicated to helping organizations and the people who work in them achieve their fullest potential. Delta’s clients span many industries from coast-to-coast. With Jack she is co-founder of the World Type Alliance, an online community dedicated to the application of psychological type, and co-founder of Delta on High Performance, an e-zine focused on building and scaling high performing organizations. She earned her Master’s and PhD degrees at Duke University. She and Jack co-founded the Dream Come True Foundation to help people achieve their dreams – even against the greatest odds and through the most severe adversity. She loves gardening, cooking, learning, exercise and hanging out with the two standard poodles of the family, Winston and Roosevelt. She boxed for five years until a neck injury forced her to stop–but she still loves a good boxing match.

Jack Speer

Jack lived for many years in Santiago, Chile, speaks Spanish, and has been involved in medical missions in Honduras. Jack, along with Carol, are co-founders of The Dream Come True Foundation, whose mission is to help people “on the edge of success,” people who have shown the initiative and resilience to take significant steps to realizing their life dreams. Jack has led the Dream Come True Foundation as its first president. He attributes the success of the organization to a very powerful, competent, caring board, passionate about people and their dreams. Jack is married to Carol Kallendorf, Ph.D. They live in South Central Austin (78704) with their two Poodles, Winston and Roosevelt. They are the parents of two children and four grandchildren. Jack lived for many years in Santiago, Chile, speaks Spanish, and has been involved in medical missions in Honduras. Jack, along with Carol, are co-founders of The Dream Come True Foundation, whose mission is to help people “on the edge of success,” people who have shown the initiative and resilience to take significant steps to realizing their life dreams. Jack has led the Dream Come True Foundation as its first president. He attributes the success of the organization to a very powerful, competent, caring board, passionate about people and their dreams. Jack is married to Carol Kallendorf, Ph.D. They live in South Central Austin (78704) with their two Poodles, Winston and Roosevelt. They are the parents of two children and four grandchildren.

Vantage Advisory Committee

Bob Riazzi

Bob Riazzi joined The Dream Come True Foundation to lead strategic expansion along with operations, community outreach, and fundraising. He retired as the executive director at the end of 2023. Prior to joining The Dream Come True Foundation, Bob spent more than thirty years in business and nonprofit markets leading software technologies and services start-ups and business units within large global companies. Bob served at companies such as ReachForce, Charity Dynamics, AT&T, NCR, Dell, and 3Com/Tippingpoint as CEO, GM and VP growing and scaling organizations with a key focus on client, employee and constituent success.

As The Dream Come True Foundation continues to see an increase in the need for our services, especially for low-income families, Bob’s vision and leadership with the Vantage Advisory Committee will enable the organization to create even more social impact by growing our programs, building partnerships, and expanding our reach.

Bob lives in Austin with his wife Carol and is thrilled to have his three kids and their families also living in Austin. Bob graduated from The University of Florida, with BSBS- Finance, and enjoys road biking, fly fishing and playing frisbee with their Goldendoodle, Isabella.