Diana Crawford

CEO

Diana led customer facing tech projects at American Airlines for 18 years before serving as interim executive director and strategic initiatives executive consultant for Tri Delta, a national women’s fraternity, and then coming to serve as KidLinks’ CEO.

Diana serves on the Delta Delta Delta Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter, past advisor to Tri Delta’s Phi Lambda Chapter at TCU; past Board member Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County; past Neighborhood Arts Program grant panel Chair. She is a graduate of the Business Council for the Arts’ Leadership Arts Institute, and holds certificates in Nonprofit Management and Outcomes-Based Program Evaluation from CNM Connect. Diana is a certified Project Management Professional and holds an Associates Degree from Tarrant County College where she serves on the scholarship selection committee. “I love sharing music with my grandchildren and am honored to serve as CEO of KidLinks, working to bring joy and the healing power of music to children everywhere.”

Jim Newton

Founder

Prior to the merger between Hugworks and The KidLinks Foundation, Jim was the President and Founder of Hugworks.

Jim brings to KidLinks a wealth of musical experience and has worked with others to create a new discipline, Therapeutic Music Entertainment, while bringing the transforming and healing power of music into children's hospitals and other special care settings. Jim, along with Paul G. Hill, has been perfecting this craft for over thirty-five years through song writing and recording, direct services, TME training and community outreach.

Jim holds a BA in Philosophy and a Master's in Theology, and has trained and served as a hospital chaplain.

Paul G. Hill

Senior Producer

Paul G. Hill is the Senior Producer for KidLinks. Prior to serving in this leadership role, Paul was the Senior Producer for Hugworks.

A Grammy-nominated, award-winning songwriter and arranger, Paul has been active in the music industry for more than 40 years. His extraordinary musical and song writing skills and his caring heart, provide much of the creative talent for the songs featured on KidLinks. Paul holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Theory and Composition.

Leigh Treviño

Director of Programs

Leigh is the Director of Programs at KidLinks and loves bringing creative arts access to children who need it most. She has spent the majority of her career in the arts nonprofit sector, gaining extensive knowledge and experience in program management, communications, fundraising, and community engagement. She's worked with organizations such as the California Institute of the Arts and San Francisco Children's Art Center to strengthen and expand the reach of arts programming to underserved communities. Leigh also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Youth Development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and does freelance graphic design in her spare time.

She holds a Bachelor Degree in Graphic Design from Art Institute of California and nonprofit administration coursework from University of San Francisco. Outside of her role at KidLinks, Leigh enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in art and culture activities, hiking, running, and traveling.

Shaira Guerrero

Development Associate and Communication Specialist

Shaira Guerrero is a recent graduate from Texas A&M University and is now the Development Associate and Communication Specialist of KidLinks. Her role is dedicated to ensure the organization runs smoothly by assisting where help is needed and assisting the Director of Development and Communications. “I am thrilled to be working alongside a team that is passionate and dedicated to helping children through music and giving back to the community. I look forward to grow and learn from the staff at KidLinks and expand my knowledge on non-profits!”

Noel "Paul" Stookey

Artistic Advisor Emeritus

Noel is the "Paul" of the legendary Peter, Paul & Mary. He has brought his own considerable talent and 45+ years of experience to the team. Noel helps to ensure that our Hugworks series of children's recordings maintains the highest level of artistic integrity.

Larry Dykstra

Volunteer

Larry is a Lead Volunteer for our Therapeutic Music Entertainment efforts. He is a special advisor to KidLinks and a valuable contributor to the organization. He has been deeply involved in the development of a formal guide to TME.

Gina G. Glidewell, MT-BC

Music Therapist

Gina received a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She is Board-Certified and a member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Gina also has completed a comprehensive Child Life Internship at Cook Children’s Medical Center as well as an extensive Music Therapy Internship with the Arlington, Texas Independent School District. She has worked for several school districts, including Crowley ISD, Cedar Hill ISD, and Northwest ISD. Gina is currently employed full-time by the Arlington, ISD, and works with KidLinks children two evenings per week. She is a very talented and accomplished performer and has enjoyed a 20 year career playing many venues both solo and with her Trio, FoxWell.

Sara Chigani, MA, MT-BC

Music Therapist

Sara received a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Music Business/Management from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and a Master’s of Arts Equivalency Degree in Music Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and a member of The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Sara completed a rigorous Music Therapy internship at Children’s Medical Center – Dallas and has clinical music therapy experience ranging from neonatal to end of life. She collaboratively began the Music Therapy Program at Baylor University Medical Center – Dallas where she worked with both inpatient and outpatient populations. Sara provides music therapy services at the KidLinks clinic and serves as our Music Therapy Content Coordinator – developing new resources for both families and music therapy professionals – available for streaming, 24-7, free of charge on KidLinks.org.

Review Team

Volunteers

All of the KidLinks music, videos, and animations are vetted by the Volunteer Review Team to ensure they are developmentally appropriate for children. Our amazing Review Team includes:

Melissa Brannon
CCLS
Supportive and Palliative Care Services
Texas Health, Ft. Worth, TX

Chris Brown
MS, CCLS
Director - Therapeutic Recreation, Child Life & Creative Arts Therapies
NYU Langone Health, New York, NY

Shawna M. Grissom
MS, CCLS, CEIM
Director of Family Services
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO

Shannon Kitts
CCLS
Child Life - Supervisor
Children's Hospital of Colorado

Carol Sue Marshall
BA, MEd, PhD
Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas

Julie A. Pedigo
BS, CCLS
Manager - Child Life & Family Centered Services
Blank Children’s Hospital, Des Moines, IA

Peyton Pike
MS, CCLS
School Age & Burn Care Unit
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore, MD

Richard Weir
CCLS
Director - Child Life & Expressive Therapies and Ronald McDonald House (Retired)
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX

Adam Hall

President & Chair

Adam is currently the President and Chair of the KidLinks Board of Directors. He served as a Director up until 2019 and had previously served on the Hugworks Board of Directors since 2011. Adam has served in both the public and private sector with early career experiences in technical and engineering departments of a major telecommunications company. Adam joined EnRisk as an Energy Risk Specialist in early 2003 focused on sales and servicing of oil & gas operators and non-operators with a primary emphasis on the coordination of insurance and indemnity obligations in the overall risk management process.ﾠEffective January 2008, Adam became a principal and Executive Vice President of EnRisk; in 2013, he sold the company to Alliant Insurance Services. Today, Adam continues to serve his clients, markets and the energy industry as a faithful employee of Alliant. Adam holds a B.S. in Business Administration.

David P. Cagle

Treasurer

Presently serving as Senior Vice President at Liberty Capital Bank, David has over 30 years of prior experience in commercial and corporate banking, including energy banking. Previously, David was head of the North Texas energy finance group at Comerica Bank for five years. Prior to that, David was head of corporate underwriting at Credit Agricole for 14 years, first as a regional head, then as head for North America and Latin America. David started in banking in 1986 at Bank of America (successor to InterFirst Bank), working in restructuring and then in energy finance until his departure for Credit Agricole in 1998. David has experience in credit risk, origination, underwriting and restructuring, across many industries.

David graduated from SMU in 1986 with a BBA in Finance (summa cum laude) and a Minor in Music Performance. He is married to wife Dana for 29 years and has two grown children, Nathan (26) and Sara (24). As the father of a son with intellectual disabilities, David has great passion for programs aimed at the special needs community. David’s other interests include music, golf, food and wine and travel.

James (Jim) Markus

Secretary

Jim attended Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York and moved to Cleveland to practice corporate law at a medium-sized law firm before accepting a job with Winstead, McGuire, Sechrest & Minick (now known as Winstead) and moving his family to Dallas in 1984. He practiced law at Winstead for 17 years, including stints in its Austin and Washington DC offices, and at Vinson & Elkins for 19 years. Jim recently joined Haynes and Boone as a partner, where he continues to practice law as a member of the Finance Practice Group. Jim and his wife, Ellen, have two married sons, two granddaughters and one grandson.

J.W. Brown

Director

After witnessing firsthand the power of Hugwork’s music to uplift and inspire, J.W. Brown made personal contributions to this cause for many years. In 2001, he and 4 business colleagues established The KidLinks Foundation with Hugworks as the major beneficiary. He served as Board Chair of the newly formed KidLinks up until 2019.

Mr. Brown has been active since 2005 in the formation and management of energy related partnerships and corporations as Chairman of Par Investments, LLC., and since 1991, he has been the General Partner of Premier Capital, Ltd. Prior to 1991, Mr. Brown participated directly in the oil and gas business as well as a variety of energy investment banking activities, and practiced law from 1973 until 1981. He holds a BA, Juris Doctor and Masters of Law Degree.

Jesse Betts

Director

Jesse Betts is an equity partner in the Corporate and Securities section of Thompson & Knight LLP, where he has practiced law for the past 11 years. Mr. Betts grew up in Salina, Kansas, graduated from Kansas State University in December 2000 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in May 2006. In his legal practice, Mr. Betts represents clients in a wide range of corporate and securities matters. He has been consistently recognized as a Texas Rising Star (Business/Corporate; Mergers & Acquisitions) by Thomson Reuters since 2012. He has been an active member of the Dallas Petroleum Club, served on the Board of Literacy Instruction for Texas (LIFT) and serves on the board of the Thompson & Knight Foundation.

Wes Butler

Director

Wes Butler grew up in nearby Arlington and Mansfield, Texas. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2001 with a degree in Government/Foreign Affairs. He then attended law school at the SMU Dedman School of Law and graduated in 2004. Wes is currently a partner of the international law firm Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton where he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, employment litigation and counseling, and ERISA and bad faith litigation.

Dulari Mehta

Director

Dulari Mehta joined the KidLinks Board of Directors in 2019 and is a Dallas native who is a passionate about making communities stronger by creating opportunities and access for all. Dulari spent a decade in government funded elementary classrooms, using data driven decision making to achieve significant results with students. During this time, Dulari wrote curriculum, trained teachers, and consulted with an educational technology company.

From there she followed her desire to be more involved with those in need and transitioned into the nonprofit sector. Dulari took on the challenge of building a new education and employment resource center at Austin Street Center, Dallas’s largest emergency homeless shelter. An average of 200 clients per year exited to housing after receiving these services. Currently, Dulari is the Director of Education for the Commemorative Air Force. CAF uses restored WWII warbirds and STEM aviation activities allowing kids to have better access to opportunities for their future.

She is very passionate about healthcare and the arts, enjoys visiting museums around the world, with a preference for all things Italian—food, art, wine and loves arts and crafts.

Dulari has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Management with a minor in Art History from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She graduated with her Masters of Education Leadership and Policy from SMU. She is also very active in the Junior League of Dallas.

Whitney Randolph

Director

Whitney Randolph joined the KidLinks Board of Directors in 2019 and is a Credit Officer covering the energy portfolio at Texas Capital Bank. She has over 15 years of energy finance experience working in credit risk, portfolio management, origination, syndications and restructuring. Whitney grew up in Bedford, Texas, graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown with a B.A. in Business Administration in 2003 and received her MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2012.

Whitney is also actively involved in the Women’s Energy Network, having served as a member of the National Board of Directors as well as Past President and Advisory Board member for the North Texas Chapter. Whitney and her husband live in Southlake with their twin boys and two horses.

Vineeta Vogel

Director

As the Inside Sales Manager at American Airlines, Vineeta Vogel leads a dynamic team of account managers who work with corporate customers and travel agencies across the United States. In her most recent position as Manager – Online Distribution, she led American’s partnerships with online travel agencies and meta search engines and spearheaded efforts to introduce the sale of airline ancillaries via third party online channels. At American Vineeta has worked in Procurement, Customer Planning and on the AAdvantage co-brand partnership.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics and French from Grove City College, PA and MBA from Texas Christian University with concentrations in both Supply Chain and Marketing. She and her husband have a new baby daughter and two Spanish Water Dogs, Brie and Chewy.

Jon Glass

Advisory Council

Jon Glass is CEO, Pillar Oil and Gas LLC. Prior to that he founded and held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Cinco Oil & Gas, LLC, a privately held upstream exploration and production company located in Dallas. With over 35 years of experience in the upstream energy industry, Jon attributes much of his success to the education he received while at Oklahoma State University. In addition to his responsibilities at Cinco, Jon also serves on the Board of the Dallas Petroleum Club and is a past member of the Dallas Wildcat Committee.

Jon and his wife reside in Dallas and are enjoying being grandparents to their granddaughter who already cheers for the Cowboys on game day in her OSU cheerleader outfit. Jon has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Geology from Oklahoma State University and an MBA in Finance from The University of Tulsa.

Grant Hollingsworth

Advisory Council

Grant worked for Tenneco, a major national gas transporter, before transferring to First City Bank as a Lending Officer, Senior Credit Officer and Chief Executive Officer for over 35 years. He has worked as a consultant in bank lending operations, primarily in South American countries. Grant’s association with KidLinks founder, Jim Newton, began even before the inception of Jim’s work with hospitalized children. Supporting KidLinks for over 30+ years, he was a member of the Hugworks Board of Directors until its merger with KidLinks Foundation. Grant has helped envision, encourage and fund KidLinks work with animation and remains personally involved as a supporter of and advisor for our Hugworks Children’s Network programming. He is a University of Texas graduate with an MBA specializing in Finance and Economics.

Courtney Kraft

Advisory Council

Courtney is the Special Events Project Manager for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Since graduation from Texas A&M, she spent over 20 years working with various nonprofits from the American Cancer Society in Florida and more recently as the Development Director for the LightHouse for New Hope Grief and Loss Center. She brings great strength and knowledge of identifying volunteer strengths for working towards a nonprofits’ mission and goals. Her passion for nonprofits and helping them to accomplish something great...which is usually a fun party or event and raising some money! She wants everyone to know the great organization KidLinks is and helps to cheer us on for great success!