What Makes a Good Board Member?
Board Member Application
Our Board Contract
Board Member Role Description
Board Member Application
Our Board Contract
Board Member Role Description
Sarah Figueroa, Interim President, Past Treasurer
Sarah was born and raised in Germany and moved to El Paso, Texas just in time to attend college at UTEP, where she earned her Marketing degree. Sarah runs her own advertising agency, The Davis Group, specializing in paid media strategy and placement for non-profit, commercial businesses and government agencies. Sarah is passionate about connecting people with experiences, especially within their own backyard and once her son had his first adventure with ATX KIDS CLUB, there was no going back! Sarah joined the ATX KIDS CLUB board in 2023 to be a part of bringing this amazing organization closer to more kids in the Austin area than ever!
Sarah was born and raised in Germany and moved to El Paso, Texas just in time to attend college at UTEP, where she earned her Marketing degree. Sarah runs her own advertising agency, The Davis Group, specializing in paid media strategy and placement for non-profit, commercial businesses and government agencies. Sarah is passionate about connecting people with experiences, especially within their own backyard and once her son had his first adventure with ATX KIDS CLUB, there was no going back! Sarah joined the ATX KIDS CLUB board in 2023 to be a part of bringing this amazing organization closer to more kids in the Austin area than ever!
Catherine Walker, Board Member
Catherine was the former Chief Financial & Risk Officer at CapMetro, greater Austin area’s transit agency. At CapMetro Catherine is responsible for several departments including financial planning, budgeting, accounting, and information technology.
Catherine has nearly 25 years of experience in finance and operations leadership roles and has a vested interest in using her skills not just professionally, but also philanthropically. Her desire to champion the mission of ATX Kids Club stems from her support of broadening children’s horizons, providing inclusive opportunities for children to grow into active citizens. She also has three super active children who participate in a variety of local activities, including wrestling tournaments, soccer matches, judo, golfing, hiking, camping and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Catherine holds a Master’s of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a B.S. in Business Economics and Public Policy, and a B.A. in Spanish, both from Indiana University. Catherine is also a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Catherine was the former Chief Financial & Risk Officer at CapMetro, greater Austin area’s transit agency. At CapMetro Catherine is responsible for several departments including financial planning, budgeting, accounting, and information technology.
Catherine has nearly 25 years of experience in finance and operations leadership roles and has a vested interest in using her skills not just professionally, but also philanthropically. Her desire to champion the mission of ATX Kids Club stems from her support of broadening children’s horizons, providing inclusive opportunities for children to grow into active citizens. She also has three super active children who participate in a variety of local activities, including wrestling tournaments, soccer matches, judo, golfing, hiking, camping and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Catherine holds a Master’s of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a B.S. in Business Economics and Public Policy, and a B.A. in Spanish, both from Indiana University. Catherine is also a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Ryo Shiono, Board Member
Ryo has been an engineer, manager, and director in 5 NXP Semiconductors wafer fabs in Austin since
graduating from MIT with Materials Science and Engineering BS and MS degrees in 1989. He is presently
the leader of the Program Management Office in the NXP ATMC Wafer Fab. Away from work, Ryo runs
and bikes around his Circle C neighborhood or on the Lady Bird Lake trails, and also volunteers his time
to several local non-profit organizations. ATX KIDS CLUB links his passion for public transportation that
began as a child growing up in Pittsburgh with teaching awareness and urban life skills to our city’s
youth in a fun, adventurous way.
Ryo has been an engineer, manager, and director in 5 NXP Semiconductors wafer fabs in Austin since
graduating from MIT with Materials Science and Engineering BS and MS degrees in 1989. He is presently
the leader of the Program Management Office in the NXP ATMC Wafer Fab. Away from work, Ryo runs
and bikes around his Circle C neighborhood or on the Lady Bird Lake trails, and also volunteers his time
to several local non-profit organizations. ATX KIDS CLUB links his passion for public transportation that
began as a child growing up in Pittsburgh with teaching awareness and urban life skills to our city’s
youth in a fun, adventurous way.
Akash Bhatt, Board Member
Originally from the Atlanta area, Akash Bhatt is a Georgia Tech graduate with a passion for expanding transit access and fostering community connections. Akash currently serves as a Transit Analyst at Kimley-Horn, where he applies his expertise in transit planning and engineering to enhance mobility and connectivity for communities. With a focus on light rail infrastructure, he has contributed to key projects including the Blue Line Extension in Minneapolis, MN, the Benning Streetcar extension in Washington, DC, and the South End Infill Station Project in Charlotte, NC. Akash has also spent time abroad in Dublin, Ireland analyzing micromobility as a solution to last mile challenges and transit-trail connectivity. He joined the ATX KIDS CLUB board to inspire the next generation of city explorers by helping children explore and connect with their city through transit.
Originally from the Atlanta area, Akash Bhatt is a Georgia Tech graduate with a passion for expanding transit access and fostering community connections. Akash currently serves as a Transit Analyst at Kimley-Horn, where he applies his expertise in transit planning and engineering to enhance mobility and connectivity for communities. With a focus on light rail infrastructure, he has contributed to key projects including the Blue Line Extension in Minneapolis, MN, the Benning Streetcar extension in Washington, DC, and the South End Infill Station Project in Charlotte, NC. Akash has also spent time abroad in Dublin, Ireland analyzing micromobility as a solution to last mile challenges and transit-trail connectivity. He joined the ATX KIDS CLUB board to inspire the next generation of city explorers by helping children explore and connect with their city through transit.
Nancy Shilling, Board Member
Nancy Shilling worked in the retail world for over 40 years. Her career started at Neiman Marcus where she held several different buying positions in her 17 years there. She moved to Austin in 2015 to be closer to her parents. In Austin she was a buyer for Breed and Company and was the Manager/Buyer for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. In 2023, she retired. During her 35 years in Dallas, she was on several different art organization boards and was also on the board of Turner Twelve, later becoming president for two years. Turner Twelve is an organization that helps underprivileged children enter college. Helping children has always had a special place in her heart which has lead her to support ATX KIDS CLUB over the years and now be on the board.
Nancy Shilling worked in the retail world for over 40 years. Her career started at Neiman Marcus where she held several different buying positions in her 17 years there. She moved to Austin in 2015 to be closer to her parents. In Austin she was a buyer for Breed and Company and was the Manager/Buyer for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. In 2023, she retired. During her 35 years in Dallas, she was on several different art organization boards and was also on the board of Turner Twelve, later becoming president for two years. Turner Twelve is an organization that helps underprivileged children enter college. Helping children has always had a special place in her heart which has lead her to support ATX KIDS CLUB over the years and now be on the board.