STAFF, BOARD and COMMITTEES
Executive Director, Johanna Mandel
Johanna joined CCV in March 2019 as Volunteer Director, served as Operations Director, and was appointed Executive Director of Capital City Village in January 2023. She has direct experience with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's companion support, and over 25 years of organizational development, growth, and strategic performance management across public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma from the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, is a Leadership Irving graduate, and has served on the Board of Examiners for the Quality Texas Foundation.
Johanna holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University and Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She lives with her two sons in Pflugerville and Pfinds it Pfriendly.
Programs and Media Coordinator, Meredith Loewen
Meredith serves CCV as the Programs and Media Coordinator. She has more than a decade of experience in communications, including media relations for Members of Congress. She has an M.A. from American University in Political Science, with an emphasis in Applied Politics and a B.A. from San Diego State University.
She volunteers with the North Austin Community Garden as their Communications Coordinator. Meredith spends her free time camping with her husband and son, cultivating her vegetable garden and doting on her dogs.
UT School of Social Work Intern, Madison Turner
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mart Hoffman, President
Mart is a native of Dallas and has lived in Austin since 1975. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from SMU, his Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University. Mart is a retired Clinical Social Worker, Administrator and Teacher. He has also served as a Lay Leader and Stephen Minister at his church. He is one of the founding members of Capital City Village. Mart is an active camper, canoeist and golfer. He and his wife Sue have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Tom describes himself as married to world’s best wife, Kay. Their three sons and their families live in Austin. Tom is a semi-retired gastroenterologist, a graduate of Millsaps College and the Baylor College of Medicine. Other interests include indigent healthcare at the Voluntary Healthcare Clinic, tennis, and membership at Tarrytown United Methodist Church.
Laurie Brown joined the Finance Committee as a member during early 2021 and is currently serving the board as Treasurer. She has a BBA and master’s in accounting from Texas State University in San Marcos. She currently works at Texas State, as both Assistant Chair and Graduate Academic Advisor in the Department of Accounting at McCoy College of Business. She has also volunteered with CCV in other capacities. Laurie has a son and daughter, both living in the Austin area. When she is not working or volunteering, she enjoys traveling, tennis, and entertaining friends and family.
Michele McKay Aynesworth, a native Texan, has a PhD. in Comparative Literature from UT/Austin and an MA in French from Yale University. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, where she lived for over 20 years. She co-founded Lincoln University College in a suburb of Buenos Aires and was a professor for eight years at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. She has translated an Argentine novel, Mad Toy, as well as a French WWII diary, Season of Infamy. She was married to Raymond McKay for 30 years and to Dan Aynesworth for 25. Her son Max McKay teaches upper-level classes at St. Hilda’s in Hurlingham, Argentina. A longtime fan of the Houston G&S Society, she once directed an amateur production of The Pirates of Penzance.
Barbara is an Austin attorney who provides low-cost legal advice primarily to older adults. Her work history includes assignments at the General Land Office, Texas Railroad Commission, Texas Legal Services, and private practice. She has provided legal advice statewide to Area Agency on Aging benefits counselors and ombudsmen, worked closely with CMS, Social Security, Department of Aging and Disability, Health and Human Services and Adult Protective Services staff. She is a graduate of Antioch College, holds a MA in History from the University of Sussex, and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law.
A decades long friendship with a beloved neighbor who lived to be 106 years old is the inspiration behind Lori Forgay’s passion to serve the aging population. In addition to being a CCV active volunteer and a member of the Board, Lori founded and leads a nonprofit corporation established in 2010 called Engaging Wisdom. Its mission, which is constantly evolving to meet the needs of seniors, is: creating connection with the aging through kindness and technology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English from California State University, Northridge.
Sandra Frellsen is originally from the Chicago area and moved to Austin in 2013. She is a physician board certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice in Palliative Medicine and works as a Hospice Medical Director. Sandra received her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her M.D. from the University of Chicago. She is married and has two teenagers and two dogs. Sandra is active in Scouts BSA and her hobbies include hiking, reading and knitting.
Gayle Hight has broad career experience in marketing, sales promotion, higher education, and financial services. Gayle earned her BS and MBA at The University of Texas at Austin and her MS from Texas Woman’s University. She is the manager for Executive Professional Development Programs and UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering. For many years, Gayle was a Marketing Manager at UT Austin McCombs School of Business, where she was recognized for Outstanding Community Outreach on behalf of the University of Texas. She is active in Tarrytown Methodist Church. Her interests include graphics, branding, marketing, and messaging — also poodles and antique clocks. She has three children and six grandchildren.
Sandy Morris
Sandy has long held a passion for the older adult population in Central Texas, having served on the Board of another local non-profit providing a host of services and housing for older adults for 12 years. She continues to work on housing for older adults who are unhoused within our community. Her “day job” is in the electric utility industry focusing on energy policy. On the side, she enjoys painting, sketching, and she’s a world traveler, avid reader, swimmer, and loves hiking. Her degrees include a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas in Austin, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. She loves spending time with her miniature dachshund, Justin.
Clark Ross
Clark, his wife Julie and his three daughters are all Aggies, love sports and doing pretty much anything outdoors. Clark graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. He has owned and operated several businesses in various industries throughout his career including insurance, legal technology, and a BBQ Trailer back before BBQ trailers were cool! He sat on the board of The Central Texas Better Business Bureau for many years and was a member of the Oak Hill Planning Committee Contact Team. He is a Eucharistic Minister at his church, and volunteered as a coach for all 3 of his girls over the years. He was also President of the Sader Dad's Volunteer group at a local high school while his kids attended.
COMMITTEES
Development and Marketing - Chair Rebecca Farrell Ewing, Ph.D
Finance - Chair Laurie Brown
Governance - Chair Sandy Morris
Membership Services - Chair Sue Hoffman
Programs - Chair Rick Cloud
Village Connections - Chair Sue Hoffman
Board Secretary (non-voting) - Sue Hoffman
Anyone interested in serving on a committee may contact us at [email protected] and we will connect you to the committee chair.