Matthew Cole

President (Board Member since 2006)

[Not Pictured]
Matthew Cole, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors, has been on the Board of Refuge house for 3 years. Mr. Cole is an entrepreneur and a business owner involved with eight different companies as part or sole owner. Mr. Cole has gifted funds and donated office equipment to Refuge House because he believes in youth, and wants those at a disadvantage to have the support they need to succeed and flourish. Mr. Cole holds a Bachelor of Science and Master Degrees from Texas A&M. He is currently a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker and a Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI).

Jeannie Duarte

Secretary, Co-founder
Jeannie Duarte co-founded Refuge House with Michele Gorman in 2002. Since that time she has served in a variety of roles with both the Board and as a part-time and full-time employee of the Agency. She sees her role as primarily an operations resource, which is supported with her career experience and education, a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration.

Ms. Duarte is excited to see the areas in which Refuge House can grow and expand to find more ways to serve children and families in need. She expects to see Refuge House as an innovator in the industry providing quality care and services to each population the Agency serves.

Ms. Duarte is happily married to Erick Duarte, Jr. and enjoys every spare moment they can spend dreaming of places to go and adventures to experiences. Her favorite quote is "I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious." --Albert Einstein

Michele L. Gorman, PhD.

Founding Executive Director, Treasurer
A native of Seattle, Washington, Dr. Michele Gorman came to Texas in 1992. Dr. Gorman earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Florida. Additionally, Dr. Gorman is certified in non-profit management by Center for Non-Profit Management and Brookhaven College.

Dr. Gorman has many years experience in the State of Texas in developing and operating Child Placing Agencies, in addition to advising representatives from other states in the area of foster care and adoption program development. She has been actively involved as a panel member for various State of Texas legislative boards in Founding Executive Director A native of Seattle, Washington, Dr. Michele Gorman came to Texas in 1992. Dr. Gorman earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Florida. Additionally, Dr. Gorman is certified in non-profit management by Center for Non-Profit Management and Brookhaven College. Dr. Gorman has many years experience in the State of Texas in developing and operating Child Placing Agencies, in addition to advising representatives from other states in the area of foster care and adoption program development. She has been actively involved as a panel member for various State of Texas legislative boards in addition to serving on the board for other foster and adoptive care organizations.

Dr. Gorman is herself a foster parent for over 5 years and has in 2004 adopted a little boy from the foster care system. This truly lends greatly to her understanding and appreciation for the challenges foster families face, as well as a keen understanding of the dynamics of foster parenting. Additionally, she has a special compassion for the children who have entered the foster care and adoption system.

Dr. Gorman co-founded Refuge House in 2002 and has continuously served as Executive Director, but has worn many hats associated with the operation from its inception, including that of Case Manager and Program Director.

Kelly Strople

Board Member since 2003

Kelly Strople is a partner with her husband in Zero2 Holdings, which is a private holding company with interests in more than 50 companies. Their holdings span industries such as Biotech and Life sciences, Tech and Telecom, Media and Entertainment and the Hospitality Industry. Kelly interprets occasionally for the deaf and is an active member of the Kairos Prison Ministry. In her spare time she loves Golfing and Traveling with her husband.

Brian Ritchie

(elected September 2009 - Bio and Photo Coming Soon)

Tim Klund

“TK” is currently the Founder and President of Pro Sports Connection, Inc (PSC) which is a Sports Marketing Company located in Fort Worth, Texas. PSC helps professional athletes with name branding, endorsement opportunities and community relations. Currently PSC works with past and present professional athletes from the NFL, MLB and NBA. He is also a current member of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

TK has had a very long and successful career in Sales and Marketing before starting Pro Sports Connection. He began his career in sales after being Honorably Discharged from the United States Air Force in 1995.

His main focus with his company is helping young professional athletes give back to their community. Tim joined the board of Refuge House in the spring of 2009, and promptly recruited highly visible celebrity athletes and artists to raise money, visibility and community awareness.

It is TK’s mission to help great organizations like Refuge House, along with Lift of America to achieve their goals of helping children worldwide. He believes that by using celebrity heroes within each organization and in different communities, together they can help children believe within themselves that anything and everything is possible.

TK is married to his beautiful wife Jessica and together they have three wonderful children. Their family resides in Aledo, Texas.

Board Emeritus

Peter Strople
Chairman Emeritus
Peter has functioned in several board and leadership roles for Refuge House and demonstrates a passion for helping children using his talents and connections. In the early stages of development, Peter was involved in getting the agency up and running and is excited to see how many young people have been helped by the work of the staff, foster parents and volunteers.

Considered one of the most connected people in North American Business Circles, many CEOs and boards have utilized his "Fireside Chat Style" to conduct "Accelerated Business" in an informal and relaxed way! His ability to pick up the phone and call “Business Leaders” has been called "Simply Amazing!"

Peter was a former Director of Dell Computer Corp. and Executive with Grid Systems Corporation the Inventor of the Laptop Computer.

Peter is the Managing Partner of a private venture firm called “Inside the Blueline” and resides in Austin, TX.