Robert Ivancic, MA, LPC
Board President

Bob has a Masters Degree in counseling psychology and has been a licensed professional counselor since 1994. Bob has worked with youth since 1989 in such settings as residential treatments, psychiatric hospitals, emergency shelters, and in private practice. He has a full time private practice in North Dallas specializing in mood disorders, trauma, couples, and gay and lesbian issues. Bob co-founded Youth First Texas and is the current board president. He also supervises LPC interns which allows YFT to offer free counseling to the youth.

Chris Hendrix
Board Vice-President

Chris Hendrix, CPA, is a Financial Business Analyst and brings his skills of financial as well as technical support to Youth First Texas. Chris is currently with La Quinta. Chris started with the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance and has been with Youth First Texas for several years. Chris's goal is to help YFT achieve a high level of financial stability.

Loras Freihoefer
Board Member

Loras Freihoefer is a software consultant who brings his technical talents to Youth First Texas. Loras has volunteered with Youth First Texas since 2005 having spent considerable hours in building up the Computer Lab in the youth center. Loras took over bookkeeping responsibilities for Youth First Texas in late 2007 and serves on the Finance Committee. Loras' goal is to help integrate technical tools into the Youth First Texas culture that will make Youth First Texas a stronger organization.

Brandon Dowdy
Community Outreach Chair

Brandon started with YFT almost 7 years ago and is actually a "first generation" product of the organization. When he attended as a youth in the organization he instantly fell in love with the mission of YFT and became a staunch member and youth leader. He followed YFT to see some of its largest developmental and growth changes and became more enthusiastic each year by the strides YFT made. Brandon eventually aged out of the organization but his passion did not. Now, of age, Brandon is back as a volunteer and one of our newest board members. He says the reason for his return is to give back what Youth First Texas once gave him, and he's eager to see what new and exciting things are ahead for YFT.

Feleshia Porter
Social Services Co-Chair

Feleshia is a gender and sexuality counselor in private practice. She has been volunteering for Youth First Texas since 2002, helping start the gender identity group and assisting with the center's mentor program. Her history of serving on boards includes Texas Counseling Association, Senator for TALGBTIC, the organizations GLBT division (2002-present) and Razzle Dazzle Dallas (1993-1996). Her resume of awards include Ms Gay Dallas 1990, a 1994 Extra Mile Award, and in 1996 was given the honor of being Grand Marshal of the Alan Ross Pride Parade. She met her life partner, Amanda Blackshear in 1990 and to date they nurture a life of love, joy and animals.

Open Board Position
Board Member

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Open Board Position
Board Member

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Rob Rowntree
Board Treasurer

Dr. Rob Rowntree is head of physician relations for a national hospital corporation based in Nashville. Prior to moving to Dallas about ten years ago, Rob practiced medicine in East Texas for many years, where he also served two terms on a public school board. Rob graduated from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and completed medical school and an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. Rob has two grown children who live in Texas. In addition to Youth First Texas, Rob is active in the DFW Federal Club, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Hope For Peace and Justice. Rob and his partner Tim Salladay are members of Cathedral of Hope.

Renee Baker
Community Outreach Co-Chair

Renee Baker believes in the future of our youth, that their spirits are uplifted when we take time to be with them, to share in their joys and in their hardships. Renee has been with Youth First Texas since 2006 as a volunteer and a board member. She was an engineer for over 20 years in industry and academia and holds a doctorate from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has changed careers to help in the healing side of life and is now a massage therapist and owns Massage 'N Motion Therapeutics. As a transgender woman, she also feels strongly in doing community outreach, sharing in her own gender journey when she can. She also has started a practice doing her heart work, called Gender Power, helping transgender individuals in their own journeys to self. Renee loves to write, loves to dance, loves nature and loves to help others, to bring joy where she can.

Open Board Position
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