Ray Africa earearned his Master of Arts degree from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to entering the MDA Program, he was an Assistant Manager in the Park and Recreation Department at the Dallas Zoo and Aquarium at Fair Park from 1999 to 2005. Ray’s decision to join the MDA Program was a product of his ambition to acquire a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the purpose of government, bureaucracy, budgets, governance, and public affairs in the ninth largest city in America.

During his tenure in the Program, Ray rotated to three departments with projects that specifically focused on process improvements within those departments. Ray’s first departmental rotation was in the Department of Street Services where he consolidated and centralized equipment and fleet operations for better organizational management structure to assist in ISO 9000 certification. His second rotation was in the Office of Cultural Affairs where he made improvements to standard operating procedures for the department’s five cultural centers. His third rotation was with Sanitation Services where he managed their equipment and fleet. He also served as a facilitator on a Budgeting for Outcomes Team from FY 2005-2007.

Currently, Ray is the Equipment and Fleet Manager of Sanitation Services. His responsibilities are managing Sanitation’s equipment and fleet budget, repairs, replacements, oversight, preventive maintenance, supervision, procurement, redundancy, and determining costs associated with downtime affecting collections services. He is also accountable for planning, directing, executing, and review of all equipment and fleet activities and operations for the department  

Staci Thrasher earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Texas A&M University in May of 2007 and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University in May 2005. Prior to entering the MDA Program at the City of Dallas, she held an internship with the White House Office of Public Liaison during the summer of 2006. Staci’s decision to join the MDA Program was due to a desire to gain broad exposure and experience in local government where she could better observe the impact of policy on communities than in federal government.

Since joining the Program in June 2007, Staci has worked on two MDA projects with fellow participants: the implementation of a city-wide uniform quartermaster and the improvement of the computer acquisition process for all City departments. In addition to her MDA projects, she has also served on a Budgeting for Outcomes Team for the FY 2008-09 Budget. Staci’s first departmental rotation was in the City Manager’s Office where she worked with responding to citizen requests, staffing City Council meetings, the quarterly Employee Recognition Program and some economic development special projects. Her second rotation was in the Office of Strategic Customer Services where she analyzed departmental performance measures and helped update the previous performance measurement system. In April 2008, Staci was hired as the Northeast Service Area Coordinator in the Office of Strategic Customer Services where she serves as community liaison and project manager to provide solutions to community concerns in the Northeast area of Dallas.

James Childers earned his Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas in May of 2003 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Midwestern State University in August of 2001. Prior to joining the City of Dallas, James worked for the Town of Flower Mound, Texas as a Budget Intern and as a HR Generalist. James was attracted to the MDA program out of his desire to experience working in a large organization such as the City of Dallas and the learning experiences the Departmental rotations of the MDA program could provide.

As part of the inaugural MDA class of August 2005, James worked on two MDA projects with fellow participants: the potential separation of the 311 and 911 call center and the 2006 Bond Program. In addition to working on these MDA projects, James also served on Budgeting for Outcomes Teams for the FY 2006-07 and FY 2007-08 Budgets. James left the MDA program for a permanent position of Quality Assurance Manager in the Office of Strategic Customer Services in October of 2006 where he was responsible for monitoring the City’s 311 system for potential problems and engaging Dallas residents for feedback concerning the quality of service provided to them. James is currently an Interim Assistant Director of Code Compliance over Nuisance Abatement. Nuisance Abatement is comprised of the Mow/Clean Business Unit, Rapid Intensified Inspection Program (R.I.I.P.), and the Code Inspectors assigned to the City Attorney’s Office.

Heather Lepeska earned her Master of Public Policy degree from George Washington University in January of 2005 and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to entering the MDA Program at the City of Dallas, Heather worked in Washington D.C. as the Legislative Director to Congressman Jerry Costello, where she handled a variety of issues including policies and legislation related to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as well as appropriations and budget. Heather joined the MDA program to gain knowledge of local policy making, as well as to continue her work in the public sector.

Since joining the program in August 2005, Heather has worked in the Office of Economic Development as the project manager for the International Inland Port of Dallas (IIPOD). IIPOD is a public-private partnership related to intermodal goods movement and industrial development, located in Southern Dallas County. IIPOD is a catalyst for investment, job growth and development of sustainable communities with a goal of increasing the city-wide tax base. Heather has also served on the Neighborhoods Budgeting for Outcomes Team in the FY2006-07 and FY 2007-08 budget cycles.

Martin Riojas earned his Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas in May of 2005. Prior to joining the City of Dallas, Martin worked at Raytheon as an Information Security Representative and served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps. Martin applied for the MDA program out of a desire to work in local government.

As part of the inaugural MDA class of August 2005, Martin worked on two MDA projects with fellow participants: the potential separation of the 311 and 911 call center functions and the 2006 Bond Program. In addition to working on these MDA projects, Martin also served on Budgeting for Outcomes Teams for the FY 2005-06 and FY 2006-07 budgets. In June of 2006 Martin left the MDA program for a permanent position of Quality Assurance Manager in the Office of Strategic Customer Services. In October of 2006 he was hired for the position of Assistant to the City Manager where he managed the Agenda Office, the Management Development Associate Program, and assisted the City Manager in responding to high priority, and complex citizen requests.

In September of 2008 Martin was hired as an Assistant Director in the Department of Court and Detention Services where he overseas the operations of Court Support and Court Collections.

Kurt Steward began his career with the City of Dallas as a police officer in February of 2004. In July of 2006 he transferred from the Police Department and joined the Management Development Program to further his understanding of city government, and to gain the opportunity to contribute in a different way to the exciting and innovative things that the City of Dallas is doing to enhance its services for its citizens and visitors. Since that time, he has worked for the Department of Street Services as the Management Representative for the department’s ISO 9001 Quality Management System, and currently serves as a manager for the operational budget in Budget and Management Services. He holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas, and is a Doctoral Candidate in the Public Affairs Program, School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Juanita Tovar earned her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas in May of 2007 and her Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University. Before entering the MDA Program with the City of Dallas, she interned with the City Manager’s Office for the City of Bedford. Juanita decided to join the MDA Program in order to broaden her experience in local government.

Since joining the Program in October 2006, Juanita has worked on two MDA projects along side other MDAs: the implementation of a city-wide uniform quartermaster and the improvement of the computer acquisition process for all City departments. In addition to her MDA projects, she has also served on the Trinity River and E³ Government Budgeting for Outcomes Teams. Juanita’s first departmental rotation was in the City Manager’s Office where she assisted with the City Manager’s quarterly Employee Recognition Program, facilitated the A Carrot A Day Employee Recognition Training and assisted with responding to citizen requests. In June 2007 Juanita joined the Intergovernmental Services department and currently serves as the Assistant to the City Manager. As Assistant to the City Manager Juanita oversees the Management Development Associate Program, the City Council Agenda Office, and assists the City Manager in responding to high priority and complex issues.