MarySue Foster
MarySue Foster, past Executive Director of the Women’s Center of Dallas and Director of Development at Greater Dallas Community of Churches, consults with nonprofits in the areas of fundraising and board development. She has been conducting workshops, classes and in-service programs for individuals in corporations, non-profit organizations, government associations and professional groups for more than 20 years.
She spends about 10 hours a week on Imagine Dallas, focusing on start-up issues, program development, and planning and managing the conference scheduled for September 2007.
She has an M.Ed. and has designed and delivered programs in the areas of management and supervisory training, effective communication and leadership skills, career change and many aspects of Equal Employment Opportunity.
Recent clients include: Gilda’s Club, H.O.P.E. (Honoring Of Peoples Everywhere), Dr Pepper/Seven Up, several start-up non-profits, and the cities of Plano, Duncanville, and Grapevine, Texas, Oryx Energy, Bank One, Texas Instruments, and Frito-Lay.
In 1976 she co-founded the first Affirmative Action consulting firm in the Southwest. An author of numerous articles, a business book and a chapter in a college textbook, she is listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest since 1980.
She is an avid outdoorsperson, a mother of two adult children who not only turned out well, they have produced four remarkable grandchildren. She lives in a four generation household and calls her mom every Sunday.
Honors/Recognition/Affiliations
¨ Regularly volunteer as trail guide for Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, leading groups of children and adults on one- and two-hour introductions to the largest sanctuary in North Texas. Recently awarded 300-hour service certificate.
¨ Past chair, Family Pathfinder Advisory Council (welfare-to-work community-based program)
¨ Former Advisory Board, Youth Leadership Dallas
¨ Chair, ten-year Reunion, Dallas Youth at Risk
¨ Completed three-year long course with Landmark Education on building community; engaged in leadership training program to lead advanced courses
¨ Profiled in 25 Women Who Won, book of case studies of successful women
¨ Founder, Imagine Dallas (the original in 1994) and The Virtues Institute
¨ Founding Board, North Texas Partners for Youth; honored as “Dallas Founder,” 1990, for 10 years’ service