Amanda Whiteside, President

Senior Director of Prospect Research and Management, Baylor College of Medicine

Amanda Whiteside currently serves as the Senior Director of Prospect Research and Management at Baylor College of Medicine where she leads the team that oversees all prospect development efforts. At Baylor College of Medicine, she previously supported the foundation, corporation and grateful patient teams before taking on her current role. Prior to joining Baylor College of Medicine in 2022, she spent 6 years at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston where she designed and implemented the first prospect management system at the Museum, successfully managed the prospect management system through a database transition, and managed prospect tracking for a $450 million capital campaign that raised more than $20 million over its initial goal. Amanda started her fundraising career as a summer intern at Holocaust Museum Houston, going on to work full-time after college as the Museum’s first Prospect Researcher. There she developed the first prospect management system for the Museum. She graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a double major in Anthropology and History.

Sr. Development Research Analyst, Houston Methodist Hospital

Ashley Estes, Secretary & Immediate Past President

Client Advisor, Greater Houston Community Foundation

Ashley Estes currently serves as a Client Advisor at the Greater Houston Community Foundation. She has 15 years of fundraising experience in the Houston non-profit community. She began her development career at the Houston Food Bank where she built from the ground up their Corporate Partnerships program. In 2013, she moved to Lone Star Legal Aid to serve as the Assistant Director of Resource Development, soliciting and managing private foundation and government grants. In 2015, Ashley was recruited to South Texas College of Law Houston (STCLH) as the Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations. In her four years at STCLH, she grew the grant program more than 350% and implemented a formalized corporate partnership program. In February 2019, Ashley returned to the Houston Food Bank to work with the major gifts team as the Prospect Development Manager and then moved to GHCF in 2023 where she manages a portfolio of private foundation and supporting organization clients. Ashley was elected to the Apra Greater Houston board as the Secretary in 2020, and moved into the VP role in 2022. Ashley is a native Houstonian, has a degree in Anthropology from Baylor University and a law degree from the University of Houston. She currently lives in the city with her husband and their pup.

Prospect Development Officer, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Javi Mares currently serves as the Prospect Development Officer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. He joined the MFAH in 2018, he served as the Annual Fund Coordinator and was promoted to this current role in 2022. In his current role, he is responsible for identifying prospects, conducting research on prospects, prospect management, and integrating data analytics. Prior to his tenure at the MFAH, he served as the Auction Manager at FotoFest during the 2018 Biennial season. He has an ardent appreciation for the visual arts with a special focus in photography and loves the written word. He has also served as a volunteer with Trans Lifeline, a non-profit organization that provides trans peer support throughout the U.S., where he facilitated name change microgrants. Javi earned his bachelor degrees in visual arts and psychology from the University of Houston.

Associate Director, Prospect Research and Management, Baylor College of Medicine

Marva Lawrence is a prospect development leader who blends data‑driven research with relationship‑focused fundraising to deliver record‑setting results. In her dual role at Baylor College of Medicine, she supports the Foundation and Corporate Fundraising team with strategic insights, portfolio optimization, and engagement systems that have helped make it BCM’s top‑performing unit.

An active leader in Apra Greater Houston, Marva has revitalized membership engagement through outreach, mentorship, and programming. Her career spans leadership and development roles at Houston Community College Foundation, BakerRipley, and GRACE Community Services, all rooted in advancing philanthropic missions.

Passionate about community service, Marva has dedicated over 20 years to volunteering with local ministries, crisis response efforts, and outreach programs that support children, youth, seniors, and those in need.

Justine Barnes, At-Large Member

Manager of Prospect Strategy, South Texas College of Law

Justine Barnes serves as the Manager of Prospect Strategy at South Texas College of Law. With over 12 years of experience in Advancement Services, she leads data-driven strategies that support major gift fundraising. Her work focuses on prospect identification, portfolio optimization, and donor intelligence, partnering closely with frontline fundraisers to ensure timely and strategic donor engagement. Outside of her professional role, Justine is passionate about giving back and enjoys mentoring youth across the Greater Houston community.