Board of Directors
Ford Durbin, President
San Antonio born and raised, Ford Durbin joined the board of Conrad Smiles to facilitate the research awareness of Pediatric Non-Fatal Drowning (PNFD) injury through community outreach and networking. He has been working for the emerging San Antonio based online legal service company, Uncontested.com, Inc. He is an active board member of San Antonio Public Library Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Lone Star Chapter. He lives by his philosophy to “create the best version of tomorrow.” He believes with community outreach, we will achieve the mission in developing new research around PNFD.
John W. Geyer, VP & Treasurer
John is a registered Architect and is a native of San Antonio. He Graduated from The University of Texas, Austin with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1973 and has practiced across North America for the last 50 years. John has extensive experience in successfully planning and executing substantial projects requiring coordination with multiple shareholders, from the initial definition of the needs and goals to the final delivery. John has overall experience in management and team building. Virtually all of the work he has done has been a collaboration of colleagues, consultants, clients and contractors. John has also been active on a national level in Professional Organizations. He has been active in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), The American Correctional Association (ACA), The American Society of Testing ad Materials (ASTM). His experience with these organizations consists of developing professional and technical standards.
Lisa Watel, Director of Engagement Development
Chef Lisa Astorga Watel was born in Houston and raised between Texas and Santiago, Chile, before making San Antonio her home. A graduate of The Culinary Art Institute, she built her career as a private chef for prominent celebrities and socialites, and today co-owns Bistr09, one of San Antonio’s most celebrated restaurants, with her husband, Chef Damien Watel. She also founded Chef En Heels, a lifestyle brand where she shares her passion for food, style, and community through classes and social media.
Lisa is honored to serve on the board of ConradSmiles.org. Deeply inspired by the organization’s mission to advance treatment, awareness, and support for children and families affected by brain injury, she is committed to using her platform, voice, and creativity to help further its life-changing work.
Becca Burkholder, PR & Corporate Affairs
Becca is aproud sixth-generation San Antonio native with a tenured background in public relations, marketing, social media, content creation, editorial work, and nonprofit fundraising. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to helping organizations share their stories, strengthen community connections, and maximize their impact.
Passionate about special needs advocacy and community engagement, Beccah brings both expertise and heart to her role as a board member of ConradSmiles.org. She is committed to advancing the mission of supporting children and families affected by pediatric brain injuries and creating opportunities for greater awareness, research, and hope.
Becca, Board Member
Britta Ramirez currently works for Mission Road Developmental Center as an HCS Non-Residential Program Manager. She is a graduate of the University of Texas-San Antonio with a BA in Mass Communications. While studying at UTSA, Britta was introduced to working with the special needs community. She was a nanny for a family of four, with the eldest having Down Syndrome. This sparked an interest for her to move forward with a career that was involved with the IDD community. Advocating for those in need is a priority in Britta’s life. Britta has joined Conrad Smiles to help and improve the treatment and research of PNFD.
Lisa Veraza, Digital Strategy Director
Lisa brings over a decade of experience in digital marketing, event planning, non-profit work, and marketing consulting. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, she has built her career helping small businesses and organizations thrive through innovative solutions, cost-effective marketing strategies, and strong relationship building. Her diverse background spans administration, online advertising, strategic planning, and sales, where she has excelled at streamlining operations and driving measurable growth.
An entrepreneur at heart, Lisa is passionate about using her expertise to support meaningful causes. As a board member of ConradSmiles.org, she is deeply committed to advancing research and awareness around pediatric non-fatal drowning. She believes that developing new treatments and tools through continued research can help create brighter futures for children and families impacted by brain injury.
Diana Webb, Director of Innovation
Diana Webb is an educator, tutor, motivational speaker, and freelance writer. An eight-time award-winning author, she has garnered significant acclaim for her two transformative self-help devotionals, The Butterfly Cometh and Elf Dust to Excellence. Diana serves as the Director of Commercial Operations at the Green Building Research Institute (GBRI), where she plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable practices within the built environment. Complementing her professional dedication, Diana is deeply driven by a profound passion for supporting worthy causes. This commitment extends beyond environmental concerns, as she actively seeks out and contributes to initiatives that align with her values through volunteerism, advocacy, and leveraging her expertise to make a tangible difference in the community. Diana currently lives in a modest country home in rural Missouri where she shares quality time with her 89-year-old mother, embracing the proverb, “Look at your life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.”