Board of Directors
Sharon Fleming — President
Sharon Fleming, AIA is a preservation architect with a specialization in Texas county courthouses and historic preservation tax credits. In April 2020 she retired from the Texas Historical Commission (SHPO) where she served as the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for federal regulatory programs including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the federal rehabilitation tax credit program. From 2012 to 2018, she was Director of the Division of Architecture and Director of the nationally-acclaimed Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program which awarded over $300 million to Texas counties between 2000 and 2020 for restoration activity and professional services. Between 2014 and 2018, Ms. Fleming led the launch, development and implementation of the new Texas Historic Preservation Tax Credit program which received over $3 billion in applications in the first four years. With the Commission since 1995, Ms. Fleming previously served as the architectural project reviewer for South Texas from 1995 to 2000.
She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and has served as Historic Resources Chairman for the Texas Society of Architects. She earned a professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch) from Auburn University in Alabama in 1988 and a master’s degree in Architecture (M.Arch) with an emphasis in Historic Preservation from Texas Tech University in 1997. She obtained LEED Green Associate certification in 2014. Before arriving in Texas in 1992, Ms. Fleming interned with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia, and several private sector architectural firms specializing in historic preservation.
She remains active in Austin, Texas as a professional consultant on historic preservation projects throughout Texas.
Valerie Welch, Secretary
Valerie Welch is the General Manager of the historic Longhorn Ballroom located in Dallas, Texas. Built in 1950 as Bob Wills Ranch House, the property has been meticulously restored to include a multi-use building and amphitheater. Since reopening in March 2023, The ballroom has hosted artists such as EmmyLou Harris, Charlie Crockett, Colter Wall, Dinosaur Junior, The Wallflowers, and Braxton Keith. The Longhorn Ballroom was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 2024.
Valerie has over 20 years of experience managing events and hospitality in the Hill Country. She acted as Director of The Wildflower Barn Wedding and Event Center in Driftwood, Texas before serving The City of Lakeway Parks & Recreation Department as their Events Coordinator.
Born and raised in Uvalde, Texas and educated at Texas State University San Marcos, Valerie has deep love for dance halls, Texas history, rivers, native plants, backyard barbecues, HEB, and live music.
Laura Pishion — Treasurer
Laura Pishion brings over 24 years of experience in asset management and affordable housing to her role as Treasurer of Texas Dance Hall Preservation. A seasoned leader in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) industry, Laura has built a distinguished career managing large-scale portfolios, improving investor reporting, and guiding teams through complex project resolutions. Her expertise spans risk management, compliance, financial analysis, and strategic planning—skills that bring strong fiscal stewardship to the organization.
Currently serving as Managing Director of Asset Management at National Equity Fund, Laura oversees a 12-person team responsible for over 560 multifamily projects across the Western U.S. and Texas. Throughout her career, she has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives focused on operational efficiency, regulatory alignment, and data-driven decision-making. Her leadership has played a vital role in transforming underperforming assets and strengthening investor confidence.
Prior to joining National Equity Fund, Laura held leadership roles at Enterprise Community Investment, where she spearheaded national initiatives to enhance reporting systems and compliance protocols. She has also contributed her expertise as a trainer and advisor on LIHTC compliance and financial performance standards.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. Her dedication to community development and preserving cultural heritage aligns deeply with the mission of Texas Dance Hall Preservation. As Treasurer, she is committed to ensuring the organization’s financial health as it continues its important work celebrating and protecting Texas’ iconic dance halls.
Josh Conrad
An Austin-based GIS analyst, architectural historian, and preservation consultant, Josh Conrad also works as an archivist and photographer. His research and documentation skills provide critical support to identifying and preserving historic spaces throughout Texas.Alyson McGee
Alyson McGee has a Master of Science degree in Construction Management with an emphasis in historic preservation from Colorado State University. She had a nearly 18-year career in historic preservation, including working for and teaching at Colorado State University, serving as the Director of Public Outreach at Colorado’s State Historic Fund and serving as the City of Austin’s Deputy Historic Preservation Officer. In 2014 she earned her real estate license and joined the firm of JBGoodwin REALTORS® where she is the Sales & Leasing Manger for the Westlake and Lake Travis offices. Alyson is the past President of the Board of Directors for Preservation Austin. She represented the local preservation community on the Austin City Council Visitor Impact Task Force and the City of Austin’s Preservation Plan Working Group.
Megan Ortiz
Megan E. Ortiz is a sixth generation Houstonian, mother of two, and commercial aerospace professional. Megan resides in Houston, Texas where she serves as the Senior Director of External Relations at Axiom Space, a commercial aerospace startup focused on building the next generation spacesuit, operating end-to-end missions to the International Space Station, and constructing the world’s first commercial space station. Leading External Relations, Megan is charged with cultivating strategic relations that will enable Axiom Space to pursue space exploration that benefits every human, everywhere.
As a lifelong Texan, Megan is proud to be a descendent of the magic that is housed and created in Texas dance halls, as her grandparents met at a Houston-area Polish dance hall – Dom Polski – in 1945. Megan has served in a nonprofit leadership capacity for nearly 20 years and is a proud first generation college graduate. Hook ’em Horns!
Staff
Jean Spivey – Executive Director
Jean Spivey brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, event production, and arts marketing to her role as Executive Director of Texas Dance Hall Preservation. A passionate advocate for cultural preservation, she has a proven track record of revitalizing organizations and building vibrant, engaged communities through music and the arts.
As Executive Director of Old Settler’s Music Festival, Jean led the organization from financial instability to national recognition, growing it from a $200,000 budget to $1.4 million and attracting 18,000 annual attendees. She oversaw all aspects of the festival, including booking top-tier artists, managing finances, securing sponsorships, and coordinating over 650 volunteers.
Jean has taught Concert Promotion and Venue Management at Austin Community College since 1999, and has also taught at the University of Hartford and the Yale School of Drama at Yale University. Through her work with Arts Consulting Group and JKS Works, she has advised arts organizations nationwide on strategic planning, marketing, and executive search.
Jean holds an MBA from the University of Hartford and a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Karl and daughter Blake. She’s an avid horseback rider who loves the water, live music, and Texas dance halls.
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