MEET OUR TEAM
Sparks' Board of Directors
Cynthia Smith
Cynthia founded Sparks for Success! in 2016 after working for a number of years with children affected by parental incarceration. She realized early intervention was vitally important to help these children develop the resilience needed to overcome the traumas resulting from parental incarceration. Cynthia envisions in each child a great potential just waiting to be unleashed through skilled nurturing and guidance.
Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Business Administration. She has studied piano at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, the University of Delaware, The Mozarteum Sommerakademie in Salzburg, and The University of Texas at Austin, and studied business administration at St. Edward’s University (Austin).
For more than 40 years, Cynthia’s teaching career has encompassed private piano lessons, class theory, and general music classes. She has also directed children’s choirs throughout that time. Her experience includes working with children to promote early childhood development skills through music. On the nonprofit side, Cynthia was the Director of Administration and Operations for 19 years with the RGK Foundation. Throughout the years Cynthia has served on several boards and has been active as a volunteer in her community.
Jim Ebbitt
Jim Ebbitt was Senior Vice President for Life and Health Care Products. Prior to joining Answer Financial, Ebbitt served as Executive Vice President of Developmental Markets of United Healthcare in Minneapolis where he built a national channel alliance strategy and partnerships with major companies such as American Express. Ebbitt also served as President of United Healthcare-Individual Business, and managed the Individual Business Unit for Blue Cross of California at Wellpoint Health Networks, Inc. Prior to Wellpoint, he directed Health Care operations in North and South Carolina for The Prudential Insurance Co. of America. Ebbitt attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Roshini Patrick
Roshini Patrick started her charitable activity in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina visited Texas. Simply supporting charities financially was no longer an option, and she was actively looking for a local charity to volunteer her time and get to know the inner workings of a charitable organization. In 2013 she happened to cross paths with Cynthia Smith to help support the work of changing the trajectory of children of inmates. Roshini joined the board of Sparks for Success! to focus on our own backyard here in Texas. Roshini Patrick has spent the last 20 years in the accounting field in corporate environments, working for both small and large corporations. She received her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance in Australia and earned her Certified Management Accountant designation here in Texas.
Daniel Monplaisir
Daniel Monplaisir has been working with students for over 25 years, and kids are his passion in life. Daniel is the Director of Motivational Entertainment for EPIC Outreach, a company that performs motivational entertainment for kids and families all over the world, using entertainment as an avenue to teach positive, life-changing messages.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and also serves as an Information Operations Officer in the Texas Army National Guard. His past roles include Board Member of the Alabama State PTA, Army Human Resource Officer, Actor/Singer at various professional and community theatres, and Education Guidance Counselor for the Texas National Guard.
He has volunteered and worked with several charitable organizations since 2006 including TeenPact Leadership Schools, Foundation for Moral Law, Alabama Sports Festival, and is an active volunteer teacher at his local church's Kid’s Ministry and Upward Basketball referee.
Larry Steele
Larry Steele is a retired US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant who spent 22 years as a Weather Observer, Weather Forecaster, and Weather Superintendent. After retiring from the Air Force, Larry launched a second career in the Information Systems arena, serving as a Tech Writer, Programmer, Operational and Computer Auditor, and Security and Disaster Recovery VP.
Larry earned his BS in Business Administration and Management from the University of Maryland while in the Air Force. He earned his AA in Computer Programming Technology from Metro Tech of Omaha after his discharge. Larry spent many years as a programmer, an operational and computer auditor, as well as a disaster recovery professional.
After retiring from VISA in 2007, Larry entered the volunteer community by joining the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN). He immediately became a Core Team member and a grant writer. Larry has been deployed a number of times to help the survivors of floods, fires, tornadoes, and plant explosions. Larry is on the ADRN Advisory Board. He has served as President and board member of several non-profit organizations.
Sparks' Music Therapists
Anita Swanson, Ph.D, MT-BC
Dr. Anita Swanson has served as a practitioner and professor of music therapy for over two decades. She has written several journal articles, book chapters, and a book about music therapy treatment. Anita frequently presents across the U.S. and internationally. Currently, she is serving as President of the World Federation of Music Therapy.
Anita is frequently on the move, having made 11 cross-country transitions. This is her second time to live in Texas, and she is putting down some Lone Star roots.
Julliana Castañeda, MT-BC
Julliana is a board-certified Music Therapist from Chicago, IL. She is the owner and founder of Entera Music and Wellness, a small private-practice company based in Chicago. Julliana is passionate about facilitating bilingual music therapy services and believes in using the power of music to empower and encourage individuals to be their most authentic selves, in and out of the therapy setting.
A fun fact about Julliana is that she loves Star Wars and went on a solo road trip to Colorado last year!
Adrienne Banks, LMSW, MT-BC
A Board-Certified Music Therapist and a Licensed Master Social Worker, Adrienne has professional experience working in hospice, in-home therapy for children and adults with developmental disabilities, and in the child welfare system. She has had the joy of being a music therapist with Sparks since 2019, both in-person and virtually.
She also works as a professional cellist and adjunct cello instructor at Abilene Christian University.
Brianna Rzeznik, MT-BC
Originally from western Massachusetts, Brianna holds a Masters in clinical mental health counseling with a music therapy specialization from Lesley University. She has worked with elders, individuals with disabilities, children of all ages, and individuals receiving inpatient psychiatric care.
A classically trained violist, Brianna has performed in orchestras and in chamber ensembles throughout the northeastern United States, but now favors more improvisatory styles such as bluegrass, blues, and funk.
Kate Caruso, MT-BC
Bio coming soon!
Hannah-Joy Mach, MT-BC
Bio coming soon!
Dawn Ratzlaff, MT-BC
Bio coming soon!
Additional Contributing Music Therapists
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- Amber Sarpy
- Anita Swanson
- Annie Vandervoort
- Cara Hamlyn
- Erica Davidson
- Julliana Castañeda
- Kim Wiltshire
- Lindsy Lev
- Marina Maiztegui
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