Our Story

Jeffrey Allison is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of United Way of Tarrant County. As BoardBuild’s lead financial director, he utilizes his financial, operational and planning expertise to manage the organization’s business operations.

Jeff’s board service includes previous roles on the Texas A&M Center for Retailing Studies Corporate Advisory Board, University of Oklahoma JCPenney Leadership Program Board and the JCPenney Business Ethics Committee. He is a council member of Gerson Lehrman Group, an executive member of Financial Executives International and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Jeff earned his Certified Public Accountant license from the State of Ohio. He received a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Oklahoma Price College of Business.

Ramon Guajardo, Jr. is the vice president of Ramel Company, LLC, which provides financial, development and construction consulting services to the Texas Housing Authorities, municipalities, banks and private developers.

Ramon is an engaged community trustee as Leadership Fort Worth’s president-elect and the vice president of the organization’s LeaderKids program. In addition to his service on BoardBuild’s board of directors, as President, Ramon is also a member of Leadership Fort Worth’s board of directors and a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tarrant County and Fort Worth ISD’s Vital Link and Career Day programs.

In 2017, Ramon was named one of Fort Worth Business Press’ 40 Under 40. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from Southwest Texas State University.

Harriet B. Harral, Ph.D., is the executive director of Leadership Fort Worth and the principal consultant of The Harral Group: Specializing in Organizational Effectiveness.

Harriet serves on the national boards of Baptist News Global and Northern Seminary as well as the local Renaissance Heights Development Group and Mayfest boards.  Previously, Harriet served on and chaired the international board of the Community Leadership Association, the national board of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the local board for Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Inc.

She was honored by SafeHaven of Tarrant County in the 2018 Legacy of Women, Fort Worth Business Press in the 2015 Great Women of Texas and Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Inc. as the inaugural recipient of the Will A. Courtney Award for Outstanding Service in 2013. Additionally, Harriet was named an Outstanding Woman of Fort Worth by the Fort Worth Commission on the Status of Women, received a Linda Keithley Award for Women in Public Management and was awarded by the American Society for Training and Development with a Distinguished Individual Achievement award.

Harriet is the author of “Instructor’s Manual: Speaking @ Work,” “Strategies for
Interpersonal Communication: Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank (6 editions)” and “Communication: Leadership Skills for Women.” She earned a doctorate degree from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from Baylor University.

Leah King is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of United Way of Tarrant County (UWTC).

A passionate advocate for community service, Leah has served on various boards and committees, including the Child Study Center, Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail, Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County, UWTC’s Women’s Leadership Council, Circle Theatre, Catholic Charities Refugee Services and Brighter Outlook, Inc.

In addition to BoardBuild, Leah currently serves on the board of directors for Cook Children’s Medical Center, the Trinity River Vision TIF and was elected to the Tarrant Regional Water District board in 2017. She is a member of the Fort Worth Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and a founding member of UWTC’s Women’s Leadership Council.

She is a member of Leadership Fort Worth’s 2010 LeadershipClass and Leadership North Texas’ 2011 class.

Benjamin Robertson is the director of business development for Byrne Construction Services.

As an advocate for community empowerment and growth, Benjamin serves on more than 10 boards and commissions, including BoardBuild, Leadership Fort Worth, Rising Tide Initiative, East Fort Worth, Inc., Eastside Economic Development Alliance, Historic Randol’s Mill Valley Alliance, Eastside Community Assistance, Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth Roadhouse Committee and the City of Fort Worth’s City Plan Commission. In addition to his board governance, Benjamin provides business and nonprofit consulting, helping organizations learn how to succeed at their core capacity and operate as profitable businesses.

In 2016, he was named one of Fort Worth Business Press’ 40 Under 40. Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from Northeastern University.

TD Smyers is the president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County. Prior to joining United Way, TD served as CEO of the American Red Cross, North Texas Region. He entered social sector executive leadership after a 31-year career in the U.S. Navy, completing his uniformed service as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

In addition to BoardBuild, TD is vice chair of North Texas Leaders and Executives
Advocating Diversity (LEAD), governance chair of our community’s Continuum of Care Board and a member of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Executive Council.

TD earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science from the National Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.