Our Team

Patra Brannon-Isaac

Director of Education and Community Projects

Patra graduated from Iowa State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and obtained her Master in Business Administration from Rice University in 2011. With 20 years of experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she has worked for several companies and organizations including HISD, Leadership ISD, ExxonMobil, Merck & Co., BMC Software, and Wells Fargo. Prior to joining the Kinder Foundation in 2020 as Director of Education and Community Projects, her experience spanned leadership and senior roles in corporate audit, executive recruiting, strategic human capital, public education, and community advocacy. Patra has been recognized by the Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Children at Risk, Teach for America, and Rice Business for her leadership and community engagement. She is a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum, a member of the Rice Business Alumni Association Board, and has served as a mentor for several youth organizations. A proud native Houstonian, she has resided in Houston for 34 years, outside of a collective 8 years in Iowa, Minnesota, and The Netherlands. Patra enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting wineries, and most recently, exploring her Texas and genealogical roots. She was inspired after learning her great-grandfather was among Houston’s first African-American photographers and the official photographer for the Houston Red Book of 1915.

Kathryn R. Dollins

Attorney & Office Manager

Kathryn graduated from Texas Christian University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Radio/TV/ Film with a minor in Theatre. In 2009 she obtained her Juris Doctorate from the South Texas College of Law and holds certifications in Mediation and Family Mediation. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was in private practice representing and consulting clients regarding family law and estate planning issues as well as being a contract attorney at AESCO. In 2011, she joined the Kinder Foundation and Family Office where she serves as Attorney and Office Manager overseeing grant management and the daily operations of both organizations. Kathryn has lived in Houston for 22 years and is deeply passionate about giving back to her community. She has volunteered with the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, the SPCA, and as a pottery teacher. Kathryn has four children, five cats, two tortoises, one dog, and enough Aloe Vera in her backyard to treat all of Houston’s sunburns. She loves live music, farmers markets, and anything having to do with the arts.

Gary Dudley

Chief of Staff

Gary graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1972 and went on to work at Deloitte as a CPA for the next 36 years. During his tenure at the firm, he spent 27 years as a partner before retiring. In 2009, Gary joined the Kinder Foundation and Family Office as Chief of Staff. Presently, he holds positions on the Kinder Foundation board and the Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop Board in Denver. While he currently resides in Denver, he called Houston home for 6 years and still visits regularly for work. Gary takes pride in being a father to two adult children and a grandfather to five grandchildren. He enjoys traveling with his wife and is an avid runner, limited only by creaky joints and a challenging schedule.

Aarti Garehgrat

Director of Finance

Aarti graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Master in Professional Accounting in 2005 and is also a CPA. After graduating she worked as a Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York before continuing her career as a Manager for high-networth family groups at Margolis, Phipps, and Wright. In 2014 she joined the Kinder Foundation and Family Office as Director of Finance and is responsible for financial planning, analysis, and accounting for both organizations. That same year she and her husband started their company, Bagel Dots which are sold at HEBs throughout Texas. She currently serves on the PRH Preservation Board and sits on the Buffalo Bayou Partnership Investment Committee. Aarti has been a Houstonian since she was nine years old aside from her time spent in Austin and New York. She and her husband have two children, Niam and Mila. She loves to travel with her family, reading, and all things Disney.

Guy Hagstette, FAIA

Senior Vice President of Parks and Civic Projects

Guy graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1979, obtained a Master in Urban Design from Harvard University in 1981, and is a registered architect and urban designer. Early in his career, Guy was primarily responsible for the design of Sesquicentennial Park in downtown Houston. He then served as Director of Planning and Development for Central Houston, Inc. and special assistant for urban design to Mayor Bill White, which led to his role overseeing the development of Discovery Green. Since then, he has overseen the development of Buffalo Bayou Park for the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and serves as an advisor to the Houston Parks Board on Bayou Greenways. He joined the Kinder Foundation in 2016 and serves as Vice President of Parks and Greenspace. In addition to his many roles at the Foundation, he currently serves as Senior Warden on the Christ Church Cathedral Vestry. He was born and raised here in Houston and loves the big city life. Guy loves riding his bike around his hometown’s beautiful greenspaces and swimming, which he did competitively in college.

CJ Johnson

Receptionist

CJ graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin with a Bachelor in English Writing and Rhetoric in 2011. In 2012 she packed up her life into two suitcases and moved to Kyoto, Japan where she taught English to Japanese students for two years. Upon returning stateside she moved back to her hometown, Corpus Christi, where she taught third grade at Corpus Christi ISD. She ultimately decided she missed big city life and in 2015 moved to Houston where she taught third grade in Houston ISD. She joined the Kinder Foundation and Family Office in 2016 and in addition to her role as receptionist, she enjoys doing whatever she can to support the mission and projects of the Foundation. In her free time, CJ is a passionate artist who specializes in crochet and fiber arts, as well as painting, illustration, and creative writing. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and cuddling Amelia, her extremely clingy cat.

Sabrina Kirwin

Chief Financial Officer

Sabrina graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006 with a Bachelor in Business Administration and Master in Professional Accounting and is also a CPA. After graduating from UT she spent the first 9 years of her career at Deloitte Tax in Houston.  During her time at Deloitte, she interned in the International Tax Practice, was a top-performing Tax-Manager within the Private Wealth Practice and served as both Chief of Staff for the Houston Tax Practice and Central Region Learning Manager.  Sabrina joined the Kinder Foundation and Family office as Chief Financial Officer in 2015 and is responsible for financial planning, analysis, and accounting for both organizations. She currently serves on both the Board and Finance Committee for Memorial Park Conservancy. Sabrina is a native Houstonian who lives with her husband, two sons, and their cat, Penny. When she’s not attending one of her boys’ sporting events she can often be found watching the Astros or Longhorn football (Hook ‘em!). She likes to spend her free time on the beach with a margarita in one hand and a good book in the other.

Sarah Newbery

Director of Parks and Greenspace

Sarah graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1989 and holds dual Master degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. She moved to Houston from New York City in 1999 and joined Curtis & Windham Architects where she went on to become a Principal. In 2012, she left private practice and joined Uptown Houston to help manage the master planning process for Memorial Park. She joined the Kinder Foundation in 2018 as Director of Parks and Greenspace and assists in coordinating partnerships and providing professional support for the Foundation’s park projects. She currently serves on both the Hermann Park Projects Committee and the Memorial Park Implementation Committee and is a board member for Trees for Houston. Sarah and her husband have enjoyed raising their two children in Houston and after calling it home for over two decades, continue to enjoy its vibrant and diverse culture.