Founder and Director

Joe is a decorated retired Dallas Police Officer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Valor, the 47th in the history of the department.

Joe is the founder and director of Empower Your Future, a non-profit that motivates all to endure, persevere, educate and refresh others to have no limitations in life.

He lives in Dallas and has three sons, Joe, Nick and Luca.

Board Secretary

Dimitri is an IT/AV integrator with an extensive background in network infrastructures. I started my career while I was in high school servicing small businesses and homes across the DFW Metroplex with their computer needs. My knowledge of different systems grew as an IT Director of a large corporation where I handled multiple data centers, offices and thousands of users focusing on driving business goals. I have since focused my skills to handle commercial and residential IT/AV needs with a small group of mutual motivated friends.

I live in the Dallas area with my wonderful wife and three sons. I spend my free time playing soccer, remodeling, hanging with my family on our ranch in East Texas.

Advisory Board

An Institute for Functional Medicine faculty member for 20 years, as well as a certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, Dr. Christensen first became interested in functional medicine over 20 years ago when trying to solve the riddle of her and her family’s complex health challenges-- unbeknownst to her at the time were consequences of severe toxic mold exposure. She became intimately familiar with Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Autoimmune, Hormonal, Neurological and Psychiatric consequences of unrecognized Biotoxin illness. A board-certified OB-GYN for 23 years, her initial boutique Functional Medicine practice has grown into The Carpathia Collaborative, a large multidisciplinary, FM Practice based in Dallas and covering the full spectrum of complex chronic disease. The practice provides 360 degree functional, lifestyle and nutritional medicine along with certified health coaches, and includes an onsite teaching kitchen, yoga studio and education library serving community-learning events. She herself recently became a certified Functional Medicine Health Coach bringing the world of positive psychology and what’s “right “with you to help manifest your health goals. Dr. Christensen is passionate about educating her clients and colleagues about root cause, whole-systems medicine!

Advisory Board

Juan is the athletic coordinator at Bryan Adams High School, where he has been the boys’ basketball coach since 2015 and has served as the assistant athletic coordinator since 2018.

In his role as the assistant athletic coordinator, Rivas helped hire and evaluate coaches, created an information manual for campus coaches, and helped implement the overall campus athletic plan. He also assisted with student-athlete eligibility forms, and fundraising. He was directly responsible for social media promotion, newsletters, and served as the campus’ letter jacket coordinator. Rivas was the 2020-2021 Dallas ISD Assistant Athletic Coordinator of the Year.

He improved the team’s win total each of his first five seasons and guided the team to the playoffs in 2017-2018 for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. The 2017-2018 team won a bi-district championship for the first time since 2002. The team’s 20 wins in 2018-2019 were the most wins at Bryan Adams since the 1990s. The 2019-2020 team also qualified for the playoffs. Rivas also established a community service partnership with the Dallas City Council.

Rivas graduated from Woodrow Wilson in 2003 and earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Bible and Education from Dallas Christian College in 2008. He played basketball and was a member of the track & field team at Woodrow Wilson and played basketball in college.

Rivas is a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, the Dallas Coaches Association, and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He has been a board member for the DCA since 2021.

Rivas and his wife Claudia have four children: Elian (22), Leanna (17), Leaeli (11) and Juan Jr. (8).

Advisory Board

A graduate of Cleveland, Ohio’s Case Western Reserve in 1975, with a Bachelor of Science Degree and Double Major in Journalism and Political Science, Pam Meffley has used her writing skills for educational curriculum, collateral materials, press releases, news articles and interviews, Resource Guides, Job Aides, and concise, compelling children’s education proposals. Pam’s purpose is to provide others with interesting information, inspiration, possibilities, self-confidence, and opportunities.

Pam was Executive Director of the Dallas Coalition for the Arts managing fundraising gatherings and serving as a speaker at Lions Club luncheons throughout Dallas that motivated members to call on Dallas City Council members to approve of financial funding for the Arts when J.C. Penney was on the verge of moving to the Dallas area from Manhattan.

Pam has handled event design, planning, and management. She has increased employee participation in business and corporate events, as well as securing Oprah Winfrey’s personal, on-air broadcast that provides women being treated for cancer with free house cleaning services.

She raised over 2 million dollars for the Dallas Police Memorial adjacent to the Dallas City Hall, first by rallying police officers to contribute money from their earnings and then donations from corporations, businesses, and residents throughout the city.

In 2007, Pam was elected Mayor of Double Oak by a 2:1 margin, with the largest voter turnout on record and as the town’s first female executive. She increased neighbor engagement and participation on Boards and Commissions by 25% and conducted bi-weekly Town Meetings, public service meeting, ceremonial and organizational events with skill, humor, and increasing well attended public attendance.

As the Grant Writer for the Dallas Arboretum, Pam exceeded her annual financial goals by writing concise, compelling proposals, 86.5% of which were awarded, and succeeding in exceptional relationship building, and effective communications. She was recruited by Klyde Warren Park to increase foundation prospects and funding sources in 45 days, and updating narratives and marketing materials.

Today, Pam serves on the Board of the Theodore & Beulah Beasley Foundation, the Arts District Chorale, and The Refresh Project. She was a Board member of For the Love of the Lake, the Vickery Place Neighborhood Association, Leadership Dallas graduate, Interim Program Manager for it, and the Police Athletic League including creating a Summer Midnight Basketball in South Dallas. She looks forward to working with students of all ages to help them develop confidence, experiences, and career opportunities.