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Board of Directors

The Board of Directors for the FIRST Program for the current term (2007 - 2009) constists of Attorney Derek Fletcher, Attorney Pete Winstead and Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrell.  The following is a listing of the three Directors of the FIRST Program with their biographical information.


1.  Derek Fletcher is a shareholder in Winstead's Wealth Preservation Practice Group. Derek's practice involves estate planning for high net worth individuals, with particular emphasis on the organization, administration and succession of closely held business interests such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations.

Derek is a Certified Public Accountant, and frequently speaks before professional and lay groups on sophisticated estate planning topics.

·  Represents and counsels owners of closely held businesses on a variety of issues, including estate planning and business succession

·  Assists in estate planning for high net worth individuals, including the implementation of sophisticated estate planning techniques such as grantor retained annuity trusts, charitable trusts, private annuities, qualified personal residence trusts, and installment sales of limited partnership interests to grantor trusts

·  Counsels high net worth individuals on the organization and administration of family limited partnerships and limited liability companies

·  Assists in stock option planning involving both incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options


University of Texas School of Law
J.D., 1993

Texas Tech University
B.B.A., Accounting, cum laude, 1990


Board Certified Estate Planning and Probate Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization; Board of Governors for the Dallas Estate Planning Council; Former President of the Dallas Bar Association - Probate, Trusts and Estates Section; Web Page Editor for the ABA Estate & Gift Tax Committee; ABA Estate and Gift Tax Committee Representative to the Synergy Summit; Member, Dallas Estate Planning Council; American Bar Association; Admitted, U.S. Tax Court; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants; Former President and Director of Concho Valley Estate Planning Council; Legal Intern to Honorable John Cornyn, Texas Supreme Court


Member, The Dallas Foundation Advisory Council
Former President and Director of CASA of the Concho Valley
Former Treasurer and Director of the Concho Valley Habitat for Humanity


Texas Rising Star, Texas Monthly, 2004, 2005 and 2006; The Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates, 2005 and 2007
 


2.  Pete Winstead is a founding shareholder of Winstead PC. His early professional career was in the field of federal taxation and related matters, and as a former chair of the Section of Taxation, State Bar of Texas, he remains active in advising clients on many corporate and business transactional matters, but primarily in a planning strategies role.

In 1997, Pete was appointed by Governor Bush to be the first Chair of the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA). During his tenure at TTA, he led efforts in getting Records of Decision on the four element toll road (SH 130, SH 45, Loop 1 and US 183A) project know as the Central Texas Turnpike Project. Pete also led efforts on a $800 million TIFIA loan, as well as negotiated over $600 million in local contributions for the right-of-way and utility relocations. He was one of the founders and first Chair of the Capital Area Transportation Commission (CATC) to involve the private sector in effective advocacy for toll roads and other highway infrastructure. Additionally, Pete chaired the Citizens for Mobility effort to secure approval of the toll road plan at CAMPO, as proposed by the CTRMA and TxDOT.

As a founder of the Firm's Austin office, he has become active in working with early stage and "start up" companies that need appropriate mentoring on financial backing, management procurement and legal matters. Many of these companies have become important mainstream clients for Winstead. The firm guided Dell Computer Corporation through its initial public offering and its dealing with municipalities. Pete remains active in personal legal matters for the founders of that company, many of whom have become venture capital players. His major involvement in civic, political and philanthropic matters in the Austin area has made him a "go to" person to secure the award of various projects from political entities in the region or just to position a client to understand and succeed in the Central Texas area. He has been part of building winning teams to secure and build public facilities and infrastructure.

·  Taxation

·  Procurement of public projects

·  Venture capital and early stage companies

·  Legal oversight for high net worth individuals


University of Texas School of Law
LL.B., 1965
Associate Editor, Texas Law Review

Stanford University
B.A., 1962


American Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Dallas Bar Association; Austin Bar Association


Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Board Member and Former Chair; Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, Member and Former Chair; Austin Area Research Organization, Board Member and Former President; Industry and Community Affiliates Committee, The Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Texas, Member; Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America Board Member, Former President, Co-Chair of Operation BaseCamp Campaign Committee, 2001; Austin Symphony Orchestra Society, Board Member; Austin Lyric Opera Advisory Committee, Board Member; Long Center for the Performing Arts, Vice Chair; KLRU-Public Television, Board Member and Former Chair; St. Edwards University, Board of Trustee; YMCA of Metropolitan Austin, Member and Past Chair; March of Dimes, Chair, Walk America, 1992, 2005; Foundation for the Center for Battered Women, Trustee; Chase Bank, Board of Director; United Way/Capital Area (Chairman of the Board, 2004; Former Chair of Campaign, 2000); Hill Country Conservancy, Board Member; SafePlace Foundation, Board Member; Colorado River Foundation, Board Member; Real Estate Council of Austin, Board Member and Past President; Austin Community Foundation, Board Member


Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Austinite of the Year, 2004; Texas Super Lawyers (Government/Cities/Municipalities), Texas Monthly, 2005 and 2006; Named one of the "25 most influential people in Austin and Central Texas for the past 25 years," Austin Business Journal, 2005; Named "Mayor of Mobility" by the Austin Business Journal, 2005


3.  Mike Cantrell, Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrell is a graduate of the Dallas County Sheriff's Academy, and received his Basic and Intermediate Certificates in Law Enforcement. He served as a police officer for the Dallas County Community College District from 1976 to 1979 while attending Eastfield Community College, where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa & Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Abilene Christian University at Dallas, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree at Southern Methodist University's School of Law.

Commissioner Cantrell opened a private law practice and in 1983 was appointed by the Garland City Council to the position of Municipal Judge for the City of Garland. He served in that capacity for two and one-half years, and in 1986 was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 (Garland area). He was elected to a second four-year term in 1990, and served a total of eight years. In 1994 Commissioner Cantrell was elected as the Dallas County Commissioner for District 2, which has a population of over 500,000 and encompasses the cities of Mesquite, Garland, Rowlett, Sachse, and Sunnyvale, and the Lakewood, Lake Highlands, and White Rock areas of Dallas. He was re-elected to a third term in November of 2002.

While in office, Commissioner Cantrell has been active in a number of initiatives, including drug courts, law enforcement, domestic violence, child abuse, and juvenile issues, including truancy. He has led several collaborative initiatives including the Juvenile Information System (JIS), the Truancy Information System (TIS), the Child Welfare Information System (CWIS), the Adult Information System (AIS), and the Dallas County Specialized Truancy Courts Project. All initiatives seek creative and collaborative solutions and encourage intergovernmental cooperation, innovation, and more efficient use of resources.

Commissioner Cantrell was instrumental in the formation of the Protective Order Rapid Response Team and the Truancy Intervention High Impact Teams, and served on the DIVERT Drug Court Advisory Committee. He also chaired the Dallas County Community Plan from its inception in 1995 to 2002.

Commissioner Cantrell currently serves on the State Judicial Committee on Information Technology as an appointee of Texas Supreme Court Justice. Commissioner Cantrell also serves on the North Central Texas Council of Government's Executive Board and was President of the Board from 2001-2002. He served from 1998 - 2003 as an appointee of former Governor George W. Bush on the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Commissioner Cantrell also chairs the Dallas County Information Technology Steering Committee.

Commissioner Cantrell and his wife Lorrie have one daughter and attend Calvary Baptist Church in Garland, where he is a Deacon and Past Chair of the Personnel Committee. They are also active in many other community organizations.

Boards & Committees

Present

  • North Central Texas Council of Governments – Regional Transportation Council
  • Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition
  • State Judicial Committee on Information Technology Municipal & Justice Court Technology Subcommittee (Appointee of Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips)
  • Texas Conference of Urban Counties Common Integrated Justice System Project Oversight Board (Chair)
  • Texas Technology Magazine's Editorial Advisory Board
  • 2006 Best of Texas Advisory Board, Center for Digital Government
  • Texas Conference of Urban Counties Board of Directors (Vice-Chair, Member Services)
  • Texas Conference of Urban Counties Policy Committee
  • North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Board (Member of the Board / Past President 2001-2002)
  • Dallas County Information Technology Steering Committee (Chair)
  • Dallas County Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition (Chair)
  • Dallas County Adult Information System (AIS) Executive Committee (Chair)
  • Dallas County Adult Integrated Criminal Justice System User Committee (Chair)
  • Dallas County Juvenile Board (Alternate)
  • Public Employees Benefit Cooperative Board
  • Dallas County Commissioners Court/Hospital District Liaison Committee
  • Dallas County Adult and Juvenile Detention Health Services Advisory Committee
  • Dallas County Tax Collection Selection Committee
  • Dallas County Housing Board of Directors
  • Dallas County Housing Finance Corporation
  • Dallas County Domestic Violence Task Force
  • East Branch Committee
  • East Corridor Committee
  • Employee Benefits Committee
  • Public Defender Program Review
  • Tex Protects Advisory Committee
  • Wednesday's Child Advisory Committee

Past Boards & Committees

Organizations Past & Present

Accomplishments

  • Ran and was elected for two terms (4 years each) as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Dallas County
  • Ran and was elected for four terms (4 years each) as Commissioner, District 2, Dallas County
  • Co-Chairman, Dole/Kemp Presidential Campaign for Dallas County
  • Past President, Greater Garland Republican Organization
  • Regional Chairman over 21 precincts for the Dallas County Republican Party
  • Republican delegate to the Senatorial and State conventions
  • Republican Party Committee for Precinct Organization & Precinct Chairman Training
  • Active participant in numerous Republican candidate campaigns

Awards/Recognition

  • 2005 Best of Texas Visionary Award for Leadership, presented by the Center for Digital Government in recognition of visionary and sustained leadership for government made more accessible, more efficient, more open and more accountable through the use of technology
  • Prism Award 2000, presented by the Mental Health Association of Greater Dallas, in special recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the local mental health community
  • Honorary Lifetime Membership Award, 1998, presented by the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers, in recognition of distinguished service to children and youth
  • Distinguished Human Service Professional Team of the Year, 1996, presented by the Community Council of Greater Dallas in recognition of the establishment of the Protective Order Rapid Response Team (PORRT)
  • Community Builder Award 1992-1993, presented by Garland Masonic Lodge #441, for commitment to the youth of Garland and involvement in the community
  • Committee Chairman of the Year 1991, presented by the Garland Chamber of Commerce for service as Chairman of the Legislative Committee
  • Paul Harris Fellow, presented by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, "in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world
  • Community Service Award, presented by Tough Love
  • Extra Mile Award, presented by the Garland Apartment Managers Association
  • Recognition Award, from the Garland Independent School District for commitment to the youth of GISD, shown by instituting innovative programs designed to interrupt the known causes of student truancy