Frisco Chamber of Commerce 2021 Board of Directors
Amanda Lagan
Simmons Bank
Barbara Milo
HALL Park
Shanthi Rajaram
Amazech Solutions
Jeff Smith
Omni Hotels
Each year, the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors conducts a process to appoint new or reappoint Board Members. The Frisco Chamber of Commerce has appointed four new members to the Board of Directors. These new board members began serving on January 1, 2021, and include:
- Amanda Lagan, Simmons Bank
- Barbara Milo, HALL Park
- Shanthi Rajaram, Amazech Solutions
- Jeff Smith, Omni Hotels
“Our newest Board members are individuals that are engaged in our community and will bring a commendable level of expertise, diverse backgrounds and experience,” said Tony Felker, President and CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. “We are fortunate to have individuals willing to give back to the business community and make an impact in Frisco and North Texas.”
New Board Member Bios
Amanda Lagan
Amanda Lagan has a decade of experience guiding and leading teams in financial services. She currently works for an amazing company, Simmons Bank as Financial Center Manager of the Frisco location. Amanda’s background has prepared her to lead with a servant heart, demonstrate humility, and be an active contributor in the community. She served in our Nation’s military for eight years and promoting to Sargent of the Army before transition to her civilian life. She was selected this year to be a part of Leadership Frisco Class 24. Not only is she continuously trying to develop her leadership within her community but within her company.
Barbara Milo
Barbara Milo is the Director of Park Experience at Hall Park, a 162-acre, 15-building mixed-use development in Frisco, Texas. Barbara has extensive experience in property management and tenant engagement, and has worked for Hall Group, the developer behind Hall Park, for 18 years. An active participant in the Frisco community, Barbara was a member of the Frisco Chamber’s Leadership Class 23 which graduated in 2020. She has also volunteered at Frisco Family Services, and just recently was appointed to the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2021. She also serves on the board of 100 Women of Allen, volunteers at ExPOW in Allen, and sits on the advisory board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Admin Awards. She is actively involved in the Cheatham Elementary PTA, having previously served as its President, and is currently the Vice President of Philanthropy for National Charity League - Allen.
A tried-and-true Texan, Barbara grew up in Garland and currently resides with her family in Allen. She is actively involved with her church, New Life Community Church - Frisco, and serves as the team mom of her daughters’ club volleyball teams.
Shanthi Rajaram
Shanthi Rajaram is the founding CEO of Amazech Solutions LLC. Having established the company in April 2007, Shanthi has spearheaded the organic growth of the company from start-up to its current state of maturity. Amazech Solutions is as a preferred strategic partner for high-end, cutting edge technology advisory and solutions.
Apart from being on the Frisco Chamber of Commerce board, Shanthi also serves as a President of Dallas Alliance of Technology & Women, and on the Advisory Board for Tech Titans and Liftfund Women Business Center – Dallas funded by SBA. Her passion lies in empower Women in Technology, Women in business and inspiring and mentoring upcoming women entrepreneurs. Her other recognitions include being an honoree at 2020 - Minority Business Leader by Dallas Business Journal, as an Inspiring Women Entrepreneur by FETNa (2018), Immigrant Journey Award (2017), Enterprising Women Award – Class of 2016, Dallas Business Journal - Women in Technology – 2015, etc. Apart from individual recognition, Amazech has also been consistently featured in top 100 Largest North Texas Women owned employers since 2016.
Deeply passionate about corporate social responsibility, her other affiliations include: STEM/Business Mentor with multiple organizations such as the Enterprising Women foundation, Mentoring Monday, member of WPO (Women Presidents Organization), and National Association of Women Business Owners).
Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith serves as area managing director of Omni Hotels & Resorts and general manager of Omni Frisco Hotel.
As a veteran of the hospitality industry, he has been with Omni Hotels & Resorts for nearly 27 years serving in various corporate and property leadership positions. He joined Omni Frisco from his most recent position as general manager at Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West. During his time at Omni, he has also served as vice president of special projects, vice president of operations and loyalty services, vice president of operations and corporate director of rooms, all at the brand level. Additionally, he spent a year as the general manager at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
As area managing director of Omni Hotels & Resorts, Jeff oversees all marketing, sales, finance and operational aspects of Omni properties within the North Texas area. In his role as general manager of Omni Frisco Hotel, the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys, he led the opening of the hotel in 2017 and continues to oversee all departments including operations, sales and marketing, rooms, finance and food and beverage.
Jeff has led initiatives across several disciplines within the organization to ensure memorable experiences for our guests. He was one of the original champions of both the “Power of Engagement” and “Moments of Service” programs.
Jeff received his Master of Business Administration from Rockhurst College and undergraduate degree in business administration/hospitality management at Michigan State University. His passions include his wife, Emy, and two children, Daniel and Anna Maria, his Yorkshire terrier, traveling, being outdoors and anything to do with Michigan State University.
2021 Chair of the Board
Christal Howard, Community Impact Newspaper finished a one-year term as Chair of the Board at the end of December 2020.
Matthew Reiter began a one-year term as Chair of the Board on January 1, 2021. Matthew Reiter is the Partner in Charge of Whitley Penn’s Plano Office and, in addition to serving clients, he is the Technical Resource and Quality Control Partner for the audit practice. Matthew also serves as Treasurer for Frisco FastPacs and Finance Committee Chair for St. Andrew United Methodist Church.
“It is an honor to be selected to serve as Chair of the Frisco Chamber Board of Directors. I look forward to working with such great leaders in our community to focus on the growth and success of the City of Frisco,” stated Reiter.
The following Board Members have been reappointed:
- Ann Anderson, Anderson Agency, Farmers Insurance (Secretary)
- Peter Burns, Bridge Delivery Service (Executive Committee)
- Terri Paterson-McElhaney, Legacy ER & Urgent Care
- Jeremy Howell, Scottish Rite for Children
- Ashely Miller, National Breast Cancer Foundation (Executive Committee)
- Wesley Randall, University of North Texas at Frisco
- C. John Scheef, Scheef & Stone, LLC.
In addition to those already mentioned, the remaining Board Members that will continue to serve:
- Christal Howard, Community Impact Newspaper (Immediate Past-Chair)
- Mike Barber, BKM Sowan Horan (Chair-Elect)
- Chad Sterling, Altair Global (Treasurer)
- Suad Bejtovic, Suad Bejtovic Photography
- Kristin Grammar, NewGate Development Company
- Brett Lee, Texas Health Hospital Frisco
- Megan Nguyen-Trinh, Bank of America.
Special thanks to outgoing Board members:
- Karen Cunningham, Cunningham HR Solutions
- Vik Jain, Stonebriar Financial
- Donnie Nelson, Texas Legends/Dallas Mavericks
- Randy Nichols, Mossakowski & Nichols Wealth Management
