Highlights from the 2026 RAISE Texas VITA Conference
Austin, Texas | September 2026
Funding the Mission: Turning VITA Data into Dollars
Fran Baylor, Senior Director, Asset Funders Network
Kori Hattemer, MPAff, Program Officer, St. David’s Foundation
Greg Mangum, Vice President of Economic Mobility, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Strengthening the VITA Volunteer Experience
Miller Wilbourn, Senior Corporate Engagement Manager, Foundation Communities
Resources:
VITA Volunteer Journey Resource Packet
Exploring VITA Models from Across the Country
Darren Liddell, AFC, Co-Founder, Vesta Prosperity (Public Benefit Corporation)
Encouraging Savings at Tax Time
Julia Pynes, MBA, MSW, Financial Wellness Program Manager, Foundation Communities
Mastering Marketplace Issues: 1095-As, Common Pitfalls, and Client Education
Brad Martin, VITA Program Coordinator, United Way Southwest Alabama
VITA Tax Experts Weigh In: Real Scenarios, Real Answers
Jennifer L. Hill, Sr Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultant, SPEC Austin, IRS
Janet Herrgesell, EA, Senior Tax Program Manager, Foundation Communities
Mandi Matlock, JD, Staff Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
Adelfino Palacios, CPA, Professor of Accounting, Del Mar College
High School Service Learning: Engaging Students in VITA
Darren Liddell, AFC, Co-Founder, Vesta Prosperity
Jessica Cuellar CTE & Accounting Teacher, Temple High School VITA
Linda Nuñez, Assistant VP of GECU Community Dev., El Paso High School VITA
Juan Berrios, Executive Director, SimplifyCT
What’s New for VITA: IRS Updates for the 2027 Filing Season
Jennifer L. Hill, Sr Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultant, SPEC Austin, IRS
Juan Carrizales, Senior Tax Consultant, SPEC, IRS
Rosemarie Young, Acting Director, SPEC Area 3 (West Coast), IRS
Expanding Service Delivery: Intake-Only and Virtual Services
Stephanie Mace, Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach, AARP Texas
Leslie Nuñez, VITA Program Coordinator, United Way Southern Cameron County
Sheila Anderson-Ruth, VITA Program Manager, City of San Antonio
Juan Berrios, Executive Director, SimplifyCT, SCT VITA
Engaging Community Colleges in VITA
Kenneth Bankston, BIS Program Specialist-VITA Coordinator, St. Philip’s College
Karen Serna, PhD, Director Student Financial Wellness, Austin Community College
Adria Vasquez, CPA, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Del Mar College
Managing a VITA Site: What Every Manager Needs to Know
Erika Leos, Director of Prosper Programs, Foundation Communities
Pennie Clayton, MBA, VITA Program Manager, United Way of Tarrant County
Leti Valadez, Supervising Site Manager, Foundation Communities
Children’s Savings: 529s, 530A Trump Accounts, $250 Dell Gift, and More
Greg Mangum, VP of Economic Mobility, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Susie Smith, Manager Community Activation & Insights, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
VITA Problem-Solving Lab: What Isn’t Working?
Darren Liddell, AFC, Co-Founder, Vesta Prosperity
Brad Martin, VITA Program Coordinator, United Way Southwest Alabama
Sofia Sánchez-Hale, Senior Program Manager, Dallas Community Tax Centers
Foundation Communities Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Prosper Center South
Introduction to Foundation Communities and the Prosper Programs
Tax Preparation Process, Client Flow, and Quality Assurance
Managing Client Demand: Appointments, Walk-Ins, and Sign-in Software
Expanding Services as a Certified Acceptance Agent for ITN Applications
Drop-Off Tax Preparation Services
Foreign Student and Scholar Returns
Supporting Self-Employed Taxpayers through Get Ready Appointments
Language Access: ASL Interpretation through Get Ready Appointments
Transmitting Returns and Working Rejects
Helping Clients Navigate ID.me
VITA Practitioner Resources
