Meet Our Board of Directors

Carol Lilly, Chair

Carol Lilly is the founder of Boomers Collaborative Foundation and concept originator of the Boomers Collaborative model. She has a BA in Home Building, Residential Design from Trinity University in San Antonio, an MA in Technical Communication from Texas State University in San Marcos, and a work background in residential design, residential construction management, urban planning, housing program development, and technical writing. An elder orphan herself, she is passionate about solving the housing, economic, and social isolation problems facing many--if not most--of today's seniors who are retiring alone.

Chad Wallace, Vice-President

Chad Wallace is an Independent Commercial Real Estate Broker in Austin, Texas, with over a decade of industry experience. Known for his client-centric approach, Chad has successfully guided numerous clients through a variety of complex transactions, including corporate relocations, property sales and acquisitions, and leasing across retail, office, and industrial sectors in Texas and beyond.

Chad specializes in creating tailored real estate strategies that enhance portfolio performance and support long-term client success. Whether it's maximizing rent rolls, negotiating advantageous terms, or optimizing space efficiency, Chad is committed to delivering results that align with his clients' business goals.

Drawing from his personal experience in student cooperative housing, Chad is a passionate advocate for mixed-use cooperative housing as a viable solution to Austin’s affordable housing challenges. He is dedicated to promoting development strategies and policies that foster sustainable, community-oriented living spaces accessible to all.

Anna Buchanan, Secretary

Native to Central Texas, Anna Buchanan is a driven entrepreneur with a passion for making a positive impact. Founder of MetriX Talent Solutions,  she combines her expertise in talent acquisition with her dedication to supporting the community, bringing a unique blend of business acumen and philanthropy to her endeavors.

Verda Espinosa, Treasurer

Verda Espinosa was born in Beaumont, Texas, and moved to Opelousas, Louisiana where she grew up until the age of thirteen. In 1988, Verda moved to Austin, Texas, where she began her career in the financial field and has held many accounting positions in both the private and public sectors. Having previously worked with other local CPA firms and other various organizations, Verda is well acquainted with a variety of accounting and tax software. She previously served as the Controller/Assistant Warden of Business and Finance for a nationwide correction company.

After years of experience in the finance field, Verda started Vertuous Accounting Services, Inc. in 2014, where she specializes in helping small to medium-sized businesses with their business and financial needs. Verda is a well-rounded, full-service Consultant with extensive hands-on experience in bookkeeping, accounting, and tax preparation and has prepared many personal and business tax returns over the years. She has designed and implemented best practices, policies, and procedures in both small and large companies from online retail stores to heavy machinery organizations.

Verda joined Boomers Collaborative team as the Treasurer in 2023.

Dave Berndt, Board Member & Compliance / Ethics Professional

Dave Berndt has worked for many organizations throughout his career. Most recently, Dave was the Vice President of Compliance and Ethics at Southwest Key Programs, a large non-profit. Prior to that, Dave was the Associate General Counsel at G&A Partners. In this role, he supported G&A’s operations, including finance, HR, ethics and compliance.

Dave’s prior employers include Walmart, Ford Motor Company, Terex and Boston Medical Center. He has extensive experience in general corporate law, HR, ethics and compliance. He has a proven track record of leading service, retail, healthcare and manufacturing operations through an evolving regulatory, legal and business environment. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships among operations, legal, compliance and HR departments in order to move the organization forward.

Dave also has significant volunteer experience. With the Association of Corporate Counsel, he chaired the international Employment and Labor Law Network. He also served as chairman of the board of directors for the New Hampshire chapter of the American Red Cross. In addition, he has served as president of the northern New England chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society and as president of the BYU Management Society in Northwest Arkansas.

Dave has a juris doctorate degree from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in communication from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in business and risk management from California State University, Fresno.

Board Advisors and Committee Volunteers

Annelies Lottmann, UTRGV Coop Coach

Annelies Lottmann is the Director of the UTRGV Texas Rural Cooperative Center. Committed to building the cooperative economy throughout Texas, she believes cooperative ownership can be a key tool in building community wealth, helping to break cycles of poverty.