Join us at the 2025 Summit of Hope Gala!

Board Treasurer

Arun, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, has worn multiple hats, from serving in the military and government sectors to corporate finance. Currently, he is part of the Risk Management Office at Charles Schwab, Inc., and is a local community ambassador for the firm. Driven by a deep-rooted passion for helping others and contributing to his community, Arun brings his expertise in financial risk management, real estate, and fundraising to the mission of Come and Hike It.

Arun's commitment to service is further exemplified by his time in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served from 2003 to 2011. Following his military career, Arun pursued higher education, graduating from Southwestern University, the first and oldest university in Texas, and later completing his MBA at Southern Methodist University.

He has been happily married to his wife, Bessie, for 20 years, and together they raise four energetic children. The family is also joined by their beloved Bluetick Hound, Blue. When he's not working or spending time with his family, Arun enjoys a variety of hobbies. He is an avid golfer, traveler, and fisherman.

Fun Fact: Arun has camped out in the Sahara Desert 

Board Secretary

Heather’s connection to nature began as a young aspiring artist, inspired by the delicate florals and desert landscapes created by her favorite painters and photographers. She later enjoyed a passion for incorporating organic materials and textures of the natural world into the spaces she created as a young Interior Designer. She then discovered her love of hiking and camping alongside her husband, Roland, during their first Big Bend adventure nearly 30 years ago. Captivated by the deep contentment and restorative powers felt through the experience, together they began sharing their passion with friends, and later with their two daughters. More recently, Heather’s work in support of Come and Hike It’s mission has also provided an opportunity to share these passions in a deeper, purposeful & healing capacity. 

Heather holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. Through her 25 years of work experience in the commercial interiors industry, Heather discovered she thrives on supporting businesses by improving their operational efficiencies and performance strategies. Heather applies these expertise to the organizational functionality of Come and Hike It.

Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time with family and close friends, watercolor painting, road trips, camping, relaxing at the beach, and staying active at the gym.

Fun Fact: Heather loves hiking but is terrified of heights

Wellness Director

Liz Yeoman holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston and is a Registered Massage Therapist and Reiki Master with over 25 years of experience. Passionate about helping people live their best lives, Liz specializes in holistic practices that connect body, mind, and spirit.

Her extensive training includes meditation, grief and trauma understanding, breathwork and yoga. Certified in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), the biology of trauma, and the process of grief and loss, Liz believes in the power of group healing and nature's calming effects to bring peace within.

At an early age, Liz experienced the loss of numerous loved ones. She found connecting with nature brought her comfort. She realized being in the beauty of plants and animals brings a sense of peace, enabling healing. Through joining the Board of Come and Hike It, Liz strives to help others find that same peace through outdoor experiences. Hiking is an avenue for addressing grief, and finding paths to healing. Come hike and heal with us!

When she's not practicing, Liz enjoys hiking, reading, making jewelry, cooking, and spending quality time with her husband, three children and friends. Her daily intention is wholehearted living.

Fun fact: Liz used to be a White Water River Guide in West Virginia and during that time, she lived in a tent in the woods. 

Board President & Founder

Roland Jimenez is a highly experienced marketing and business professional, outdoor photographer, and brand storyteller with a deep passion for inspiring others to embrace the great outdoors. As an avid outdoorsman, Roland has spent years immersing himself in nature, finding solace and healing through his personal experiences. His journey, shaped by multiple tragedies which include the loss of three brothers and both his parents amongst many relatives and friends, led him to create Come and Hike It, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals navigate grief through meaningful connections with nature.

Roland's unwavering belief in nature’s restorative power has driven him to design impactful programs that provide comfort and community for those facing loss. He is leveraging his professional expertise, passion for outdoor adventure and philanthropic collaborations with various nonprofits, both through his career and personal volunteer efforts, to drive the continued success of Come and Hike It.

When he's not on the trail, Roland enjoys spending quality time with his wife and children, cooking BBQ, banging his drums, fishing, camping and longboarding, pursuits that reflect his love for connection, relaxation, and the outdoors.

Fun Fact: Despite Roland’s latin roots, love for music and decades of playing drums, he just can’t dance.

Gala Director

With 26 years of sales experience in commercial interiors, Shanna brings a wealth of expertise in building meaningful connections and understanding clients’ needs. Now a board member of Come and Hike It, she is dedicated to helping others find peace and healing in nature. 

A family person at heart, Shanna enjoys spending time outdoors with her spouse Matt and two daughters, Ella and Olivia. Known for her love of hosting gatherings and bringing people together, Shanna fosters a warm, supportive atmosphere in all that she does both professionally and in service to those journeying through grief. After the loss of both her parents, Shanna discovered hiking as a personal form of therapy, using it to navigate her own grief and find renewal in nature.

When not working, Shanna loves to travel, spend time at the beach or in the mountains, cooking, watching football, and enjoying quality time with family.

Board Vice President

Nature has been a cornerstone of Tara Gray’s life for as long as she can remember. Introduced to hiking and camping at an early age by her father, the outdoors became both her playground and her refuge, a constant source of strength through life’s joys and challenges. Over the years, hiking and trail running have remained profound influences, offering clarity, resilience, and healing, especially during one of the most heartbreaking chapters of her life: the loss of her beloved daughter, Reese.

Following Reese’s passing, Tara experienced firsthand the restorative power of nature as a place of solace, grounding, and renewal. This deeply personal connection shaped her life’s work and inspired a steadfast commitment to sharing the healing power of the outdoors with others. For more than 20 years, Tara has been an integral part of Candlelight Ranch, where she has helped steward its mission and expand its impact, supporting thousands of children and families through nature-based, therapeutic programming. Her leadership has played a key role in advancing access to inclusive outdoor experiences for children with disabilities, youth in foster care, military families, and others facing significant challenges.

With over 25 years of nonprofit experience, Tara’s professional career has been devoted to community outreach, fundraising, nonprofit development, and mission-driven leadership. Her background includes impactful work with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, and she currently serves as Development Director at Candlelight Ranch, where she continues to raise vital resources, build partnerships, and champion nature as a powerful tool for healing and connection.

Tara’s relationship with hiking and trails is both deeply personal and profoundly purposeful. She believes the rhythm of the trail and the serenity of the outdoors can offer what words often cannot. It provides a space to process grief, restore balance, and reconnect with oneself. Hiking remains her sanctuary, a place where she honors her daughter’s memory while helping create brighter paths forward for others.

As Board Vice President of Come and Hike It, Tara is honored to bring her lifelong love of hiking, extensive nonprofit leadership experience, and passion for accessibility and inclusion to the organization. She is deeply aligned with Come and Hike It’s mission to encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to experience the outdoors and build meaningful connections through nature.

Tara holds a bachelor’s degree in Health and Wellness Promotion with a Secondary Education certificate. She lives in Cedar Park, Texas, with her family, where she continues to explore local trails, volunteer, and advocate for the healing, transformative power of nature. For Tara, every hike is a reminder of hope found on the trail—and the profound gift of sharing that journey with others.

Fun fact:

In 2006, one of the first wheelchair-accessible treehouses built in Central Texas was named after her daughter, Reese