Methodist Health System Foundation Team

​​​​​​​ Jim Johnston
President
(214) 947-4545

James “Jim” M. Johnston, became President of Methodist Health System Foundation in November 2016.

Prior to his role at Methodist Foundation, Jim’s 40-year career in the Dallas banking industry started with Republic Bank of Texas where he served in various corporate executive positions. He was subsequently named regional chairman of Frost Bank, and board vice chairman for Bank of Texas.

Jim, originally from Coleman, Texas, attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) on a football scholarship where he received a BA in Marketing and an MBA in Finance. His involvement with his alma mater has continued including roles as chairman of the SMU Mustang Club, of the Letterman’s Association, of the Planned Giving Council, of the Athletics Hall of Fame, and serves on the Executive Board of the Cox School of Business. He has also served in leadership positions with the Arthritis Foundation of North Texas, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Salesmanship Club of Dallas, Special Olympics of Texas, and Goodwill Industries of Dallas, and the Goodwill Foundation. He also serves as an elder at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and on the board of the HPPC Foundation.

Outside of work and community service, Jim loves spending time with his family: wife Suzanne; daughters Michelle, Chandler, and Cindy; and grandchildren. Jim also enjoys golfing, traveling, reading, and supporting the SMU Mustangs.

Calvert Collins-Bratton
Vice President, Strategic Events and Relationships
(214) 947-4585

Calvert Collins-Bratton is a seventh generation Texan, born and raised in Dallas. She graduated from the University of Missouri and spent a decade as a television news reporter in Omaha, Nebraska; Las Vegas; and Dallas. Prior to joining the Methodist Health System Foundation team in 2018, Calvert served as Methodist Health System's corporate manager of public relations for two and a half years. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering and currently represents District 13 on the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, and serves as president of Safer Dallas Better Dallas. She also sits on SMU's 21st Century Council and Executive Board of the Simmons School of Education & Human Development, as well as Children at Risk's North Texas Advisory Board. Calvert and her husband live in north Dallas with their three young daughters.

Joy Duncan
Vice President, Board Relationships and Strategic Initiatives
(214) 947-4602

John Mitchener

Vice President, Development
(214) 947-4596 

John Mitchener graduated from the University of Mississippi where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing. Prior to joining the Methodist Health System Foundation team, he was development officer at two pediatric healthcare systems, most recently at Children's Health in Dallas and before that at Texas children's Hospital in Houston. Prior to getting into healthcare fundraising, John served as a capital campaign consultant with Community Counseling Services Fundraising. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their daughter in addition to running and golfing when time allows. 

Devon Smith
Director of Grant Writing & Stewardship
(214) 947-4550

Devon Smith graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in writing. She is currently working towards a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Before joining the Methodist Health System Foundation in 2017, she enjoyed working for several outstanding nonprofit organizations, including Children's Medical Center Foundation, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and Moncrief Cancer Institute. In her current role as Director of grant writing and stewardship, Devon is grateful for the opportunity to share the special mission and story of Methodist Health system with generous funders and partners throughout the Dallas community. Outside the office, she and her husband, Rory, love going to arts performances, watching movies, and traveling - especially when golf is involved!

Brittney Bannon
Employee Giving and Strategic Projects Coordinator
(214) 947-4556

Brittney Bannon is a 2007 graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. Following college, she began working in the nonprofit sector, starting at Irving School Foundation as donor services coordinator, where she was later promoted to development manager. Prior to joining Methodist Health System Foundation, Brittney was executive director for the Children's Cancer Fund of Dallas and events manager of the southwest region for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling with her husband, Michael, and squeezing in time with her friends on the weekends. Brittney and Michael live in north Dallas with their two children, Brittain and Michael Jr.

Mackenzie North  
Database Administrator 
(214) 947-4595

Mackenzie North graduated from Abilene Christian University with a degree in history. Since graduation she gained experience in the mortgage analytics industry before transitioning into database operations for nonprofit organizations. Mackenzie loves working for Methodist Health System Foundation because of the organization's dedication to providing healthcare to members of the community and for having the opportunity to work with dedicated colleagues every day. To her, both of those reasons make Methodist Health System an excellent institution with which to work. When not at work, Mackenzie loves to cook, cycle, and spend time with her loved ones, including her adopted German shepherd, Ruby.

Jenny Banda Vann
Prospect Research Specialist
(214) 947-4580

Jenny Banda Vann comes to the Methodist Health System Foundation team after spending six years in Tyler, Texas. While in Tyler, she gained a wealth of knowledge in major gift fundraising, prospect management, and research with a local hospital system. Prior to this, her interest and passions in nonprofit work took root working as a program director and director of stewardship for local organizations. Jenny was born and raised in Dallas and attended Dallas Baptist University, where she completed her Bachelors of Arts in communications and Master of Business Administration. She is a chapter board member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) North Texas and member of APRA International. Jenny and her husband, Joe, have two daughters, Lillian and Julia. Jenny enjoys spending time with family, gardening, traveling, cheering on her Dallas Stars hockey team, and crafting. 

Nicole Zrake
Project Coordinator
(214) 947-4551

Nicole Zrake graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science in international merchandising. Upon graduation she moved to Ireland, where she was a merchandising specialist for The Body Shop Co. A few years later, she returned to Texas and worked as brand manager in the retail industry. Nicole transitioned to the nonprofit sector in 2017 when Methodist Health System Foundation hired her as project coordinator. She actively serves the community by volunteering at multiple local nonprofits, her church, and with Junior League of Dallas. Additional, Nicole enjoys reading, the arts, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Cheryl Sosa

Executive Assistant
(214) 947-4546

Cheryl Sosa graduated from Trinity Valley Community College, the first in her family to earn a college degree. For more than 15 years, she has worked in various industries as an executive assistant, including for several nonprofit organizations. Before coming to Methodist Health System Foundation, Cheryl worked with Baylor Health Care System and Texas Health Resources to name a few. Outside work, Cheryl loves playing and watching soccer and devotes a very small window of spare time to creating different crafts. Cheryl and her husband, Shawn, have three daughters, Maddy, Kylee, and Brook, and two sons, Brayden and Drew.