Hogg Foundation Hires Policy Expert, Operations Manager

Feb. 11, 2010

AUSTIN, Texas — Colleen Horton, an expert in state and federal disability policies, and Kimberly Zabaneh, an experienced operations and human resources manager, joined the staff of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in January 2010.

As a program officer, Horton will lead the foundation's mental health policy unit and manage policy-related grants and activities. Zabaneh will oversee the foundation's daily operations and support functions in the newly created position of operations manager.

"We welcome Colleen and Kimberly and are quite excited with the expertise and energy that each brings to the foundation," said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez Jr., executive director.

Since 2001 Horton has worked at the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. As public policy director and a children's policy specialist, she gained extensive knowledge and experience in legislative and administrative rulemaking processes. Before that she was an advocacy coordinator for Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with Disabilities.

Horton is chair of the Children's Policy Council and a member of the Promoting Independence Advisory Committee and the Task Force for Children with Special Needs at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She also serves on the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Advisory Committee at the Texas Dept. of Aging and Disability Services. She has a master's degree in public affairs and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the university.

Zabaneh came to the foundation from H-E-B Grocery Co., which she joined in 2003. After completing the company's intensive two-year executive management training program, she held several management positions, first as assistant store director, then human resources manager and finally store director. She has a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the university.

The Hogg Foundation was founded in 1940 by the children of former Texas Governor James Hogg to promote improved mental health for the people of Texas. The foundation's grants and programs support mental health consumer services, research, policy analysis and public education projects in Texas. The foundation is part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the university.

For more information, contact: Merrell Foote, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, 512-471-9142 (office); 512-415-0408 (cell).