Brittany Hebert Franklin
CEO & Founder
Brittany Hebert Franklin never met a challenge she wasn’t prepared to face head-on. Her early years in Louisiana produced hardships from her parents’ divorce, mother’s drug addiction, father’s depression, and her family’s home burning to the ground. Through adversity, she clung to her rallying cry, “do things bigger than yourself” and has continued to raise the bar for herself each year.
At 21, Brittany was approached to raise $10,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Brittany remembered her life-changing trip only five years prior. Inspired by the challenge, Franklin contacted a few friends and hosted a sporting clay tournament in hopes of raising the $10,000. That day, they raised $50,000.
For 13 years, Brittany excelled in the Oil and Gas industry while building Sky High for Kids in her personal time. She utilized her contacts and resources within the industry to build events throughout Texas and Louisiana–raising millions of dollars to fund research projects. Sky High for Kids was officially founded in 2007 and successfully operated as a volunteer-run organization until 2014. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide comfort, fund research and save the lives of those fighting pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
In 2018, Brittany became the foundation’s full-time CEO. Today, she is leading a team raising millions of dollars to help fund pediatric cancer research. Sky High funds projects at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Center and The Ronald McDonald House Charities, Memphis among others. Brittany’s leadership and passion has led Sky for High Kids to donate more than $14 million to research institutions and causes, including $4 million in 2019 alone. In 2018, Sky High for Kids ambitiously pledged to raise $40 million over the next 15 years for Texas Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ($20 per institution).Twenty million of the commitment benefits Texas Children’s Cancer Center projects Global HOPE initiative and the first immunotherapy center solely dedicated to pediatric cancer in the U.S. In addition, Sky High has committed to a $20 million pledge to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to fund a research floor within the new 625,000-square-foot Advanced Research Center (ARC). Research conducted throughout the ARC will help move pediatric cancer survival rates forward.
Brittany is a member of the Entrepreneurship Organization of Houston and Houston Pipeliners Association. She also serves on the Texas Children’s Cancer Center Advisory Board, Global Hope Campaign Executive Committee and Leadership Committee for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Memphis. Recognitions include Houston Business Journal’s 2016 40 Under 40 and Women to Watch in Business, St. Jude Houston Region Guest of Honor as well as one of Houston Modern Luxury’s 2017 Most Dynamic Women. Through her company, BMH Performance, LLC, she consults other nonprofit organizations, oil and gas service companies, and shares her story as a keynote speaker.
Brittany lives in Houston with her husband, James Robert, where they are raising Franklin’s adopted daughter, Allie.
SHAUNTAE CENTERS
Director of Operations & Executive Assistant to the CEO
Shauntae was born and raised in Fargo, ND and moved to Houston in 2008. She joined the Sky High Team in 2017 as the Executive Assistant to the CEO and believes her mission in life is to help find the cure for pediatric cancer. When not working, Shauntae enjoys spending time with her family, finding new recipes and staying active. The Sky High Team has become her second family as she continues to live the mission as Director of Operations.
Kristina Gutierrez
Director of Marketing & Communications
Kristina joined Sky High in 2017 and in her current role is responsible for developing marketing and communication strategies that help advocate Sky High’s efforts. This includes collateral design, social media, media outreach, branding, email & mail marketing, merchandise, videography, website management, advertising, marketing training and more.
In 2018, she led Sky High’s rebranding and website redesign.
Prior to joining the team, Kristina worked with a private oil and gas company in South Texas and with a nationally recognized law firm handling public relations, marketing and event production.
A Texas native, Kristina graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio where she studied communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in business administration. In her spare time, Kristina enjoys reading, tennis, golf and running her side business, Master Plan Creative LLC.
She is an alumna of Phi Mu Fraternity, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, a representative of Global H.O.P.E.’s Campaign Executive Committee and serves on the Forbes Communications Council.
Leigh Ann Love
Director of Finance
Leigh Ann Love is a born and raised Houstonian. Hailing from the Westchase District, Leigh Ann is the newest addition to Sky High for Kids.
Prior to joining Sky High, she worked three years in the Oil and Gas industry while finishing her degree and raising her two sons. After receiving the Red Rose Scholarship for Leadership and graduating Cum Laude and from the University of Houston–Downtown, with an Accounting Degree, Leigh Ann worked for Landry’s, Inc. for seven years where she acquired her high-volume corporate accounting skills. In her current role at Sky High, she manages all of the financial processes from full cycle accounting to financial reporting. In addition to her full time role at Sky High, Leigh Ann is currently pursuing her MBA focused on Accounting.
She enjoys roller skating, working out, traveling and most important math.
Grace Theriot
Director of Events
Raised in Pearland, Texas, Grace is a Texas State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Relations and Business Administration. Grace joined Sky High as an event coordinator in July 2018, where she spearheaded the Lafayette and Permian Basin events before transitioning into the Director of Events role in July 2021. Grace is now using her love for the behind the scene aspect of events to streamline processes, expand regions and take our events department to the next level. Grace enjoys Orange Theory, spending time with family and friends, volunteering at her hometown church, and indulging in tacos and frozen margaritas.
Sarah Mouton
Development Manager
Sarah was born and raised in Houston and graduated from Louisiana State University in 2014 with a Bachelor ofScience in General Business and a Minor in Personal Finance. Following graduation, Sarah moved back to Houston and worked as the Logistics Coordinator at Silver Stone Events. In 2017, Sarah moved into the nonprofit sector with Casa de Esperanza as the Marketing and Development Coordinator. Sarah joined the Sky High family in August of 2019 as a Senior Event Coordinator and is responsible for the Houston banquet & clay shoot and the partner event with Crestwood. Sarah enjoys gardening, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family.
Jamie Sullivan
Senior Event Manager
Jamie Sullivan was raised in Katy, a suburb of Houston, Texas. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of science in public relations and a minor in business foundations. After graduation, Jamie moved back to the Houston area and worked in public relations before moving into event design and coordination. Jamie joined the Sky High team in October of 2018 as a senior event coordinator and is responsible for our Ladies Who Brunch event, the San Antonio banquet, and our fundraising partnership with Buckeye Partners, L.P. Jamie enjoys thrilling mystery novels, trivia games, podcasts and margaritas.