Staff

Brittany Hebert Franklin

Chief Executive Officer & 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, and two dogs.

SHAUNTAE CENTERS

Director of Operations

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 Yantis

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.

Kristina brings ten years marketing and public relations experience to Sky High. 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 spending time with her husband and friends, reading and working out.

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 she previously served on the Forbes Communications Council.

Grace Clark

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.

Kelly Sutter

Development Manager

A native Houstonian, Kelly graduated from The University of Houston with a Bachelors in Corporate Communications. After starting her career in Houston in the Oil & Gas industry, she was eventually moved out to Midland in 2016 to help broaden her knowledge on the industry as a whole and expand her companies’ presence in the Permian.

In 2017, Kelly attended her first Sky High event in Midland and quickly became involved as a committee member. As her passion for the organization grew over the years, she eventually made the decision to “retire” from her Oil & Gas job to save lives full time. Kelly now serves as the Development Manager for Sky High’s Western Region, covering everything from Midland, Lubbock, San Antonio, and a little bit of Houston.

Kelly brings ten years of sales experience within the Oil & Gas industry to Sky High. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Permian Basin Association of Pipeliners, as well as chairing multiple committees within her community.

Shelton Elwood

Event Manager

A native Houstonian, Shelton developed a passion for party planning as a teenager. In fact, when tasked with the International Baccalaureate “Personal Project,” she chose to plan and execute a Christmas Party for an assisted living facility during her junior year of high school. Until this point, her events were strictly social, but this opportunity allowed her to merge her love of events with her other passion: helping others. Upon high school graduation, Shelton set out for Oxford, MS to pursue a degree in Hospitality Management. Her time at Ole Miss, combined with a wedding planning internship, further solidified her preferred career path.

Prior to joining the Sky High team in 2021, Shelton planned hundreds of events for a turnkey catering, event planning, and design company in Houston. While she greatly valued the experience and relationships this opportunity allowed her, she felt something was missing: that joy and fulfilment she found from helping others. When she connected with Sky High for Kids, everything fell into place. Since joining the events team, Shelton has found immense gratification both personally and professionally.

When she isn’t in the office or hosting a Sky High event, Shelton enjoys helping her family at tasc Performance, working out, and spending time with her friends.

Nicole Finley

Assistant Event Coordinator

Nicole was born and raised in the metro Detroit area of Michigan. She served eight years in the military and is now a proud veteran of the United States Coast Guard. She was also a military spouse to her husband who served 21 years. Upon his final tour, they made Houston their home in 2017.

Nicole has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the American Military University. She worked in the oil and gas industry for 5 years, and upon losing her own brother to cancer in 2021 she sought an alternative career where she could use her passion to make a difference. She joined the Sky High Team in the fall of 2022.

Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time with her family and friends, her miniature goldendoodle, and being involved with church and bible study group.

Joseph Kern

Development Coordinator

Joseph “Joe” Kern, was born and raised in Winchester, KS. Joe graduated from Sterling College December 2018 with a Sports Management degree with a concentration in Administration and soon after, moved to Houston, TX. Prior to working with Sky High for Kids, Joe worked in the event industry working large scale events like Houston Texans games, The Houston Livestock and Rodeo, and the Houston Astros games for three years .

Joe joined Sky High’s team in 2022 and is excited to bring a unique perspective and passion towards the mission to end Childhood Cancer.

In his free time, he loves to spend time at the beach, play basketball and discover everything Houston has to offer.