Ms. Ruiz is currently the national Chair of the Board of Trustees of Dance/USA, the Chair of the “Create Austin” cultural planning process, a member of the national Board of Directors of the American Arts Alliance (Washington DC), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Board of Directors of GENaustin, the Board of Directors of Con Mi Madre, the Community Advisory Board of KMFA, and is in her 9th year as a Community Advisor to the Young Women’s Alliance (YWA). She has served as a speaker, facilitator and presenter for a variety of leadership conferences. In 1996 Ms. Ruiz joined the staff of Ballet Austin as development director, became general manager in 1997 and executive director in 1999.
Ms. Ruiz has more than 25 years experience in the areas of strategic planning, program development and non-profit fund-raising/management, which includes work with the United Way and the American Red Cross. In 2002 she was awarded the professional designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive (C.F.R.E.) by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.