Heather Heffner, Mirna Lynch, Brenda Mills, and Darlene Morford Join the Board
PLANO, TX – Nancy Freeman, Chair of the Plano Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and Gregory Patterson, CEO/President, announced today the appointment of new Officers and Board members for the 2026/2027 Season. At the PSO’s annual general meeting held on Sunday, June 28, it was announced that Heather Heffner, Mirna Lynch, Brenda Mills, and Darlene Morford will join the Board of Directors effective July 1, 2026. A new slate of Officers was also announced, and they will be: Chair, Nancy Freeman, Vice Chair and Chair-Elect, Gary Brownfield, Treasurer, Bob Paton, and Secretary, Craig Barber.
The Board of Directors for the 2026/2027 Season will be, in addition to the officers previously announced, Bobby Baggett, Linda Ballard, Ira Barash, Heather Carlile, Bonnie Daneker, Angelique DeWitt, Tommy DeWitt, Tim Dwight, Rebeka Ecker, Fabian Gordon, Heather Heffner, Arlene Johnson, Hal Kauffeldt, Dr. Doohi Lee, Mirna Lynch, Mike Mangum, Charles Miller, Brenda Mills, Darlene Mordord, Ralph Muse, David Orr, Amy Osteen, Staley Shiller, Tom Venner, and Sue Wood. Héctor Guzmán and Gregory Patterson will serve as ex-officio members, along with PSO Guild President Maria Mott andPSO musician representatives Glen Hummel and Allie Miller. Alice Hobbs serves as Executive Director Emeritus.
“This year’s slate of new board members infuses the organization with new energy and creativity,” said Board Chair Nancy Freeman. “I couldn’t be more pleased with how our Board of Directors has developed into one of the most passionate groups I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.”
“As the PSO grows, it takes an army of committed volunteers and community leaders to strategically guide an arts organization to success—people from all walks of life bringing skills, experience, and guidance to support and mentor growth,” said CEO/President Gregory Patterson.
Heather Heffner is Senior Manager of Organizational Effectiveness at Toyota Motor North America and leads the Human Resources Strategic Planning Office. With over more than 20 years with Toyota, she has held leadership roles spanning enterprise strategy, corporate governance, manufacturing planning, and organizational transformation, including an overseas assignment in Japan. Throughout her career, she has focused on guiding complex initiatives, building alignment, and helping organizations navigate change with clarity and purpose. Heather holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Heather is deeply engaged in the Plano community through civic, educational, and arts-focused service. She is a graduate of Leadership Plano Class 39 and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Collin County, having served in leadership roles including Governance Director and Vice President of Training & Education. She currently serves on the boards of directors of ArtCentre of Plano and Sci-Tech Discovery Center, supporting strategic planning, governance, and development initiatives. Through her community involvement, she is committed to enriching Plano’s cultural life by expanding access to arts and education.
Mirna Lynch, a native New Yorker, serves the Plano Symphony Orchestra as a Community Liaison, committee chair and member, and Virtuoso Society member. Raised in the rich cultural environment of New York City, she is passionate about ensuring that communities have meaningful access to the arts. Mirna has held numerous volunteer and leadership roles, including with the Catholic Daughters of America in New York City—where she chaired the Debutante Ball for two consecutive years—and with Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority. Her professional background spans clothing design, marketing, and sales. She founded and operated a successful Personal Lines Insurance Agency for 22 years and served in national leadership roles with several Allstate agent associations, including as National President and Lobbyist for the Coalition of Exclusive Agents Association.
She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, with a degree in Design and Marketing. Mirna and her late husband Bob share a blended family of eight children and 19 grandchildren. She enjoys theater, skiing, boating, RVing, travel, and the beaches of the Caribbean.
Brenda Mills has a BA and MBA from Texas A&M University in accounting. She is a consultant specializing in benefits and 401ks for private equity firms. She is a native Texan and has lived in Plano since 1994 with her husband Coby. Brenda was on the PSO board from 2011 to 2017, served again from 2018 until 2025, and will return in 2026. She has been the past president, chaired the finance committee, the gala, and other committees. Brenda’s interests include music, travel, dancing, mahjong, and spending time with family and friends.
Darlene Morford became a Plano Symphony Orchestra subscriber in 2003 and soon joined the PSO Guild, where she served on the Guild Board, chaired the Education Committee, acted as Secretary, hosted the Hospitality Suite for the Young Artist Competition, and ultimately served as Guild President. She later joined the PSO Board of Directors, co-chairing both the PSO Gala and the Board Education Committee. In these roles, she helped oversee key education initiatives, including the School Concerts, the PSO Music Scholarship Program, the PSO Summer Programs, and additional community outreach efforts. Darlene is also active with the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras, where she has held several leadership positions, including serving as President.
Following her retirement from AT&T, Darlene became involved with Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, chairing the organization’s annual Holiday Auction—its primary fundraiser—and serving as First Vice President, overseeing scholarships for nursing students at Collin College.
Darlene resides in Plano and enjoys traveling, exploring world cultures and history, and spending time with family and friends.