PLANO, TX (October 2, 2026): Nancy Freeman, Chair of the Plano Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors announced today the appointment of five new Board members. They are Lee Benson, Heather Heffner, Mirna Lynch, Brenda Mills, and Darlene Morford.
Along with these new directors, the Board consists of Chair, Nancy Freeman, Vice-Chair, Gary Brownfield, Treasurer, Bob Paton, Secretary, Craig Barber, and directors: Bobby Baggett, Linda Ballard, Ira Barash, Julianne Barnum, Heather Carlile, Bonnie Daneker, Angelique DeWitt, Tommy DeWitt, Tim Dwight,C.F.A., Rebeka Ecker, Fabian Gordon, Héctor Guzmán* Alice Hobbs**, Glen Hummel*, Arlene Johnson, Hal Kauffeldt, Dr. Doohi Lee, Mike Mangum, Allie Miller*, Charles Miller, Maria Mott*, Ralph Muse, David Orr, Amy Osteen, Gregory Patterson*, Staley Shiller, Tom Venner, and Sue Wood.
*ex-officio member
**Executive Director Emeritus
Lee Benson brings decades of executive leadership in HR and PEO professional services to the Plano Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. As President/Owner of a HR-On-Call Outsourcing Program since 2008, and previously GARALI Business Solutions, Lee has built a career on human resources, risk management expertise, client advisory, and organizational strategy—skills she could apply in service of the Symphony’s growth and long-term success. Her prior leadership roles, including Regional and Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations for a nationally ranked PEO and service on that company’s Operating Committee, reflect a career-long pattern of taking on greater responsibility and delivering results. She has held many board positions with Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, including President in 2023, and continues to serve as an Activity Leader. She is also a Docent Educator at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, a role that reflects her passion for education and civic engagement.
Heather Heffner is Senior Manager of Organizational Effectiveness at Toyota Motor North America and leads the Human Resources Strategic Planning Office. 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—with Children’s Medical Center Dallas, and with 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 nineteen 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, returned in 2018 to 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.