John is a UNT College of Music alumnus with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. His wife, Lindy, is the daughter of Carroll (“Spec”) and Carolynn Jackson, founders of Spec’s Wines, Spirits, and Finer Foods. Today, John and Lindy, along with their daughter, Lisa, oversee the Houston-based superstore chain, which has locations scattered widely across the state of Texas.

John and Lindy were both music majors when they met at the University of North Texas; John was a saxophonist and conductor, and Lindy was a singer. Inspired by their shared passion for music, and as a tribute to the founders of Spec’s, the Rydmans created the Spec’s Charitable Foundation with the purpose of supporting educational programs. Through Spec’s Charitable Foundation, John and Lindy established an endowed fund at UNT for the One O'Clock Lab Band®, which has provided scholarship support and recording & travel opportunities for the Grammy-nominated ensemble. In 2019, a donation from Spec's Charitable Foundation funded the Spec’s Charitable Foundation Courtyard—an outdoor social & performance space, central to the entrance of UNT College of Music.

In addition to serving on the Advancement Board at UNT College of Music, John is Board Chair and President of the Houston Symphony Society. A conductor himself, one of John’s greatest honors was the opportunity to conduct the Houston Symphony for an Independence Day Patriotic Concert. He has received multiple awards for Outstanding Support of the Arts from the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestra, North Texas Business Council for the Arts, and the National Business Council for the Arts.
In his final year at UNT College of Music, John was inducted as a member of the honorary music society, Pi Kappa Lamda; additionally, he was a patron of Mu Phi Epsilon. November 7th, 2020 marks the 50-year anniversary of John and Lindy’s first date—a UNT Football game, where Phi Mu Alpha was selling copies of “Glory to the Green.” Today, John and Lindy reside in Houston, TX, enjoy extensive travel to exotic scuba-diving destinations, and orchestrate the success of their ever-growing business by using “the skills [they] learned at UNT.”

Bill is a UNT College of Music alumnus with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Musicology; he completed his doctoral research in Poland as a Fulbright Scholar. Additionally, Dr. Smialek holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from University of Rhode Island. Bill is a retired college professor and administrator whose 35 years in higher education have included executive positions in academic affairs, institutional advancement and development, and institutional effectiveness.

Bill currently works as a part-time consultant for non-profit and higher education institutions with a special interest in assisting HBCUs. Prior to joining the UNT College of Music Advancement Board, he assumed the role of Director of Development for the East Texas Youth Orchestra. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Bill employees his expertise in building relationships, data management, and grant writing to seek community support for the music education and performance experiences of young musicians in the East Texas region.

A dedicated music scholar, Bill has published books and papers on Polish and East European music of the 19th and 20th centuries. Inspired by his own research experiences in Europe, Bill established the History, Theory and Ethnomusicology Endowed Travel Fund to provide support for research-related travel expenses incurred by doctoral students at UNT. A resource of UNT that he greatly values is the music library, and he welcomes opportunities to share with others about the College of Music’s enriching learning environment.

Bill has proficiencies in 6 languages, including Czech, Polish, Russian, German, French, and English. He and wife of 42 years, Molly McCoy, met in an opera literature class at UNT College of Music. They have two accomplished children, one of whom is a graduate of the UNT Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science.

Debbie is an alumna of UNT College of Music, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Cello Performance with a focus in Musicology. Ms. Brooks is the founding director of DFW Musicians Services LLC, a full-service contracting company which has established a national reputation for excellence. For 20 years, Debbie has connected clients with first-rate musical talent for performances in numerous cities across Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Oklahoma, as well as in Nashville, Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, and New Orleans.

Debbie’s successful contracting enterprise has been significantly informed by her own career as a versatile performer. As a freelance cellist, she has performed across genres which have included classical, pops, and musical theater repertoire. For over 35 years, Debbie has performed with Casa Mañana Musicals and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, where she served as Associate Principal Cellist for sixteen years. As a featured soloist for the FWSO, she has performed with Bobby McFerrin, Bernadette Peters, and Mark O’Connor—to name a few.

Her heart for the developing student has inspired her to maintain a private teaching studio for more than 45 years. Prior to joining the Advancement Board, Debbie taught as a UNT College of Music faculty member, offering instruction in Orchestral Cello Excerpt Performance and Music Career Development. She has offered professional consultation and guidance to UNT Music Entrepreneurship students as both a guest speaker and judge for the program’s annual competition. The quality she values most about UNT College of Music is its environment of preparation for professional success.

Debbie supports the college because she is passionate about helping students, and she welcomes opportunities to share with others about UNT College of Music’s premier programs and excellent faculty.

Bob Brown is retired Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration of the University of North Texas where he led UNT’s budget, finance and administrative operations. He is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a UNT alumnus and has more than 35 years of experience as the chief business officer in various higher education institutions. He received the Nation’s Outstanding Chief Business Officer award from the Community College Business Officers organization in 1996; the Distinguished Service Award from the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers in 2008; and was named an Innovator of the Year in 1990 and in 2003 by the League for Innovation in the Community College. He served as President for Business and Administration at Texas A&M-Commerce and served at Dallas County Community College District, North Harris Montgomery Community College District in Houston and Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 

He holds the degrees MBA, and BBA from UNT and he completed the College Business Management Institute at the University of Kentucky and the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the University of Texas at Austin

Hoyt W. Frenzel, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician. He has been practicing emergency medicine for over 20 years in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Dr. Frenzel graduated from the University of North Texas in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He earned his Medical Doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at East Carolina’s Brody School of Medicine. He is a Fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM).

Dr. Frenzel has an extensive background in medicine, business, leadership, and consulting. He has a passion for quality and process improvement. While at Texas Health-Arlington Memorial hospital, he assisted in the creation of a Trauma Center, Chest Pain Center, A-Fib/EP Center, Stroke Center, and Heart and Vascular Hospital. He has served as a Site Medical Director and Regional Medical Director for multiple DFW hospital emergency departments.

He was an Owner/Vice President of AEMA/SAEMA, a private, democratic emergency medicine group. He assisted in the launch of the DFW CVS Minute Clinics. He is a Principal in the I-Care freestanding emergency department and urgent care franchise. He is an Inventor and holds three patents for a “Bloodless IV Integrated Catheter System.” During COVID-19, he launched a post-discharge telemedicine program for 19 DFW hospitals.

He was awarded the DFW Hospital Council’s “Physician of the Year Award.”  He was named a “Healthcare Hero” by the Fort Worth Business Press. He was further honored with the “Dale Rank Physician Leadership Award.” He earned the peer nominated “Top Doctor Award.”  He served as a “Nation Officer” and the “Medicine Man” for eight years in the Indian Princess’s program for the Yo-He-Wah Nation.

Dr. Frenzel has a beautiful wife and three amazing daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys fly fishing, traveling, and jazz guitar.

Credo: music is medicine… and medicine heals.

Multi-Grammy and Emmy nominated musician, David B. Hooten is known as the “Musician’s Musician” and the “Maker of Memories.” Born in Frascati, Italy into an Air Force family, Hooten lived in various cities through the U.S. and Europe. Hooten received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from North Texas State University and a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Oklahoma. Hooten, and Pat Boone, were awarded UNT Presidential Medals of Honor in April 2022 in celebration of their musical talents and undeniable impact on the entertainment industry. The UNT Presidential Medal of Honor is the highest presidential honor given at UNT, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to UNT and have elevated the university.

Hooten has released over 20 albums and has performed on and produced over 100 albums through his own label, D.B.H. Productions. In 2020, Hooten released the inspirational “Footprints of God,” a series of religious poems and readings set to music, read by singer-actor-author Pat Boone. In addition to recording, Hooten's busy schedule includes appearances worldwide as a guest trumpet soloist in recitals and with symphony orchestras. He has been soloist with The Kiev Symphony Orchestra, The Oklahoma City Philharmonic, The Thailand National Symphony Orchestra, for Thailand's gala event of the year, and for the 60th Birthday of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Hooten has raised millions of dollars for charities over the years. Hooten established The Children's Music Education Foundation.  With this foundation he has gifted 100's of musical instruments to aspiring artists. He and his wife established the David and Whitney Hooten Foundation through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in 2001. The self-directed foundation helps provide music opportunities for children. Hooten was the title sponsor for the 2003 David B. Hooten Invitational Golf Tournament, a part of the Hooter’s Pro Tour and has chaired Red-Tie Night, Oklahoma’s single largest fundraising event which benefits the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund.

In Nov. 2016 Mr. Hooten won the election for Oklahoma County Clerk. Hooten unseated a 20-year incumbent and has saved taxpayers millions of dollars by modernizing the Oklahoma County Clerk's Office. David and his wife, Whitney, have three beautiful children, Henry David, Ava Elizabeth, and David Benjamin Hooten Jr. For additional information go to www.DavidHooten.Com.

Born and raised in Argentina, Elizabeth earned her master's degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. Ms. Nieto spent almost 20 years with Citigroup in global talent management, diversity & inclusion roles, and as an HR business partner. As VP of Equity and Impact at Spotify, she is responsible for Diversity & Belonging, Campus & Diversity Talent, Sustainability and Social Impact. Prior to joining Spotify, Elizabeth was the Head of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Amazon.

In 2014, she was named one of the Top Champions of Diversity by Diversity Global and recognized as one of the 2014 Hispanic Business 50 Influentials by Hispanic Business. Elizabeth was honored in 2016 by El Museo del Barrio in New York City for Excellence in Philanthropy. Elizabeth served as a board member for Girls Learn International and is currently a board member at A Fair Shake for Youth, bringing hands-on therapy dog programs to underserved middle school students. She also serves on the Board of Directors for The Opportunity Network and the All Stars Project, Inc., organizations which maximize education and career success for students of marginalized and low-income communities.


Elizabeth has an eclectic array of styles and genres she enjoys as a musical and cultural tourist.  As an enthusiast of music spanning the globe, Elizabeth values the diversity of backgrounds, geographies, and experiences represented in the UNT College of Music. Elizabeth supports the College because she values the opportunities presented to the musicians and composers studying at UNT.

Elizabeth and husband, Michael Archer (UNT ’81), reside in Manhattan, NY. They stay connected to their love of Jazz and other music genres through performances taking place throughout the city.

Amanda is a Southern Methodist University alumna with a BBA in Accounting. She began her career in finance in 1993 as a financial auditor with expertise in privately-held companies. In 1998, Amanda joined tax services and consulting firm Ryan LLC and rose in ranks from Controller to Chief Financial Officer. Today, Amanda is President & CEO of ONE Ryan Global LLC, which oversees diverse real estate and private equity investments.

Prior to joining the UNT College of Music Advancement Board, Amanda’s relationship to the University of North Texas developed as the result of her husband, UNT College of Business alumnus (’88, ’88 M.S.) G. Brint Ryan. In 2018, Ryan LLC served as the presenting sponsor of the UNT College of Music fundraising gala: Metamorphosis. Together in 2019, Brint and Amanda gave the largest gift in UNT history, resulting in the naming of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at the Universtiy of North Texas.

One of Mrs. Ryan’s most noticeable passions is her love of musical arts. A Suzuki-trained violinist from the age of six, Amanda shared her enthusiasm for musical expression and creativity with her five daughters. Though, to her dismay, she did not manage to produce a family string ensemble, she is the proud mother of four singers and a classical guitarist. As a member of the Advancement Board, Amanda is a dedicated amabassador of the UNT College of Music. She seeks to increase awareness of the depth and breadth of UNT student ensembles and to make valuable introductions to further the philanthropic efforts and mission of the college.

Mrs. Ryan is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and has a special talent for floral arranging which led to the recent establishment of her own floral design business. Amanda currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband G. Brint Ryan and their school-aged daughters.

Visit Mrs. Ryan’s professional profile.

Judy is a UNT College of Business alumna with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting; additionally, Ms. Watson holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Austin College. Professionally, she has been responsible for monitoring financial portfolios and accounting services within the private and nonprofit sectors. As a philanthropist, for over 20 years, Judy has reviewed hundreds of grant proposals on behalf of the Donachie Foundation and offered pro bono business consulting as a Partner with Dallas Social Venture Partners.

Judy has championed the performing arts in North Texas as a board member of both Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico and the Dallas Jazz Piano Society. As a member of Dallas Jazz Piano Society’s leadership team, Judy supported the development of Fredrick Sanders’s award-winning piano techniques and the establishment of a leadership program for underserved West Dallas students. In 2019, Ms. Watson was awarded Volunteer of the Year by Sammons Center of the Arts, where she humbly shared her enthusiasm for the arts with devoted friends.

Ms. Watson enjoys all cultures of imagination and appreciates their capacity for human connection. Whether jazz, dance, symphony, or opera, she needs music in her daily diet and regularly supports a rich array of creative organizations, as both audience member and patron. As a member of the College of Music Advancement Board, Judy is indebted to the University of North Texas for its world-class music education standards, exceptionally talented student musicians, and myriad of outstanding performances. Judy welcomes opportunities to network and advocate for the accomplished graduates of UNT College of Music.

Though Judy has primarily enjoyed Dallas, her life has been culturally enriched by extensive travel and former residence in South America with husband and, then school-aged, children. Judy’s ongoing passion for the creative arts is shared by her growing family, which now includes three treasured grand-children.

Malcolm Winspear received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, and his MBA from Baylor University. Prior to his retirement in 2019, Malcolm was the CEO of Javelin Logistics, a Northern California based Third Party Logistics Service. Malcolm orchestrated the growth of the firm from a start-up located in Northern California, to a comprehensive logistics services firm employing 350 people at 15 locations in multiple states across the southern and western US.

In addition to serving on the UNT College of Music Advancement Board, Malcolm also serves on the Advisory Board for the Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research and on UNT’s Employer Advisory Board, both within the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at UNT.

Malcolm has been an active an ardent supporter of the musical arts for many years, and while living in California, served on the Board of Directors for the California Symphony. The UNT College of Music has special meaning to Malcolm. His parents’ involvement and philanthropy sparked the initial curiosity, but he became an instant advocate for the College, the programs, the faculty, and especially the students, from his very first visit to campus. In addition to UNT, he is now very involved with The Dallas Opera as well, strong in his belief that continuing support for the education and for the performance of visual and musical arts are a critical component to a robust and healthy society.

Malcolm and his wife of 30 years Jill relocated back to Dallas from California in 2019. In addition to being an avid golfer, Malcolm is admittedly obsessed with boating; and with cruising the waters of the Pacific Northwest.