Our Team

“Closing the opportunity gap means that in addition to high-quality education programs that unlock creativity, we also must provide our children with social and emotional learning skills that will prepare them for careers that are yet to be created.”  — Byron Sanders

Byron Sanders is a relentless advocate for education, economic development, and equitable communities. As the President and CEO of Big Thought, his primary mission is to narrow the opportunity gap, ensuring young people have the chance to fulfill their innate potential. He firmly believes that each of us plays a role in creating a society where youth can thrive. Byron’s impactful leadership has earned him accolades, including the 2022 Dallas Business Journal Most Admired CEO and the 2023 NCAA Legends and Legacy Community Award. In 2017, he was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a program led by the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. His dedication was further recognized with the CASEL O’Brien Award for Excellence in Expanding the Evidence-Based Practice of Social and Emotional Learning in 2020. With expertise in banking, finance, education, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship, Byron’s journey includes vital roles at U.S. Trust, the Dallas Education Foundation, and leadership in Group Excellence. Beyond his accomplishments, Byron actively engages with various boards, contributing to organizations like Dallas College Foundation, For Oak Cliff, Young Leaders Strong City, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Mavericks Advisory Council. Byron is an alumnus of The University of Tulsa and now serves on its Board of Trustees, but his deepest fulfillment comes from spending time with his best friend and wife, Celeste, and their two galactically amazing children.

Glenn Baldwin, Chief Financial Officer, oversees and manages the finance, accounting, banking, budget, cash flow, payroll and risk management functions of Big Thought. Glenn brings a depth of experience to the organization, with over 30+ years of building and managing the financial and operational areas of a wide range of organizations, from technology to retail to nonprofit. Immediately prior to coming to Big Thought, Glenn was the founder of ForesterBaldwin+Co., which provided CFO services to owner-managed businesses. Glenn holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and studied entrepreneurship at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. Glenn has been a repeated guest lecturer in SMU’s MA/MBA program. Glenn has served on several arts and education nonprofit boards (Equest, Dallas Contemporary), including seven years on the Big Thought Board, prior to becoming CFO. Glenn is an enthusiastic runner, collector of World’s Fair memorabilia and a State Fair of Texas chocolate judge. He enjoys epic travel with his partner, George Haynes, and is a sixth generation Texan.

​​As Chief Big Thought Institute Officer, Greg MacPherson oversees a talented team focused on building organizational and community capacity through a suite of services that include professional learning, program and curriculum design, research and evaluation, and consulting. Greg joined Big Thought in 2010 and has helped lead the organization’s participation in both the National Summer Learning Initiative and the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative in conjunction with The Wallace Foundation. Greg is an alumnus of Leadership Dallas, the National Guild for Community Arts Education Leadership Institute and is a graduate of Baylor University.

Erin Offord is the Chief of Staff. She leads the organizational vision alongside the CEO and is instrumental in providing leadership to staff and fostering external relationships across the organization. She directs the efforts of all staff to strive for excellence. Erin has elevated Big Thought’s engagement with the community, national partnerships, and has been key in developing an expansion plan for the future of the organization. She provides leadership in developing and implementing strategies that connect community resources and quality programs for youth and parents. Mrs. Offord has more than 25 years of experience in community service, community organizing and nonprofit leadership and management. Erin’s work has been shared nationally, including at the Access, Equity and Quality in Arts Learning Conference, the Arts Educations Partnership, the Heinz, and Hewlett foundations, and the 71st annual Conference for Community Arts Education. Erin has also participated in the Building High Impact Nonprofits of Color leadership cohort (Dallas and Wilmington cohort) and the Asset Based Organizational Development Cohort (Dallas and Chicago cohort) both sponsored by Prosperity Now. Mrs. Offord serves on several community event committees throughout the region in community arts and education and was recognized by the Female Success Factor 2014 as one of the top 25 African American and Latina female leaders in Dallas. Erin has also been recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as Top Minority Business Leader in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Dr. Dhriti P. Stocks serves as Chief Development Officer for Big Thought, an organization dedicated to catalyzing the creativity in young people. In her role, Dhriti is responsible for overseeing the fundraising strategy for the organization, and with a spectacular team of professionals, ensures Big Thought has the resources and builds the awareness it needs to power its mission. Dhriti has spent the majority of her professional career in nonprofit fundraising in a variety of roles at respected community organizations like Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Children’s Medical Center Foundation, and Junior Achievement of Dallas. She began her nonprofit career as an AmeriCorps member serving with VolunteerNow. Dhriti has spent the last 20+ years in the Dallas area, following a move from Sydney, Australia, and is a proud graduate of Austin College and earned her PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. She earned a 2023 Teaching Award in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and is proud to help cultivate the next generation of nonprofit leaders at UT Dallas. She has also earned her CFRE designation, demonstrating her knowledge and commitment to the field of fundraising and philanthropy. Dhriti is a proud member of Class 4 of the CCC Leadership program for women nonprofit leaders, as well as the Communities Foundation of Texas Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy.