We thank these accomplished individuals for supporting Sacred Stories. Each of these professionals understands legacy preservation, the value of reminiscence, and the importance of listening.
Dawn M. Roode, Owner, Modern Heirloom Books
Dawn M. Roode is a personal historian whose specialty is creating bespoke coffee table books that celebrate people’s lives and family history. Based in New Jersey, Dawn’s company Modern Heirloom Books serves the greater New York City area and beyond. After a two-decades’ long career in lifestyle magazines—where she worked at titles including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Latina, and Parenting—Dawn now turns her attention to interviewing individuals to capture their stories and preserve them in books worthy of being passed on as meaningful heirlooms.
Ryan Anderson, Cinematographer & Documentary Filmmaker
Ryan Anderson is an award-winning editor and videographer whose work has been featured on NBC Sports, Esquire Network, USA Network, Fox Sports, and the Pursuit Channel. His credits include over 100 episodes of nationally broadcast television. Ryan is the owner of Paper Ketchup Productions in San Antonio.
Rabbi Zev Johnson, University of Texas Chabad Jewish Center
Rabbi Zev and Ariela Johnson, along with their children, co-direct the Chabad Jewish Student Center at UT. Rabbi Zev is an alumnus of UT. He continued his education at the Rabbinical College of America and received Rabbinical ordination at the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies. Rabbi Zev and Ariela are living their dreams co-directing Chabad House, where they strive to fulfill UT’s motto, “What starts here, changes the world.”
Kristin Finan, Co-founder/Editor of Austin Travels Magazine
Kristin Finan is a lifelong Austinite and proud Longhorn who has spent the past two decades as a professional journalist, serving as a staff writer for newspapers including the Houston Chronicle and the Austin American-Statesman as well as writing for USA Today, Texas Monthly and Scary Mommy and authoring four travel books. In 2020, amid the pandemic, she co-founded Austin Travels Magazine, which aims to showcase great writing and diverse voices for an Austin audience. Kristin is also the co-founder and executive director of Carrying Hope, a 501c3 nonprofit that provides Hope Packs filled with comfort items and essentials to children who are entering the foster care system across Texas. A foster and adoptive mom, Kristin enjoys traveling the world with her husband and their six children.
Liz Nielsen, Attorney, Founder & CEO, Nielsen Law Firm
Liz Nielsen has guided hundreds of families through the estate planning process, serving as their trusted advisor to bring peace of mind to their lives. She is the founder of Nielsen Law, an estate planning and probate law firm in Austin, Texas. Liz is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She practices exclusively in the areas of estate planning, special needs planning, and estate administration. Liz is also President of the Board of AGE of Central Texas, a nonprofit organization that helps older adults and their caregivers thrive as they navigate the realities and opportunities of aging.
Steve Miura, Wealth Management Advisor, The Miura Group
Steve Miura is a businessman and philanthropist in Austin, TX. Since 1987, The Miura Group, an original (founding) member of Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group, helps “successful people gain clarity and intentionality around their financial world in order to have greater and understanding and peace about how their wealth matches the life and future they want.” Steve is an accredited wealth management advisor, chartered financial consultant and life underwriter, and retirement income certified professional.
Carmen Crisantes, Sustainable Living Expert
Carmen Crisantes is a mother and permaculturist in San Antonio, TX. Her three teenagers keep her busy and young. She has a degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University and certificates in Permaculture Design and Rainwater Harvesting, and enjoys putting her knowledge to use in her home garden. As a widow, she understands keenly the finite nature of life and value of intentionality with loved ones. Carmen is a lifelong friend of Whitney Myers, the founder of Sacred Stories, and was one of the first very satisfied customers, when her grandmother’s film was made.
Laura Woolsey, Founder & CEO, Memory Forward
Laura is the owner of Memory Forward, a premier photo organization and scanning service based in Austin, TX. She credits her love for photo organizing to her childhood, when she enjoyed helping her mother hand-label photos with names and dates, and when she learned to type by creating a catalog of her family’s VHS movie library. This knack for organizing and love of photos, combined with an education in computer science led Laura to found Memory Forward in 2007. Now, Laura manages a team of dedicated professionals just as passionate as she is about quality and helping people erase “photo overwhelm” and leave a lasting legacy for their families. Laura and her family now live in Kansas City and expect to open the second Memory Forward location there soon.
Past Advisory Group Members:
Annette Gracy Juba, LCSW, native Austinite and clinical social worker, received a Master of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Texas. She has worked with older adults in various capacities since 1986. She is a past co-chair of the Aging Services Council & former Deputy Director of AGE of Central Texas. At AGE, she oversaw the agency’s six programs of direct service. She currently works as the Program Director for Breast Resource Care Center & serves on the advisory panel for the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long Term Care at the UT School of Nursing and as Vice-Chair of the OneStar National Service Commission.
Lindsey K. Leaverton is an Austin-based Private Wealth Advisor at Savvy Wealth, specializing in financial planning and investment management for individuals and families who want to align their wealth with their values. A proud Texan and Texas A&M magna cum laude graduate, Lindsey began her career leading a nonprofit as Executive Director while touring the country as a professional recording artist and speaker. Her passion for servant leadership led her to the financial services industry in 2010 where she quickly advanced from Personal Banker to Branch Manager and eventually helped launch Austin’s first Private Bank for BB&T. There, she earned the National Sterling Award for excellence in leadership and client service. Before joining Savvy Wealth, Lindsey served as Director of Wealth Management at a $1B Austin advisory firm, where she led client strategy and designed comprehensive financial plans for high-net-worth families. Recognized with the Austin Under 40 Award for Excellence in Financial Services and selected as a McBee Fellow with AARO, Lindsey also serves as Vice President of the Board for People’s Community Clinic. Lindsey holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 licenses, along with the AWMA® designation. Outside of work, Lindsey lives in Cedar Park, TX with her twin teenagers and two rescue pups. Featured in outlets such as The New York Times and People Magazine, she’s also an author, speaker, and singer. Her debut book, Not Another Self-Help Book, became an Amazon Bestseller in 2024. A lifelong creative, Lindsey believes that laughter – like money – is best when shared.