Tim Barnes – Founder/President
Tim Barnes is Casey’s dad. He moved to Austin from the midwest 20 years ago and works in the financial services software industry. When Marty and Tim aren’t working on Casey’s Circle events, you can usually find Tim making furniture in his wood shop, a passion he picked up customizing Casey’s home in adapted way that recognized that she was first and foremost an amazing little girl, and a patient second. This is a theme that Tim and Marty try to keep in mind when organizing events for children like Casey.
tim@caseyscircle.org
Marty Barnes – Founder/Director
Marty Barnes is a native Texan and best known as Casey’s mom. Marty and her husband, Tim, created the nonprofit Casey’s Circle after Casey’s passing in 2016. This organization offers many tools, resources, social opportunities for children who are medically complex, and bereavement events. Casey’s Circle also includes educational resources specifically designed for caregivers of children who are medically complex. In addition to her own organization, Marty is very active in the special needs community and works closely with her community’s local children’s hospital and the Palliative Care Team to help improve family centered care and best practices for children with complex medical needs.
marty@caseyscircle.org
Bill Crowley – Treasurer
Bill Crowley and his wife Trixy are the proud parents of Ava and Berkley, two of Casey’s friends and girl scout troop-mates. Over the years, the Crowley family has volunteered at various Casey’s Circle events around Austin and are honored to be able to continue serving with a presence on Casey’s Circle Board. Bill has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UT. He works an executive in the software industry focusing on turnarounds for small software companies. Bill brings a lot of business experience and great ideas to help Casey’s Circle expand and reach more local families of children with complex medical needs.
bill@caseyscircle.org
Valerie Zavaleta – Secretary/Director of Media Relations
Valerie Zavaleta her husband have 3 young girls and were honored to call Casey their friend. One of Valerie’s daughter’s was a member of Casey’s Girl Scout Troop, and her oldest daughter attended meetings as Casey’s helper. Valerie has her teaching degree from Texas Tech University and taught 2nd grade before becoming a mom. She also worked as a math writer and for a pediatric therapy clinic. In addition to her Board of Director’s position, Valerie is a busy mom to her 3 girls and is an active member of the PTA. Valerie enjoys helping at the many Casey’s Circle events around town. She often brings her girls with her so they can all share their love for Casey by interacting with unique, special kids.
val@caseyscircle.org
Vanessa Ven Huizen – Medical Director
Dr Vanessa Ven Huizen and her husband met the Barnes family online in 2007 when their daughter Giuliana was diagnosed with a similar illness. The girls were the best of friends and coincidentally lived nearby! Casey’s Circle has been near and dear to Dr Ven Huizen’s heart since and she helps in any way she can, from helping coordinate medical resources within the special needs community to eventual growth of Casey’s Circle ongoing efforts to encompass inclusivity of services for this special needs community. Outside of Casey’s Circle, she is Associate Medical Director for Wellmed Medical Management in Austin, Texas.
vanessa@caseyscircle.org