From the Canyon to the World

David Rogers is the CEO and President of the H. E. Butt Foundation, which publishes Echoes magazine. His leadership at the H. E. Butt Foundation spans three decades—he has led the organization through its transformation from a primarily faith-based, camping-focused culture into a culture-shaping organization known internationally for its commitment to hospitality and excellence.

For more than two decades, David led the H. E. Butt Foundation Camp and Laity Lodge programs. During that period, he also launched two new camping programs: Laity Lodge Family Camp and H. E. Butt Foundation Outdoor School. In 2015, he was named President and CEO and has led several new community engagement initiatives in San Antonio and South Texas since, including efforts to support mental health awareness, build capacity for non-profits, develop rural communities, and address the challenge of socio-economic inequity.

David is skilled at relational team building, cultural change management, and leadership development. Under his leadership, the foundation has grown to one of the largest foundations in Texas and one of the largest operating foundations in the United States.

David earned a BA from the University of Mississippi and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, Deborah Butt Rogers. David and Deborah have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Patton Dodd works as the executive director of storytelling & communications and executive editor of Echoes magazine. Patton Dodd has lived all over the country, but he and his family finally found home in San Antonio a few years ago—and if he has it his way, San Antonio will be home for good.

Patton’s background is a mix of journalism and academia. After completing a doctorate in religion and literature at Boston University, Patton transitioned into a journalism career, covering a range of topics from sports to movies to politics to church movements to poverty and economics. What tied it all together was a passion for stories about change: how people and places, ideas and institutions shift and develop—and how they can change for the good.

Patton loves listening and learning, especially to and from his fellow San Antonians.

Marcus Goodyear works as the senior director of communications and editor-in-chief of Echoes magazine. He has been with the Foundation since 2005. He is a Kerrville native, husband, and father of two, who loves poetry, the band Journey, and long runs in the Canyon.

In his tenure with the H. E. Butt Foundation, Marcus has served in various positions, including director of the Foundation Archives and editor of The High Calling and Christianity Today’s Faith in the Workplace. His work has appeared in publications such as 32 Poems and Books and Culture (and oddly Zombies! the Magazine). His poetry collection Barbies at Communion was a finalist for Englewood Review’s Book of the Year.

Hilary Commer works as the graphic design manager and principal designer of Echoes magazine. Hilary is an award-winning designer with experience in institutional, non-profit, and agency settings. She graduated with a BA in Graphic Design and Advertising and a Minor in English from Abilene Christian University. Following her tenure as staff designer for San Antonio’s Community Bible Church, Hilary owned and operated her own graphic design consultancy, where she first began contract work on projects for the Foundation’s Communications team.

Camille Hall-Ortega works as our communications manager and is the managing editor for Echoes magazine and co-host of The Echoes Podcast. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a BA in 2008 and an MA in 2010, both in Communication Studies.

Camille previously worked as a marketing and communications manager for a large multi-site church in Austin and as a communications project manager for an international financial services company. She has been with the Foundation since 2022 and lives in San Antonio with her husband and three children. She enjoys live music, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Beth Avila works as the staff writer for the H. E. Butt Foundation. She assists with writing copy for external and internal communications for the Foundation and writes and edits stories and features for Echoes magazine. Beth graduated from Baylor University in 2013 with a BA in professional writing and worked in the legal field for eight years both in Washington State and Texas. In 2023, she joined the Foundation with the desire to use her words in support of the Foundation’s work and mission.

Lynz Bruce is a junior graphic designer at the H. E. Butt Foundation, where she has been creating thoughtful, purpose-driven work since 2022. Under the guidance of brand manager Hilary Commer, she brings visual storytelling to life across a range of mediums: from social media graphics and editorial layouts for Echoes to web pages and creative assets supporting internal programs across the Foundation.

She earned her BFA in Communication Design from Texas State University in 2020, where she cultivated a passion for clarity, empathy, and impact in visual communication. Before joining the Foundation, Lynz worked with various nonprofits and a design/film agency on community-centered projects, strengthening her belief in creativity as a tool for connection and positive change.

Alyson Amestoy is the content creator for the H. E. Butt Foundation where she has worked since 2022. She creates both internal and external content for the Foundation, from videos for the Foundation’s social media channels to web pages for Echoes magazine. Alyson graduated from Baylor University in 2020 with a BA in communications and from the University of Oklahoma in 2024 with her master’s degree in strategic communication and digital strategy.