Ellen Balthazar retired from the Eanes ISD Board of Trustees last May after serving the community for 24 years. She is known as “The History Lady” for her work to revitalize the Eanes History Center. Each spring she hosts field trips for all EISD 4th graders to the Center and, in partnership with the Westbank Libraries, facilitates a monthly history group. Ellen currently serves as chair of the Church Council at Westlake United Methodist Church and promotes numerous community service initiatives. She is proud to be a Director of the Lola Wright Foundation in Austin.

A retired marketing and nonprofit executive, Ellen honed her consumer research skills at Procter & Gamble, her brand marketing expertise at Frito-Lay, and her public relations acumen in the international division of PepsiCo‘s restaurant businesses. In 2005 Ellen successfully transitioned to the not-for-profit sector becoming CEO of a leading 501(c)(3) organization in Austin focused on children’s issues. Under her leadership, the organization, Any Baby Can, doubled the number of families served as well as the budget. Since retiring in 2012 she has enjoyed being a volunteer mentor and consultant to nonprofit organizations.

An enthusiastic genealogist, Ellen is currently secretary of the board of the National Genealogical Society, following two terms as vice- president.

Her favorite title is Nana. Ellen and her husband, Jim, (when they are not traveling around the world) live in Lost Creek with their grown children (Chap classes of 2001 and 2003) and grandchildren (classes of ‘ 29, ‘31, ‘34, ‘35 and ‘39) right around the corner.