Board Members
Matthew White
Matthew White has spent the past 18 years in the healthcare industry working with both hospital providers and health insurers. His experience has been in operations and management with his most recent tenure at one of our nation’s largest health insurers as Vice President of Network Operations. As founder of Shield Bearer, Matthew recognized the need to serve our community by way of offering counseling services by licensed professionals to everyone needing it, regardless of their financial situation.
Matthew has a MBA in Business Administration from the LeTourneau University and an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Matthew holds two certifications from the American Association of Christian Counselors and holds a license in general, life, and health insurance (lic. #1209402) by the State of Texas. Matthew has been married for 15 years and has three children.
Gail Day
Gail Day holds a B.B.A Degree in Marketing from Abilene Christian University. She and her family moved to Houston in 1983. Moving to the northwest side of town in 1990, she was an active member in the Junior League of North Harris County. In 2005, she received her Master of Arts in Religion from Abilene Christian University. Through the years, Ms. Day has been a teacher in her local church.
Paul E. Palmer, Jr., CFP®, CLU
Paul Palmer received his BS degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University in 1980. Following positions in accounting and banking, he joined a Houston based financial planning firm in 1984 and earned his CFP® designation in 1986 and his CLU designation in 1995. He is the Managing Principal of Cypress Advisory Services Ltd., LLP, an independent wealth management firm for business owners.
A past Chairman and President of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Houston, Paul is an active member of the local association as well as the national FPA. He served as a board member of the Spring Branch ISD Academy of Finance, has been a member of the Houston Estate and Financial Forum, and served on the Breeder Greeters Committee with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Paul has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America serving as Cub Master and Den Leader for Pack 537 in Cypress, Texas and has taught a Junior Achievement Personal Economics class to 7th graders. Promoting fiscal responsibility to all of his prospects and clients, Paul has taught Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University course to a group at his church.
Paul’s quality time away from his business is devoted to his wife of 24 years and his two sons Tripp and Hunter. Leisure time is consumed by fly fishing, hunting, golfing and ranching.
Dave Aldridge
Dave Aldridge has a B.A. degree in Economics from Gettysburg College and has spent over 25 years as a Logistics professional. He and his wife Susan moved to the Houston area in 1996 and established residence in the Woodlands. Dave is a Director of Operations with Satellite Logistics, a member of the Professional Advisory Board to the Logistics Program at the University of Houston School of Technology, and an active participant in many professional associations.
During non-working hours Dave enjoys quality time with his wife and two daughters. Weekends are spent at girl’s basketball games, volunteering with youth groups and an occasional round of golf.
Mike Schaffner
Mike has had a varied career in engineering, finance, manufacturing operations and information technology. He currently directs IT for the Valve and Measurement Group of Cameron in Houston, Texas, and aims to infuse a business-based approach to information technology management. Mike enjoys helping reach Shield-Bearer Counseling Center’s mission through his ambassadorship and board involvement.
Mike earned a Masters of Management with an emphasis in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He also holds two engineering degrees; a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Dayton and a Master of Science in Engineering from Northwestern University. In addition, Mike is a licensed Professional Engineer, an active member of the Society of Information Management and the Houston Strategic Forum and a commentator on Forbes.com on IT issues.
Francis Curry
Francis is a Principal with HealthCare Markets Group and brings over 20 years of progressive management experience in all facets of financial and operations management to the Board of Shield Bearers. Francis is also a founder and Director of the Salus Foundation a non-profit charitable organization providing financial support to local Christian-based organizations, and serves as a Director and Advisor to several organizations. Francis has been happily married since 1988, has three daughters and is a member of Northside Christian Church.
Donald Smith
Bio coming soon...