Meet the Team 

Ayla Landry is all about smiling at the present, learning from the past, and designing a better future. As the CEO of Porches for Progress, she believes passionately in propelling positive growth from within resource-poor communities.

Moving around a lot as a child, Ayla developed a worldview that sees the beauty and strength of all people, everywhere. She became fascinated by the possibilities of change and has grown to become a visionary that makes change happen. Everyone that meets her is struck by her confident leadership and optimistic outlook.

Ayla is fluent in Spanish and made the bold move to Nicaragua with her husband in 2015 where they live in a little purple house at the end of a dirt road. She co-founded Porches for Progress a short time later.   

Ayla studied nursing as an undergraduate at Texas Christian University and holds a Master of Science in Nursing and Masters of Public Health degree with a concentration in global health from Johns Hopkins University. She’s worked as a global health nursing professor and program design manager and has been a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on women’s health and public health nurse education.

Elyse Landry sees the potential in each person and every idea. Elyse is known for her outstanding energy, love of life, and unbridled enthusiasm that lead her on adventures everywhere she goes. As an outdoors woman, her determination and persistence take her on a path to the summit of any mountain life puts in front of her.

Serving Porches for Progress as the Chief Financial Officer, Elyse makes sure each and every cent raised for the organization is stewarded wisely. She knows that resources are precious--and that each dollar raised can make an impact beyond what anyone imagined. Her eagle-eye for detail, ingrained sense of responsibility, and passion for what’s possible make her the ideal CFO for a nonprofit focused on doing great things.

Elyse holds a Bachelors of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Rice University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. She has spent the last five years working for BP on and off oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, which has taught her that a diverse group of people can accomplish anything when differences are put aside and people work together. She’s also Ayla’s little sister, so changing the world is now officially the family business.

Whitney Winters knows good things right when she encounters them and is capable of transforming every moment into something fun and beautiful. As Chief Administrative Officer, Whitney oversees crucial organizational duties like fundraising, meetings, and the development of foundational ideas. A natural-born mentor and connector, she not only brings her own skills to the table, but also those of others she enlists for the cause. She’s the glue of the organization--or the support beams for Porches.

Like any Californian, she loves Disney and relaxing at the beach, but don’t let her chill vibe fool you. This powerhouse of a woman is a nurse with nearly 10 years of experience and a keen sense of what it means to serve others with scientific precision and artistic care. She assesses, adapts, and addresses the needs around her, quickly. Leading by example, she inspires those around her to do their best--just as she does every single day.

Whitney will graduate with her MSN to become a Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2019 and holds a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and dog named Obi. (Her household may or may not be Star Wars geeks.)