Virginia “Ginger” DuBose Heckman, of Atlanta, and Ryan Haggerty, of Fort Worth, have been elected to the Board of Trustees of The Heritage Foundation, a leading public policy institute based in Washington, D.C.

Heckman is a Manager at Noble Properties Inc.®, a commercial real estate development, investment and management company based in Atlanta.  She holds a BA in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Southern Methodist University. 

Haggerty was recently asked to become the Investment Manager for the Estate of Bert Fields, Jr.  The Estate’s business units include banking, oil and gas, ranching and real estate.  Haggerty also remains the managing member of Clear Fork Royalty, an oil and gas royalty fund he founded with his father-in-law and brother-in-law in 2011. The young startup owns assets in 24 states with interests in over 10,000 wells. Haggerty has a BA from Baylor University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

"It’s a pleasure to welcome these two dedicated and energetic conservatives to our board,” said Heritage Foundation President & CEO Jim DeMint.    

“Ginger’s family has been part of the Heritage family since its inception, and she has been actively working in our shared ‘family business’ for years.”  DeMint cited Heckman’s previous involvement with the Atlanta Committee for Heritage, where she “distinguished herself as an effective ambassador of our policy recommendations, with a tremendous facility for reaching out to other young professionals.”

Haggerty, DeMint noted, had the pleasure of learning from the late Mr. Fields, an early member of the Heritage Foundation, the importance of promoting conservative principles, free-market values, limited government, and the ability of every citizen to live the American Dream.  This emphasis fully aligns with Heritage, and we look forward to tapping into the passion for these conservative principles and business expertise Ryan has developed.

Both new board members are active in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations.  Heckman serves as a Trustee of other independent nonprofits: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., and as President of the Atlanta-based Lloyd and Vivian Noble Foundation.

And, as DeMint noted, her family ties with Heritage are extensive.  Her grandfather, Ed Noble, was one of the think tank’s three original founders. Her granduncle, David Brown, served as Chairman of Heritage’s Board of Trustees from 1992-2008. And her parents, Vivian and Samuel DuBose, are long time Heritage supporters. 

Deeply involved in Fort Worth civic affairs, Haggerty was elected President of the Young Leaders Council in 2010. He is a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, which raises money for 4H and FFA youth throughout the state of Texas and is the largest financial contributor to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.  

Haggerty is also the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Managers for the Downtown Fort Worth YMCA and is Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the 12.48 Foundation, which raises money to support at-risk youth in the Como Neighborhood of Fort Worth. 

Haggerty and his wife, Regan, are the proud parents of Collin (4) and Caroline (3 mo.). They are active at Christ Chapel Bible Church, where Ryan serves as Deacon. 

Heckman and her husband, James, were married in December of 2015.