ESD Weclomes Honored Alumni Panelists for Fall Dedman Lecture Series
October 7, 2026
The Episcopal School of Dallas welcomed three distinguished alumni back to campus for the fall installment of the Robert H. Dedman Lecture Series, offering upperclassmen an inspiring look into leadership, legacy, and life after graduation.
The panel featured Lauren Chapman Bellemare ’05, Taylor Frank ’07, and Ross Mulford ’08, all recently named to People Newspapers 2026 “20 Under 40” list. The annual honor celebrates young professionals across the Dallas-Fort Worth area who are making a lasting impact in their industries and communities.
Endowed in 2002 by the Dedman Foundation through the Communities Foundation of Texas, the Dedman Lecture Series reflects ESD’s commitment to developing thoughtful, purpose-driven leaders. Named in honor of inaugural speaker Robert H. Dedman, grandfather of alumni Jonathan Dietz ’03, Christina Dietz ’09, and Jeffrey Dietz ’14, the program brings changemakers to campus twice each year. Through candid discussions on courage, vision, and purpose, the series offers students direct insight into how personal values and formative experiences shape professional paths.
For this installment, those lessons returned home through three Eagles who have each built their work around carrying something forward, whether a family legacy, a community, or the people they serve.
Lauren Chapman Bellemare ’05 left a 15-year corporate career after becoming a mother changed her sense of what she wanted to build. Her Dallas-based brand, L’Heritage Fine Jewelry, creates heirloom-inspired pieces meant to be passed through generations, and she hopes to pass the business itself to her daughter one day. Following the example her own mother set, Bellemare has served for 15 years on the Cattle Baron’s Ball committee, donates pieces to support local nonprofits, and designed a necklace honoring Camp Mystic to benefit those affected by the Kerr County floods.
Taylor Frank ’07 admits he left ESD without a clear roadmap, but a senior-year job at Cole Haan in Highland Park Village revealed his gift for connecting with people. That gift carried him through Tiffany & Co. to his role today as president of Eiseman Jewels, where he leads with a service-first philosophy. Guided by a deep sense of responsibility to stand up for those who need support or a voice, Frank volunteers with Community Partners of Dallas, which serves children and families in crisis, and with Vision for Tomorrow, a cause made personal by his son’s journey with a rare eye condition. Today, he describes his work as a calling, one that aligns with his values and allows him to serve others.
Ross Mulford ’08 is part of a legacy woven into ESD’s own story. His grandfather, Ross Perot Sr. GP ’08,’09,’13,’15,’16,’18,’19,’20,’31, was a close friend of ESD’s founding rector and headmaster, the Reverend Canon Stephen B. Swann, and helped the School take root through his generosity and mentorship. Mulford began his career teaching ninth-grade Spanish through Teach For America in Houston and founded Blue Thunder Management, named for his grandfather’s boat, in 2020. While recovering from severe burns in 2023, he co-founded Jaguar Waste Management, creating opportunity for drivers rebuilding their own lives.
Throughout the hour, the panelists reflected on how their years at ESD shaped the people they have become. Their stories gave students a living picture of our mission to ignite lives of purpose, and reminded them that the true measure of a career is the good it does for others.
To read the complete 2026 20 Under 40 feature and view additional honoree profiles, visit People Newspapers.
