San Antonio Book Festival - Lisa Ayres
Executive Director

Lisa Ayres

An accomplished nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience in event planning, development, and team leadership, Lisa has consistently driven revenue growth and deepened donor engagement across mission-driven organizations. Her career spans leadership roles at Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Charities, the American Cancer Society, and KLRN-TV, where she has built and mentored teams, secured major gifts and grants, built engaged boards, and elevated community visibility. 

Her love of books runs deep; a reader since childhood, she was inspired by a family of library lovers. Her mother is active in the Leon Valley Library, and her favorite aunt is a librarian. Her work with Public Television and Radio taught her the importance of free access to stories that inspire. She is a lifelong San Antonian, and is raising her two daughters here with her spouse, Michael. She is a cat mom to Sophia, the cutest orange cat in the world. She is a fan of mysteries of all kinds, especially those set in interesting locations.

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