The Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Pousson as chief financial officer (CFO). Pousson has been a dedicated member of the Foundation’s financial team since 2017, bringing a deep commitment to nonprofit stewardship and extensive accounting expertise to his new role.
Pousson began his career at the Stark Foundation as senior accountant before being promoted to controller, where he oversaw financial operations for each of the Foundation’s venues: the Stark Museum of Art, The W.H. Stark House, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center and the Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts. His leadership and passion for nonprofit service has been instrumental in supporting the Foundation’s mission to enrich the community through education of the arts, culture and nature.
“I am very excited and grateful that the Stark Foundation Board has put their trust in me to carry out the Stark Foundation’s mission by serving in the role of CFO,” said Pousson. “I hope to continue building upon the strong financial framework that Walter Riedel, Tad McKee and Jennifer Staton have put into place over the years here at the Foundation.”
Pousson is a graduate of Lamar University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting in 2012 and a Master of Science in accounting in 2016. In 2021, he became a licensed certified public accountant by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Royalty Owners. Most recently, Pousson completed the Leadership Strategies of Champions course at the University of Alabama in 2025. Prior to joining the Stark Foundation, he worked at a CPA firm in Beaumont for more than four years as a professional staff accountant.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Pousson is deeply rooted in the Orange, Texas community. He and his wife, Erica, married in 2023, and they welcomed their daughter, Eleanor, in 2024.
“The Stark Foundation is proud to welcome Ben as our new chief financial officer,” said Jennifer Staton, chief executive officer of the Stark Foundation. “His proven leadership, financial expertise and passion for nonprofit service make him an outstanding choice to guide the Foundation’s financial strategy into the future.”
The Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Orange, Texas, dedicated to enriching the lives of Southeast Texas residents and beyond by encouraging and assisting education, the arts and cultural experiences through its public venues, educational programs and community support initiatives. The Foundation operates the Stark Museum of Art, The W.H. Stark House, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center and the Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts.
For more information about the Stark Foundation, please visit starkfoundation.org.
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