HOUSTON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President and CEO, Westlake Chemical Corporation
- President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Westlake Chemical Corporation
Albert Chao is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Westlake Chemical Corporation and its limited partnership, Westlake Chemical Partners LP. In addition, Mr. Chao is Director of Suzhou Huasu Plastics Co, Ltd of China. He is a member of the Board of Directors of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers Association. Mr. Chao serves as member on many and various educational, medical, arts and community Boards, including the Board of Directors of Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve of Dallas, Houston Grand Opera, Asia Society Texas Center, and Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas. He also serves as Board Trustee of Rice University and Asia Society, New York.
Mr. Chao's career spans over 40 years in international business activities in the petrochemical industry working with Mobil Oil Corporation, Hercules Inc., and Gulf Oil Chemicals. He was also the Assistant to the Chairman of China General Plastics Group in Taiwan and the Deputy Managing Director of a plastics fabrication operation in Singapore. He is a former Director of Titan Chemicals Corporation Berhad of Malaysia. Mr. Chao has been with Westlake Chemical Corporation in the U.S. since its inception in 1986. Mr. Chao received his B.A. from Brandeis University and MBA from Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- President / Pyramid
- President, Pyramid Global Hospitality
Alex Cabañas is passionate about leading and growing a company that makes a profound difference in the lives of employees, guests, owners, industry partners and the community. His life mission since college has been to create opportunities for others to be successful. As President, Alex is focused on strategic planning, people development, pursuing growth and new opportunities, promoting the delivery of memorable customer service and ultimately being the best third-party management company in the industry, acting in the best interest of owners every day.
Alex was previously President, Business Development & Finance for Benchmark. During his tenure in business development roles, the company added 22 properties to its management portfolio, expanded into the Caribbean and added to its presence in Tokyo. The company also acquired MTM Luxury Lodging, which led to the launch of Gemstone Hotel Collection.
Alex joined Benchmark in January 2006. Prior to joining Benchmark, he worked for The Boston Consulting Group from 2000 through 2005. While with BGC he worked with clients in a number of different industries including: travel and tourism, government, consumer/retail, telecommunications, e-commerce, financial services, and energy. His assignments included a variety of different tasks including: lodging investment proposal, market sizing and segmentation, competitive benchmarking, product development, process management, asset valuation, new business development and growth strategy.
Alex earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and holds a BBA and MS in Finance from Texas A&M University. Alex is married to his perfectly-made-for-him wife, Heather and they have two energetic and out-going boys, Matthew and Eli. Alex enjoys his time with family, traveling and exploring together, any outdoor activity and is very involved in his church.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- Communications
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the American Institute for Public Service
- President and CEO, Lopez Negrete Communications
Alex Lopez Negrete founded Lopez Negrete Communications in 1985. He is intricately involved in providing strategic counsel and creative direction to the agency's clients. Lopez Negrete represents clients in the retail, financial, food, arts, government, health care, packaged goods, real estate, energy and insurance industries.Lopez Negrete was named the country's number two financial agency in Financial Marketing Services magazine's 2001 Top 10 Agency's list. The agency was also recognized as one of Houston's 100 fastest growing businesses by the Houston Business Journal.
He was named to the President's Advisory Committee on the Fine Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by President George W. Bush. He received the 2002 Hispanic Achievement Award in communications from HISPANIC magazine and is a member of the Houston Texans' Hispanic Advisory Board.
Lopez Negrete serves as a member of the board of trustees of the American Institute for Public Service and the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. He is a director of Houston Child Advocates and the Houston International Festival. He serves as treasurer of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies board of directors.
He has received the Honorary Chairman's Award from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Chapter of the Association of Women in Radio and Television and has been recognized by the Houston Independent School District as a role model.
Lopez Negrete received his degree from the University of Houston.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications / Marketing Specialist
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- President and CEO, United Way of Greater
Before beginning her new role on May 1, 2020 as President and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston, Amanda most recently served as Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, which was one of United Way of Greater Houston's largest corporate campaigns as well as one of the world's largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. She was a member of the executive committee and was responsible for Anadarko's legal, human resources, and real estate and facilities functions.
Amanda has also been a long-time active volunteer in several organizations:
· Amanda has supported and promoted the United Way of Greater Houston for over a decade through Anadarko's successful campaign activities. She is a long-time donor and Alexis de Tocqueville Society member.
· She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Southwestern University, where she served as Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and serves as Vice Chair of the Investment Committee, and was a past president of Southwestern's Board of Visitors.
· Until her appointment to the United Way position, she served on the Board of Directors of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, where she is a past President of the Board, and on the Advisory Board of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra.
Amanda served in positions of increasing responsibility since joining Anadarko in December 2004, including as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. During her tenure at Anadarko, she also served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Western Gas Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Anadarko and general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE: WES), a publicly traded midstream master limited partnership, from January 2008 to August 2012.
Prior to joining Anadarko, Amanda practiced corporate and securities law at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she represented a variety of clients in a wide range of transactional, corporate governance and securities matters.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern University and received both a Master of Arts and a Juris Doctor from Duke University.
Amanda received the Association of Women Attorneys Foundation Premier Woman in Law Award in 2019. She was also named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Oil & Gas by the National Diversity Council for 2018, 2017 and 2016, and one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in Texas by the National Diversity Council in 2016.
Amanda resides in Houston with her husband, Benjamin, and their two children, Grayson and Emma.
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Sr. Manager, Membership Sales
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Vice Chairman
- Vice Chair and Houston Managing Partner, Deloitte
Amy Chronis is Vice Chairman and US Oil, Gas & Chemicals (OG&C) Leader and the Managing Partner for Deloitte's Houston practice. Amy has more than 30 years of experience serving public and private enterprises from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on the OG&C, technology, and manufacturing industries.
Amy served as Deloitte's US lead relationship partner for one of the world's largest integrated oil and gas companies, as well as other Houston enterprises. In 2018, she was asked to serve as Houston managing partner. In addition to her Houston practice leadership role, she is the US lead relationship partner for several international Oil, Gas & Chemical companies.
Amy is the 2021 Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) Board of Directors. She also plays an active role with a number of civic organizations, including the United Way of Greater Houston, The University of Texas Accounting Advisory Council, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees' Audit and Compliance Committee, Texas 2036 and the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Board. She is a past member of the National Advisory Council of the Women's Energy Network (WEN), the board of directors for the Deloitte Foundation and the Nominating Committee of the U.S. board of directors.
Amy is a CPA, licensed by the state of Texas, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of CPAs. She received her BSBA in international studies and accounting from The Ohio State University and completed the executive program at Columbia University Business School. Amy was named to the Houston Business Journal's (HBJ) Women Who Mean Business list, is an inductee to the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame and a recipient of the 2020 HBJ Most Admired CEO award.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Managing Partner, SCF Partners
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Independent Director
- Chairman of the Board for the Center for Houston 's Future
- Chairman, Center for Houston 's Future
- Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer
Andy Steinhubl serves as an Independent Director and the Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of FlexGen, a leading Battery Energy Storage System provider. He recently retired with over 35 years of energy experience, having launched and led KPMG's U.S. Energy and Chemicals strategy group. Prior to joining KPMG, he worked for Booz and Company where he served as the Houston office managing partner and in a variety of North America and global energy sector leadership roles. He began his career at ExxonMobil.
Andy has led projects for both corporate and private equity clients across the oil and gas, midstream, power and utilities, and chemicals segments of the energy industry - both for US and international players. Increasingly his client work has gravitated to sustainability and renewable energy issues. Andy has written and been quoted on multiple energy topics, including new mobility and retail energy paradigms. He has hosted panels at the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows, the KPMG Global Energy Conference and other forums on these and other topics.
Andy led KPMG's pro-bono project for the Center for Houston's Future on Houston's economic vitality, and is collaborating with the Center on a variety of projects regarding Houston's role in the Energy Transition, including the role of hydrogen in the decarbonization of Houston's energy system. He is serving as Vice Chair of the Board, and on the Executive and Nominating Committees of the Center for Houston's Future.
Andy earned a BS in Chemical Engineering at Purdue University and an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.
Andy Steinhubl serves as Chairman of the Board for the Center for Houston's Future (CFH), and on the Executive Committee. He has led several CFH projects on sustaining Houston's economic outperformance, and on Houston's leadership role in the Energy Transition. He currently serves as an instructor for the University of Houston's inaugural hydrogen class, and as a Senior Advisor to restructuring and consulting firm Alvarez and Marsal on the Energy Transition.
Job Titles:
- Director on the Boards of Invesco Funds
- President and CEO / Houston Endowment Inc.
- President and CEO of Houston Endowment
Ann Stern became President and CEO of Houston Endowment in March 2012. Prior to that, she was executive vice president of Texas Children's Hospital. She previously served as vice president and general counsel for the Hospital.
Prior to joining Texas Children's, she was in private law practice and taught business law at the University of St. Thomas. Stern received her bachelor's degree in Plan II from the University of Texas at Austin, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She also received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
Stern currently serves as a director on the boards of Invesco Funds, The University of Texas Law School Foundation, and The Holdsworth Center and as chairman of the board of Good Reason Houston. She previously served as the chairman of the board of St. John's School and on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Texas Children's Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Finance & Accounting / Vice President
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Chairman & CEO of ChaseSource LP
- Chairman and CEO, ChaseSource
- Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center
Tony Chase is Chairman & CEO of ChaseSource LP. He grew up attending Houston public schools. Tony received a Stouffer scholarship for the purpose of integrating elite private schools and attended Episcopal HS in Virginia. He is an honors graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.
Tony is an entrepreneur. He started and sold three ventures and now owns and operates a fourth. The first was Chase Radio Partners that owner seven radio stations and was sold to Clear Channel Communications in 1998. The second was Cricket Wireless, a nationwide cell phone service provider. Tony opened the first three Cricket markets in Tennessee selling to Leap Wireless in 1998. The third was ChaseCom, an enterprise that built and operated call centers around the world which he sold to AT&T Corporation in 2007. Currently, Tony owns ChaseSource LP, a staffing, facilities management and construction firm. ChaseSource LP is presently ranked by Black Enterprise magazine as one the nation's largest minority owned businesses.
Tony is also a principal owner of the Marriott Hotel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. He currently serves on the boards of CullenFrost Bank, Nabors Industries, Heritage Crystal Clean and LyondellBasell Corporation. In addition, his nonprofit board membership includes the Houston Endowment, Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Medical Center, and the MD Andersen Board of Visitors. He is past Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and past Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an Eagle Scout.
Professor Chase is a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center where he began teaching in 1990 and was awarded tenure in 1995. He teaches several courses including Contracts, Entrepreneurship and Race & American Law.
Mr. Chase has received several awards including the Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year, the Bob Onstead Leadership Award (GHP), Houston Technology Center's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Whitney M. Young Service Award, Pinnacle Award (Bank of America) Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award (NAACP), the Human Relations Award (American Jewish Committee) and the Baker Faculty Award (UH Law Center).
Tony & his wife Dina have three children.
Job Titles:
- CEO, Siemens Oil & Gas / Siemens
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Vice President for H - E - B
- Executive Vice President, Houston, H - E - B
Armando A. Perez, Executive Vice President for H-E-B Houston, leads the retailer's nearly 29,000 H-E-B Houston-area Partners (employees) in delivering outstanding products and services under the H-E-B, Joe V's Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda banners to customers throughout 100 stores in the region.
He has worked with H-E-B for 28 years, after receiving a Bachelors' Degree from the University of Texas - Pan American. In addition, he has completed management programs at both Cornell and Harvard Universities.
Armando finds great value and importance in committing himself to roles that advance the Houston community, and he has served in numerous leadership positions demonstrating his passion. Armando is the immediate past chair of the United Way of Greater Houston and prior board member since 2016, he also currently sits on the Kinder Institute Advisory Board, is past Chairman of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a former member of the Board of the Houston Food Bank and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Manager, Event Production
Job Titles:
- Manager, Economic Development Operations
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Executive President
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
- President & Chief Executive Officer, Greater Houston Partnership
- President and CEO / Greater Houston Partnership
- President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership
Bob Harvey is President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston region's principal business organization. The Partnership focuses on attracting investment and trade to Houston, building a strong workforce, advocating for sound public policy, and convening a diverse set of Houstonians when major issues arise.
Prior to joining the Partnership in 2012, Harvey was active in the Houston business community, first as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, Inc. and then as Vice Chair of Reliant Energy.
Harvey serves on the boards of Houston Exponential, Good Reason Houston, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Center for Houston's Future. He is a Trustee Emeritus of the United Way of Greater Houston and The Post Oak School.
Harvey was raised in Houston, Texas, and received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Bob Harvey is the President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership. See his full bio below.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- CEO, Artemis Energy Partners Retired Founder and CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co
- CEO, Artemis Energy Partners Retired Founder and CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., TPH & Co.
- Chairman of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative
- Founder and CEO of Artemis Energy Partners
- Retired Founder and CEO of Tudor
Bobby Tudor is the founder and CEO of Artemis Energy Partners, an Investing and Advisory platform focused on companies involved in the Global Energy Markets.
Mr. Tudor is also a Retired Founder and CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. TPH is a leading Energy Investment Bank formed in 2007 with over 100 employees in five offices in the US, Canada and UK. It is widely recognized for its industry leading position in Energy securities research and Energy investment banking advisory transactions. TPH merged with Perella Weinberg Partners in 2016.
Prior to forming TPH, Mr. Tudor was a Partner at Goldman Sachs and a leader of its worldwide Energy practice. Over his 30-plus year career in Investment Banking, he has worked on many of the defining transactions of the period, across most energy subsectors and geographies.
Mr. Tudor is currently the Chairman of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, which is a consortium of Houston's leading energy companies working to shape the region's Energy Transition Strategy.
Mr. Tudor is on the Board of Directors of Puloli, Inc., an early-stage methane detection and measurement company, as well as New ASEAN Energy, a US based company involved in Petrochemicals business in Asia.
Mr. Tudor is the Past Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership and of the Rice University Board of Trustees. He serves on the Board of Advisors for Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, the National Petroleum Council, the Jones School of Business at Rice, the Carbon Neutral Coalition, and the National Advisory Board for the Tulane Center for Energy Law. Mr. Tudor also serves on the Board of Directors of the Houston Symphony, Good Reason Houston, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors.
Mr. Tudor holds a BA in English and Legal Studies from Rice University, and a JD from Tulane Law School. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for the World Oil Council and the Gold Medal for Lifetime Service to Rice University.
Mr. Tudor lives in Houston with his wife, Phoebe. They have three children, Caroline, Margaret, and Harry. The Tudors are passionate supporters of the Arts, Public Education, Social Services, and Public Parks.
Bradley Freels joined Midway in May 1983 and opened its Houston Office at that time. He became a partner in 1990 and currently serves as the Chairman. Brad is the sole shareholder of Midway Holdings, LP., the holding company for an integrated group of real estate and investment related companies that operate under the name Midway. Brad is a member of Midway's leadership team and investment committee. Under his leadership, Midway has prospered and become one of the most active developer/investment owners in the greater Houston area. Midway has developed and acquired more than 44 million square feet of office, industrial, hospitality, multifamily, medical and retail properties throughout the US and Northern Mexico, and more than 4,500 acres of business and residential communities in more than a dozen cities.
Brad and Claudia, his wife of 32 years, have three adult children; Clayton, Kevin and Carly that they consider the true blessing of their union. Brad received both his BBA and MBA from Texas A&M University. He is involved with numerous national and local business, educational, Christian and charitable organizations.
Brad Tucker - Chief Legal Officer, President
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- President
- President of Mustang® Cat
- President, Mustang Cat
Brad Tucker is the President of Mustang® Cat, the Caterpillar dealership for Southeast Texas. He is the third generation owner of the heavy-equipment business, which was co-founded by his father in 1952.
In 1985, Tucker joined the company as General Counsel. He assumed the role of President and Dealer Principal in 2011 and has continued growing the company's scope and influence within the heavy-equipment and power systems industries.
He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Pipeline Machinery International, the Caterpillar dealer which provides equipment and support to the mainline pipeline construction customers operating around the globe.
Prior to joining Mustang Cat, Tucker practiced law at Wood Campbell Moody & Gibbs. He also has prior experience in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC).
He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with high honors from Southern Methodist University and a J.D. degree from the University of Houston.
Tucker is very active in the Houston community. He serves on the Texas Children's Hospital board of directors where he is a former President and Chairman. He is also a director of the Brookwood Community and the Rise School of Houston.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Center for Houston 's Future
Job Titles:
- President / NextEra Energy
- President, NextEra Energy Resources
Brian Landrum, President Brian Landrum is President of Gexa Energy. As an accomplished executive with diversified, senior-level experience in the energy, technology and consulting industries, Landrum leads all aspects of the retail business of Gexa Energy, one of the fastest growing retail electric providers in the nation. Prior to joining Gexa Energy in 2012, Landrum served as Chief Business Officer at Calera Corporation where he was tasked with commercializing a unique carbon capture and beneficial re-use technology for fossil fuel power generation and industrial emissions. Landrum also served as Chief Operating Officer at Reliant Energy and RRI Energy where he successfully managed P&L of the organizations with a combined $12.5 billion in revenue, over 15,000 megawatts of merchant generation and 1.8 million retail electricity customers. Earlier in his career, he worked in management consulting for Accenture in San Francisco, Switzerland and Germany. Landrum is a Board Member of Rebuilding Together - Houston, the largest non-profit provider of free home repair and renovations for low-income, elderly, disabled and veteran homeowners in Harris County. He also has served on Boards of Central Houston, the Electric Power Supply Association, Pantellos, an online supply chain marketplace for the utility industry, and Grande Communications, a Texas-based provider of broadband Internet, cable television and phone service. Landrum holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Director, Communications
- Marketing & Communications Director, Communications
- Media Inquiries
- Media Relations
Job Titles:
- Corporate Vice President of Strategy & Sustainability for Chevron Corporation
- President, Americas Exploration and Production, Chevron
Bruce L. Niemeyer, 59, is the corporate vice president of Strategy & Sustainability for Chevron Corporation, a position he assumed in 2018. He is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the company, allocating capital and guiding company sustainability efforts.
Previously Niemeyer was vice president of Chevron's Mid-Continent business unit. He was responsible for developing Chevron's assets in the mid-continent United States, including Chevron's significant Permian assets in Texas and New Mexico. Prior to this role, Niemeyer was vice president of the Appalachian/Michigan strategic business unit, where he led the company's development of natural gas from shale in the northeast U.S. Niemeyer also served as general manager of strategy and planning for Chevron North America Exploration and Production Co.
Niemeyer is a member of the Oxford Energy Policy Club.
Niemeyer joined Texaco in 2000 from Atlantic Richfield Co. He earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and is a registered petroleum engineer in the state of California.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Regional Workforce Development
Job Titles:
- Director, Regional Workforce Recovery
- Regional Workforce Development
Job Titles:
- Director, Energy Policy
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- SVP and Chief Legal Officer / Sempra LNG, LLC
- SVP and Chief Legal Officer, Sempra LNG, LLC / Membership
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement
Job Titles:
- Director, Regional Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Chancellor, Houston Community College
- Community College As Chancellor
In May of 2014, Dr. Maldonado joined Houston Community College as Chancellor of the six-college system. Under his tenure, HCC has restructured to focus on student success resulting in an increase of graduates by more than 12 percent per year. Campuses have been consolidated into 13 new Centers of Excellence, and, as part of a $425 million Capital Improvement Program, 14 new projects are underway. HCC has been nationally recognized as the #1 college for international students, #1 for granting associate degrees to minorities, #2 for granting degrees to Hispanic students, #2 for granting degrees to African Americans, #5 for granting degrees to Asian Americans, and #4 among all two-year institutions in granting associate degrees in all disciplines.
Maldonado began his career in 1976 as a process engineer for Celanese Chemical Corporation, where he designed the company's first digital control system used for real-time process optimization. In 1980, he accepted a position as Vice President of Information Systems with Tex-Steel Corporation, where he became President and Chief Executive Officer within 10 years. Through acquisitions, organic growth, and the addition of software development divisions, he led the company to international prominence. He ultimately led Tex-Steel through a successful acquisition into a larger publicly held enterprise. Maldonado then joined ASSA ABLOY as Division Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, and led joint venture technical groups in the development of new business lines and in the support of custom engineered products. Subsequently, Maldonado became an executive in two successful engineering firms and, in 2008, was named President of Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Texas. In 2011, Maldonado was named Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Commercialization for the TSTC System, while remaining President at TSTC Harlingen.
In addition to his demonstrated business acumen, Dr. Maldonado has led legislative efforts to create high school/college dual enrollment opportunities in Texas and served for over a decade as a board member (twice as president) of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (TX). He served as the interim Chairman of the Border Governors Conference on Science and Technology, where he worked to foster bi-national research and technology exchange with scientists across the U.S. and Mexico border. He was also appointed by the governor to serve as a Regent of the Texas State Technical College System.
In 2014, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the non-profit Houston Technology Center, the largest technology incubator and accelerator in Texas, and to the Texas Tech University Industrial Engineer Academy. His business experience encompasses strategic planning, project management, infrastructure design, industrial systems and software design. Maldonado holds Bachelor and Masters of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Doctorate in Systems and Engineering Management from Texas Tech University, and is an alumnus of the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. He was recently elected as a director of the Quality Texas Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Chairman / Foster LLP
He is past-Chairman of the Asia Society Texas Center and Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston. He is Chairman of the Advisory Board of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, the George Bush Presidential Monument, the James Baker Monument, the Robert Mosbacher Memorial Bridge and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Monument. He is past-President of the Houston Forum and the Houston Club. He was designated a "Texas Super Lawyer" 2003-2018.
Job Titles:
- Retired, President, Texas Region / Wells Fargo
- Retired, President, Texas Region, Wells Fargo / Membership
Job Titles:
- Senior Director
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs / Vice President
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Executive Assistant
Job Titles:
- Analyst
- Research Associate
Job Titles:
- Manager, People & Culture
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- President and CEO of BakerRipley
As President and CEO of BakerRipley, Claudia Aguirre leads one of the largest, nationally recognized nonprofits in the country that has transformed neighborhoods across Houston for more than 113 years.
Claudia's passion for advancing equity and promoting sustainable solutions has played a pivotal role in the vision and impact of BakerRipley. With an operating budget of $500 million, she leads a diverse team of 1,400 employees across 70 locations, serving six-hundred thousand neighbors each year.
Claudia has 27 years of leadership experience directing large-scale community engagement initiatives while working in government, education, and nonprofits. Before joining BakerRipley, Claudia served under two City of Houston Mayors and led several prominent Houston organizations.
Claudia is renowned for her expertise in child development, community development, and addressing inequities in our region. She has spoken as a subject matter expert at numerous conferences. She has also been featured in the Center for American Progress, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Urban Institute, and the Houston Chronicle.
She holds a Master of Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She also has several certifications as a Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent, including an Education Executive Certification from Harvard University.
She is currently a Class C Director for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and a member of the Board of the Greater Houston Partnership.
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
- Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership
- Marketing & Communications
- Marketing & Communications / Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Clint Pasche serves as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. In this role, he leads the marketing team that promotes the Houston region to companies considering a relocation or expansion. His team has been instrumental in positioning Houston's growing innovation ecosystem and core industries including Energy 2.0, Life Sciences, Digital Technology, Aerospace, Manufacturing, and Logistics. In addition, his team supports the chamber of commerce mission of the organization including public policy and advocacy communications campaigns.
Clint rejoined the Partnership in April 2017 after serving as executive communications director at LyondellBasell, a Fortune Global 500 chemical company. Prior to this role, Clint served for four years at the Partnership as Vice President, Communications. He started his career at the Houston Astros Baseball Club, serving in various marketing positions over nine seasons with the team, including as Director of Marketing from 2008-2012.
Clint attended Texas A&M University where he received his BBA in Marketing and MS in Sports Management. He lives in Houston with his wife Melissa and three children.
Job Titles:
- Director, Public Policy Transportation & Infrastructure
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- Finance & Accounting / Accounts Receivable Specialist
Job Titles:
- CEO, George E. Johnson Development, Inc.
Courtney began her career as a project management consultant at Accenture, the world's leading consulting company. She later joined her family's firm, GEJ Development as a real estate developer and broker. Since 2019, Courtney has served as CEO of GEJ, and under her leadership, the company has procured contracts with major institutions such as Houston Community College System, the Harris Center of Mental Health, Houston Independent School District, the City of Houston, FDIC, and others.
Courtney is also part of the Community Collective for Houston, which recently acquired The Power Center, a 110,000-square-foot multipurpose facility that includes a small business incubator, event center, urban farm, and private school.
Courtney holds a bachelor's degree in economics, a master's degree in community development, and a doctorate in organizational leadership. She is a certified project management professional (PMP) and a certified commercial investment member (CCIM).
She is the immediate past chair of the Texas Association of African America Chambers, a statewide network of over 25 Black chambers of commerce. Governor Greg Abbott appointed Courtney as a director of the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC). She also serves as a board member and past real estate committee chair of the Greater Houston Partnership. Since 2008, Courtney has served as a faculty member at Prairie View A&M University.
Several organizations and media outlets have recognized Courtney for her professional success and contributions to the community, including Black Enterprise, Houston Business Journal, Women's Magazine, Real Estate Executive, Houston Realtor, and National Realtor publications.
Job Titles:
- Economic Development
- Vice President, Regional Economic Development
Craig rejoined the Greater Houston Partnership's Economic Development Department in August 2020. In his current role, Craig leads the regional economic development team at the Partnership. This team works to attract new jobs and capital investment to the Houston region across multiple industry sectors including manufacturing, corporate headquarters, digital tech, and life sciences. Craig is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with 15 years of economic and community development experience.
From 2014 to 2020, Craig served as Manager, Economic Development at CenterPoint Energy. In this role, Craig lead CenterPoint's economic development activities to proactively support economic growth initiatives in the Houston electric service area. The CenterPoint team works closely with economic development organizations to support new industrial and high-tech projects with power requirements.
Prior to his role at CenterPoint, Craig served at the Greater Houston Partnership from 2006 to 2014. At the Partnership he held multiple roles in the areas of member engagement and economic development. Craig's work in economic development helped lead to project wins in multiple industry clusters across the Houston region. He has also successfully supported site consultants and companies in securing numerous local and State incentive awards.
Craig currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Economic Development Council and Chair of the Houston Regional Economic Development Alliance. He has previously served as a Board member for the Utility Economic Development Association, West Houston Association, Katy Area EDC and the Fort Bend EDC. He is also an active member of the International Economic Development Council. Craig is a graduate of the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife Kristi have three children.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and President, Gas Transmission and Midstream
Job Titles:
- Information Systems / Sr. Infrastructure Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
Job Titles:
- Retired, President and CEO
Job Titles:
- Partner / Baker Botts LLP
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President in Charge / Federal Reserve Bank
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Group 1 Automotive Inc.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Retired President and CEO / CenterPoint Energy
Job Titles:
- CEO - Central Region / UnitedHealthcare
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Retired President and CEO / Houston Zoo
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs / Assistant, Programs & Engagement
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- President and CEO CHI Texas Division
Job Titles:
- Chancellor of San Jacinto College
- Chancellor, San Jacinto College System
In 2009 Dr. Brenda Hellyer was appointed chancellor of San Jacinto College, Texas' eighth largest community college with approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students, four campuses, and several extension centers. The College will open a 5th campus in Fall 2020.
Prior to joining San Jacinto College, Hellyer worked in the corporate world as an accountant in both the private and public arena. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, a master's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and a doctorate degree in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Hellyer is involved with various commissions, committees, and boards at the national, state and local levels. Currently, she serves as Board Chair of the Texas Association of Community Colleges.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
- Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership
Marc Boom is the 2023 Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership. See his full bio below.
Dr. Marc L. Boom is the 2023 Board Chair of the Partnership.
Job Titles:
- Retired Managing Partner / Baker Botts LLP
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Quanta Services Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President and CEO / Group 1 Automotive Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO / Atlantic Partners Group, LLC
Job Titles:
- Finance & Accounting Manager, Accounting
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President, NRG Retail and Reliant
Job Titles:
- Center for Houston 's Future
- Manager, Marketing & Communications
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chief Executive Officer
- Vice Chair of the Board
Eric Mullins is the 2023 Vice Chair and Chair-elect of the Greater Houston Partnership. See his full bio below.
Eric Mullins is the 2023 Vice Chair of the Partnership.
Job Titles:
- Facilities Management / Coordinator, Facilities Management
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Manager, Digital Strategy
Job Titles:
- Managing Principal
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Office Managing Principal / Ernst & Young LLP
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Job Titles:
- Vice President of U.S. Gulf Coast Operations and Site Director of Texas Operations / Dow, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Director / Museum of Fine Arts
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Partner / Haynes and Boone, LLP
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President, Operations Petroleum
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and CFO / United Airlines
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Director, Education Policy
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- President and COO, World Wide E & P / Hess Corporation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Vice President, Customer Transformation and Business Services / CenterPoint Energy
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner / Bracewell LLP
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President / Shell USA, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Managing Director / Goldman Sachs & Co.
Job Titles:
- President, Houston Market / Bank of America
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Cheniere Energy, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Baker Botts LLP
Job Titles:
- Director, Google Cloud South Central
Job Titles:
- Executive / Sr. Vice President, Energy Transition & Executive Director HETI
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Coordinator, Membership Engagement
Job Titles:
- President - Houston Market / Comerica Bank
Job Titles:
- President and COO / CenterPoint Energy
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President and CEO / Crown Castle International Corp.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer / Service Corporation
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Motiva Enterprises LLC
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Retired, President, North America Exploration and Production / Chevron
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Job Titles:
- International Investment & Trade / Sr. Director, Europe, Middle East, & Africa
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Center for Houston 's Future
Job Titles:
- International Investment & Trade / Senior Director, Asia, Australia & Oceania
Job Titles:
- Director, Business Development
Job Titles:
- International Investment & Trade / Vice President
Job Titles:
- President / Hanover Company
Job Titles:
- President / Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, LLC
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Global Co - Head Energy Investment Banking / JPMorgan Chase
Job Titles:
- Executive / Receptionist & Front Office Administrator
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Houston Area Urban League, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications / Sr. Director
Job Titles:
- Office Managing Principal / KPMG LLP
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Regional President / PNC Bank
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- President / Texas a & M University
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer
Job Titles:
- Retired, Partner / Bracewell LLP
Job Titles:
- Executive / Sr. Director, HETI
Job Titles:
- Economic Development
- Senior Director, Aviation & Aerospace
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary / Marathon
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs / Sr. Coordinator, Event Production
Job Titles:
- Executive / Senior Vice President, DEI
Job Titles:
- CEO and Chairman of the Board / W. S. Bellows Construction Corporation
Job Titles:
- Center for Houston 's Future
- Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Communications and Engagement
Job Titles:
- Information Systems / Business System Analyst
Job Titles:
- President / Texas Southern University
Job Titles:
- Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Specialty Products, ExxonMobil Product Solutions
Job Titles:
- Divisional Vice President, Network Management
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications / Sr. Director, HETI
Job Titles:
- Vice President General Manager - South Texas Market / at & T
Job Titles:
- Facilities Management / Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel / Haynes and Boone, LLP
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications / Sr. Design Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President / the Friedkin Group Inc.
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs Director, Programs & Engagement
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Phillips 66
Job Titles:
- International Investment & Trade / Sr. Director, North & South Americas
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Office Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Center for Houston 's Future
- Director, Development
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President and CEO / Precision Task Group Inc.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- People & Culture
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications / Project Manager
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Director, Membership Campaign and Business Analytics
Job Titles:
- Center for Houston 's Future
- Manager, Strategic Initiatives
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Global Co - Head of Natural Resources & Clean Energy Transition
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs Coordinator, Event Production
Job Titles:
- Retired, Chairman / JPMorgan Chase
Job Titles:
- Managing Director & Partner / the Boston Consulting Group
Job Titles:
- General Manager / Libyan National Oil Corporation
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer / Medistar Corporation
Job Titles:
- Administrative Operations Manager
- People & Culture
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Kinder Foundation
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO / Ned S. Holmes Investments, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Vice President
- Vice President / Member Acquisition & Engagement
Job Titles:
- Manager, Policy Operations
- Public Policy
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement
Job Titles:
- Research / Senior Vice President and Chief Economist
Job Titles:
- President & CEO / Baylor College of Medicine
Job Titles:
- President, Energy / Bechtel
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Executive / Operations Manager, Equity & Inclusion
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Regional Workforce Development
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Sr. Manager, Event Production
Job Titles:
- President / Rice University
Job Titles:
- Chancellor and President / University
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Chairman of the Board & CEO / Camden Property Trust
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Chairman / Weekley Development Company
Job Titles:
- SVP and General Counsel / Hewlett Packard
Job Titles:
- Member Acquisition & Engagement / Senior Assistant, Member Engagement
Job Titles:
- President / Houston Christian University
Job Titles:
- Chairman / Mosbacher Energy Company
Job Titles:
- Research / Vice President
Job Titles:
- Shareholder / Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Job Titles:
- Center for Houston 's Future
- Senior Vice President, Leadership & Graduate Engagement
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO / ConocoPhillips
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs / Sr. Manager, Events & Production
Job Titles:
- Managing Director / HX Venture Fund
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Retired, President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Market President, Texas / Fifth Third Bank
Job Titles:
- Manager, Marketing Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, International Operations / Woodside Energy ( USA ) Inc.
Job Titles:
- Executive / Senior Director, HETI
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- EVP & President, US and Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President for the Gulf of Mexico and Canada
Job Titles:
- President / Tejas Office Products, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Senior Director, Strategic Project Development / Jacobs
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- CEO / Amegy Bank
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Retired President, North America Exploration and Production / Chevron
Job Titles:
- CEO / Kinder Morgan, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chairman and President / SLM Discovery Ventures, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Senior Executive Chairman / Stellar Bank
Job Titles:
- Economic Development
- Senior Vice President & Chief Economic Development Officer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Partner, Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions / Vinson & Elkins LLP
Job Titles:
- Partner / Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Job Titles:
- International Investment & Trade / Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Public Policy
- Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Events & Programs Director, Member Engagement and Sponsorship
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President and CEO / Calpine Corporation
Job Titles:
- Regional Banking Director of Southeast Texas Region / Wells Fargo
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / McKinsey & Company
Job Titles:
- Chairman, President and CEO / Landry 's Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Office Managing Partner / RSM US LLP
Tony Lin - Chairman, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Facilities Management / Conference Center Associate
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President, HCA Gulf Coast Division
Job Titles:
- Finance & Accounting / Accounts Payable Specialist
Job Titles:
- VP of Global Services / Amazon
Job Titles:
- Director
- Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Economic Development
- Senior Director, Life Sciences
Job Titles:
- Information Systems Director
Job Titles:
- Chairman / Welcome Group LLC
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Sales & Marketing Group / Intel
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President and Chief Executive Officer / Texas Medical Center
Job Titles:
- Founder and CEO / Sunnova Energy International Inc.
Job Titles:
- President and CEO / Space Center
Job Titles:
- President, Houston and Central Texas Region