Zina Garrison graduated from Sterling High School in Houston, TX.  She started playing tennis at the age of 10 and entered her first tournament at the age of 12. Her success as a junior player quickly made the tennis world take notice. At the age of 14, she won the national girls’ 18s title. And then in…

Ask Yolanda Adams what she loves about her music and ministry.  The answer is as warm, embracing, and reflective as her songs.  “The music brings joy.  I truly believe that my songs bring the answers and the solutions, as opposed to just talking about the problems.  My music at its core is joyful.” Joyful, uplifting,…

Wanda Adams was elected to the HISD Board of Education in 2013 after serving the limit of three two-year terms as Houston City Councilmember for District D. Adams’ commitment as a Board of Education Trustee is to continue to incorporate strong literacy programs, strengthen parent and community engagement, and decrease the number of low-performing schools…

Victoria Ai-Linh Bryant is a successful entrepreneur and registered pharmacist with more than 17 years of pharmacy, home care, and long-term care consulting experience.  She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. In 2003, Dr. Bryant founded Ambassadors Caregivers, a home care agency that serves seniors, the disabled…

Victoria will tell you that her most accomplished recognition is being the proud mother to Douglas William Hines, and aunt to Eugena, Crystal, and Victoria.  She contributes much of her success to her rock solid family foundation and the overwhelming love and support given by her sister, Debra M. Guster and cousin, Mary “Bobby” McDonald….

Toni Pierre is a native of Ohio and holds both a Master’s and Bachelor of Science degree in Health Planning and Administration from the University of Cincinnati.  She moved to Houston, Texas, in 1999 to assume the role of Associate Vice President of Provider Relations at Amerigroup-Houston.  During her 17 year tenure at Amerigroup, Pierre…

Tene Thomas is a Partner at McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy LLP, the third largest African-American owned Accounting and Consulting firm in the nation.  Tene, a licensed CPA who began her career with Ernst & Young LLP, is the lead partner of McConnell & Jones’ Tax Practice with more than 20 years of technical experience…

Teana Watson is a native Houstonian and a proud graduate of the Jesse H. Jones High School Vanguard Program.  After high school, Watson studied as a Sloan Fellow at Princeton University and graduated with honors from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1986.   After interning at Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, she graduated from Syracuse University…

Spring Williams-Cox was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She is the last of five children born to Conwell and Arzie Dangerfield.  In 1975, she was crowned Miss Black Tulsa and received honors as 1st runner up to Miss Black Oklahoma in the state pageant. During her matriculation at Tarkio College, she received rave reviews…

Sonya Taylor Stevenson is the wife of Pastor Byron C. Stevenson, founder of The Fort Bend Church in Sugar Land, Texas.  She is a summa cum laude graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she received a B.S. in Accounting in 1990.  Additionally, she has completed coursework in education and business administration at…

Sonia Rivera is a native of Michigan, and she has lived in the Houston area since the age of 19. She is the daughter of Mexican Immigrants who spent the early part of her life as migrant farm workers and ultimately settled in the State of Michigan. While in college, she majored in Psychology and…

Sehba Ali is the CEO and Superintendent of KIPP Houston Public Schools.  KIPP Houston’s goal is to ensure students are prepared for success in college and have the knowledge, skills, and character to lead a choice-filled life.  Consisting of 26 schools serving 13,500 students in grades pre-k through 12th grade, KIPP Houston has an annual…

Saundra Montgomery, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is a personal life coach to thousands of women across America. She is also an author, leadership consultant, and inspirational speaker. Saundra is the wife of Dr. Ed Montgomery (Founder and Pastor of Abundant Life Cathedral Church – Houston, TX). She has worked diligently by his side for 30…

Sallie Sargent has enjoyed a diverse and exciting career over the past 28 years. Her special event management background with sporting events includes five Super Bowls; 14 years managing sponsor relations and special events for the Fiesta Bowl and the first Bowl Championship Series (BCS); producing the Charles Barkley Roast for the NBA All Star…

Roxann Thomas Chargois, Missouri City (TX) Chapter, began her tenure as Western Area Director in June 2015 at the 42nd Western Area Conference in Sacramento, CA. She leads the Western Area’s 59 chapters in 10 states under the 2015-2017 theme, “A Mind for Business and A Heart for Service.” Chargois envisions reaching new heights within…

Catching the eye of the community, in March of 2013, Ms. Rania Mankarious was chosen to lead Houston’s leading public safety nonprofit organization, Crime Stoppers of Houston. In her three years at the helm, Mankarious has brought the organization to new heights, making changes that have positively impacted abused children, domestic violence victims, human trafficking…

Nathelyne Archie Kennedy, a professional engineer, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering in 1959 from Prairie View A&M University. Following college graduation, Ms. Kennedy worked as a Bridge Design Engineer with an engineering firm in Chicago, Illinois, and later with an engineering firm in Houston, Texas. In 1979, she became a Registered…

Nancy J. Li is the Founder and President of Easton Resource Development, Inc., an education consulting and public relations firm in Houston.  Her Houston centered commitments to public service include the following organizations: Chair of the Board, the US-China Peoples Friendship Association-Houston Chapter Council Member, Houston Mayor’s Office for International Trade and Affairs Trustee, Holocaust…

Shern-Min Chow, whose first language was not English, anchors KHOU 11 News @ Noon and reports for KHOU 11 News during the week. When Chow began work in TV, she was the only Asian American broadcaster in San Antonio and later in Houston, then the 10th and fourth largest cities in the country. She is delighted at how…

Mary Benton is Director of Communications and Special Projects for the Office of Precinct One Harris County Commissioner Gene Locke. She is responsible for internal and external communications, managing a team of community aides for constituent outreach, and she works on special projects. Benton also serves as the Commissioner’s liaison to multiple departments within Harris…

Marina Angelica Coryat is the Senior Manager of Community Affairs and Investments  for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ Southeast Texas Region which spans from Victoria to Beaumont, including Bryan-College Station, Port Arthur, Huntsville, Temple, Galveston, and Houston. In this position, she strengthens brand reputation and presence in the region by engaging in specific…

Marianna Brasel is the General Manager of Porsche of West Houston, located in the Energy Corridor in Houston, Texas.  As the General Manger, she oversees day-to-day operations within the dealership, advertising and marketing, maintaining Porsche manufacturer relationships, and client communication and retention. She has developed a talented team of certified Porsche Brand Ambassadors in service…

Loren Lane is the First Lady of Texas Southern University. Lane is the wife of the new President of Texas Southern University, Dr. Austin A. Lane.  Her role goes beyond being the wife of the President, leading a mentorship program for freshmen to help them secure their path toward graduation within four years.  She is…

Kimberly J. Williams is Deputy Chief Procurement Officer for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). She is responsible for procurement, purchasing and contract administration. Williams also manages METRO’s award-winning Small & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. In addition, she is the President of Capstone ADR, where she is a mediator, arbitrator, and facilitator…

Dr. Kimberly Beatty is currently serving as Vice Chancellor for Instructional Services and Chief Academic Officer at Houston Community College (HCC). In this role, she is laser focused on student success and ensures the academic integrity of all programs. Since coming to HCC in January 2015, Dr. Beatty has led the institution through a major…

Kim Roxie’s passion for what she does is evident through her explanation: “I love enhancing women’s beauty by helping to build their self-esteem, making them feel good, and giving them more than what they expected in terms of revealing their natural beauty.” LAMIK Beauty offers women environmentally friendly makeup manufactured in the heart of the…

Joi-Lin Hunt-Venison, Esq. is a true believer of anything can be achieved with hard work and dedication. After earning her law degree from Southern University and her Master’s degree in Tax Law from Southern Methodist University, Mrs. Venison worked for International Tax Advisors (ITA) as a tax attorney. A true entrepreneur at heart, in 2007,…

Jackye Alton, a Little Rock, AR, native, initiated her pursuit of higher education at Fisk University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her aim for academic proficiency didn’t stop in Nashville, TN, as she went on to earn a Master’s degree in Education from Howard University. An obvious proponent of scholastic achievement, Alton…

Ingrid M. Robinson is the President of the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC). HMSDC is a business development organization designed to actively involve its members, both minority business enterprises and major corporations in efforts to increase and expand business opportunities and business growth for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) while driving excellence in supplier diversity…

Gracie Saenz was born and raised in the City of Houston.  She is originally from the 5th Ward area of the City and is a shareholder in Saenz & Burkhardt, PLLC.  Her practice focuses on government relations, business and commercial, and international business transactions.  She is a former Houston City Council Member At-Large (at the time,…

In 2005, Gigi Myung was transferred from Washington, D.C., to Houston, to work for W.W. Grainger, Inc.  Two years later, she was recruited by Houston’s Group 1 Automotive, Inc. to lead their turnaround, and she retired at the end of 2011. After taking some time off to recharge from twenty-five years of leading for Fortune…

Frances Castañeda Dyess is a native Houstonian, driven by passion for her community and championing the advancement of businesses as the engines of economic progress. Frances joined the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce in 2010 as President.  Under her leadership, she’s driven significant growth in Chamber membership and operating revenue, solidifying the economic presence,…

Erin began her career in healthcare at the Methodist Health Care System in 1998. She joined the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in 2002, working as the Director of Business Development and then as the Executive Liaison to the President and CEO of the System, Dan Wolterman. Erin then served on the TMC Campus as the…

Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz is a native Houstonian from Third Ward, Texas, and a proud graduate of Jack Yates High School. She is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  She has a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Doctorate of Education (Counselor Education) from Texas Southern University. …

Debbie Drury is founder and CEO of Market Doctors, a Houston-based, woman-owned enterprise. Market Doctors has been providing valuable marketing services to over 330 enterprises nationwide since 1998. Market Doctors combines traditional direct mail with interactive digital technology. Market Doctors’ digital Kiosk provides Debbie’s clients innovation and a competitive advantage. Market Doctors’ retention rate and…

Carlotta Outley Brown is the principal of the illustrious Lora B. Peck Elementary School located on upper Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.  She has been the principal of Peck for 13 years and an educator for 25 years.  She has served in several capacities in HISD, just recently serving as Lead Principal, but she has…

State Representative Ana Hernandez was elected in a special election in December 2005 to represent District 143 in the Texas House of Representatives. District 143 covers part of Houston, Channelview and the cities of Galena Park and Jacinto City. She serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and on the House Committee…

Houston City Council Member Amanda K. Edwards serves as the City Council Member in At-Large Position 4.  Council Member Edwards is also an attorney who specializes in public finance matters, in which she solves complex issues relating to tax-exempt bond financings, public-private partnerships, community development projects and nonprofit organizations. Council Member Edwards obtained her Bachelor…