Sallie Alcorn was elected to Houston City Council in December 2019. As an at-large council member, she works on broad policy issues – city finances, public safety, flood mitigation, transportation, mobility, infrastructure, environment, and parks and greenspace. Sallie launched the city’s first budget survey, YOUR TWO CENTS in 2020, aimed at increasing resident engagement and input in…
Carolanda Bremond Woodgett has practiced law for over 18 years and is currently the Associate Vice President and General Counsel ad interim at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (“UTMB”), a public academic health science center in Galveston, Texas, and the oldest medical school in Texas. In this role, Carolanda leads a team…
Dr. Christie Whitbeck became superintendent of Fort Bend ISD, the 8th largest district in Texas, in September 2021. She previously served as the superintendent of Bryan ISD and the deputy superintendent of Fort Bend ISD. She is regarded statewide as an award-winning, consensus-building leader. She has served on numerous state committees to support public education in Texas.After returning…
Merinda Watkins-Martin is a Houston native who was born and raised in Acres Homes. She is a graduate of Rice University. Merinda has been actively involved in the community for decades. She began volunteering during her time at Rice when she founded and managed a tutoring program, Knowledge Club, for Osborne Elementary and Wesley Elementary….
Dr. Tragil Wade-Johnson is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, inspirational speaker, life coach, and author with a passion to improve the quality of life through educating, empowering, encouraging, and enlightening as many people as possible. Tragil’s career as a leader in philanthropy started over 15 years ago, serving as the Executive Director of Wade’s World Foundation. She…
Carla Tharp serves as vice president of corporate development for Apache Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company with a longstanding presence in Houston. For nearly three decades, Carla has dedicated herself to an industry vital to the growth and prosperity of our city, working in energy valuations and transactions as a successful…
As a child, growing up in Houston’s Denver Harbor and Fifth Ward and witnessing the poverty and struggles of so many, Adriana Tamez was perplexed and often pondered: How can I help, what can I do, to make this situation better? The answers came as her siblings and she stood in the shadows of their…
Juliet K. Stipeche was born and raised in the East End of Houston, Texas, and is the daughter of immigrant parents from Argentina and Mexico. In 1992, Juliet graduated valedictorian of the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and earned a scholarship to Rice University, graduating with a B.A., magna cum laude, in…
Cindy Siegel is a Certified Public Accountant with almost 39 years of experience. She has owned a public accounting firm for 31 years that provides accounting and tax services for small businesses and individuals. Cindy currently is the Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party and has been an active grassroots activist for many years. She…
Karen Scott, an accomplished female entrepreneur, and proud veteran continues to break glass ceilings in this male-dominated construction industry as the owner, founder, and CEO of KNS Industrial Supply (KNS). Founded in California in 2016, KNS is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Woman/Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) with a new location in Houston,…