Honorees

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    Vera Bumpers

    Chief of Police Vera Bumpers leads the Houston Metro Transit Authority Police Department, the largest and oldest transit law enforcement agency in Texas. In this role, Bumpers is responsible for leading approximately 200 special-purpose peace officers and nearly 100 civilian employees. Their purpose is to safeguard METRO, its customers and employees by providing police services…

  • Gita P. Bolt

    Gita P. Bolt serves as vice president and general counsel for the Houston Housing Authority.  In this position, she is responsible for all legal matters relating to the Housing Authority, its Board of Commissioners and Administration.  Prior to the Housing Authority, Gita was general counsel for Loyola University New Orleans and Texas Southern University.  She…

  • Ann Harris Bennett

    Ann Harris Bennett, Harris County Tax Assessor Collector & Voter Registrar was sworn into office on January 3, 2017. She is a 5th generation Texan, born in East Texas, grew up in Corpus Christi, and is a 45 year resident of Harris County.  Bennett attended Texas Southern University School of Journalism and Communication, and Sam…

  • Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell

    Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, is an attorney, entrepreneur and fitness guru.  Born in Houston, Texas, she attended Hampton University and Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law.  As senior counsel with Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C, she handles real estate, corporate and intellectual property matters.  To fuel her creative and artistic side, she recently…

  • Zina Garrison

    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…

  • Yolanda Adams

    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

    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

    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 A. Guster- Hines

    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 D. Pierre

    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…