Every interaction matters. That belief has guided Kathleen Brown throughout her distinguished career as an educational leader dedicated to empowering students, developing leaders, and strengthening communities. A transformational leader, Brown is known for building systems, cultivating talent, and fostering environments where people can learn, grow, and thrive. As Deputy Superintendent of Operations for Fort Bend…
Born in Venezuela, Paola Barbieri’s early life was shaped by an international upbringing that spanned three countries and two continents. As a child, she moved with her family to Massachusetts while her father pursued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her family later relocated to the Netherlands, where she developed a deep…
Throughout her distinguished twenty‑five‑year career, Emily C. Anderson, P.E., P.Eng., P.M.P., has spearheaded transformative infrastructure initiatives across the United States and internationally, including work in Iraq, the West Bank, Libya, Australia, and Canada. A seasoned strategic leader, she currently serves as Vice President and Senior Client Advisor at Halff Associates, Inc. in Houston, Texas, where…
Dr. De’Monica Cooper Amerson is an accomplished educational executive, school improvement leader, and leadership coach with more than 24 years of progressive experience transforming schools, developing leaders, and driving districtwide improvement initiatives. Throughout her career, she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director of Professional Learning, and Executive Director of School Improvement and…
Dr. Liza Alonzo is a native Houstonian who grew up in southeast Houston and attended HISD schools. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), where she co-founded the Xi Chapter of Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc., the university’s first Hispanic sorority, which continues to thrive today. She later…
Deshonda P. Charles, Esq., was an award-winning attorney, seasoned entrepreneur and respected community leader with more than 23 years of legal experience. As the founder and CEO of D. Charles Law Firm PLLC, she led a boutique Houston based practice focused on estate planning, probate litigation, business succession planning and civil litigation. In 2026, she…
For more than 30 years, Cindy Clifford has been an active force in Houston’s business, civic, and political communities. Combined with her resourcefulness, experience, and can-do spirit, Cindy has built a solid reputation as someone who can get things done. She has a keen ear for listening to clients’ public relations, marketing, and governmental affairs…
Cynthia Ginyard is a retired Alief ISD educator, who served as HR-Director of Employee Relations, Principal, Assistant Principal and Speech Language Pathologist. Upon retirement, she became engaged with the Fort Bend County Democratic Party. She was motivated to get involved in politics during President Obama’s first campaign. She is the owner of CSPAC, LLC –…
Helen Stagg is Chief Executive Officer of Change Happens, a community based social service organization in Houston, Texas. Change Happens is one of the largest Black-founded, Black-led organizations in the Greater Gulf Coast Region of Texas. As CEO, Stagg is responsible for operational planning and management, program operations and oversight, addressing strategic organizational issues, human…
Erica Davis Rouse is a 3rd generation Houstonian with deep roots in the community. Her grandfather was President of the Galena Manor Civic Club which was her first memory of civic engagement. She remembers being a card-carrying junior member of the NAACP before she even understood what the NAACP was. She grew up with a…
