Dr. Jonita W. Reynolds

Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Coast Community Services Association (GCCSA)

Dr. Jonita Reynolds, affectionately called “DrJ”, is a native Houstonian and notable leader in the community. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston in 1992, she began working for the Houston Independent School District as an English teacher at Sterling High School. In 1994, she was promoted to Magnet Coordinator at Sterling Aviation Sciences. During that time, she earned a Master’s in Administration and Supervision. In 2002, she was promoted to Director of Strategic Management & Quality Improvement for HISD, where she and her team worked on projects at the request of the Superintendent of Schools. In 2004, she earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies from the University of Houston.

Since December 2004, DrJ has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Gulf Coast Community Services Association, Inc. (GCCSA), the largest Community Action Agency in the State of Texas.   With an annual budget of $20 million, 300 full-time employees, and a host of community partners, GCCSA has facilitated the economic independence for more than $1 million of Harris County’s most vulnerable populations.

Although a CEO’s responsibilities are demanding, coupled with volunteering, facilitating workshops, mentoring, speaking at engagements and commencements, and serving as an emcee, DrJ is also Vice Chair of the City of Houston’s Department of Health & Human Services Foundation and 1st Vice President of the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies Executive Board. She is an American Leadership Forum Fellow, a member of the Legislative Ladies Club, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Missouri City Links, Inc., NAACP, the Young Learners School National Advisory Board, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

This former Ms. Black World Houston Pageant winner has received numerous honors, including the American Red Cross’ Distinguished Humanitarian Award; YMCA’s Minority Achievement Award; The Houston Sun’s Woman of the Year-30 Points of Light Award; Rolling Out Magazine’s Inaugural Group of Houston’s 25 Most Influential Women; d-mars.com Community Hero Award, Extraordinary Events’ Mother of the Year Award; Texas Black Expo’s  Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award; The Association of Black Social Workers’ Outstanding Community Service Award; Houston Style Magazine’s Top 5 Most Stylish Community Leaders in Houston; Top Ladies of Distinction’s Healing Hand of Houston Award; Holman Street Baptist Church’s Legacy & Leadership Award; featured in the Inaugural Edition of Who’s Who in Black Houston as one of  Houston’s Most Influential African Americans; and named by d-mars Magazine as One of Houston’s Top Women in It to Win It.

Reynolds is married to State Representative Ron Reynolds, Esq. Together, they are members of The Church Without Walls and parents of Lacey,10, and their 2 years-old twins, Reagan and Ron Reynolds, III.

DrJ firmly believes that we are spiritual beings sharing this human experience; therefore, as long as she has breath, she vows to be deeply rooted, ever-growing, and forever serving.