2016 Top 30 Women Honorees
Farida Abjani
Honoree 2016, If you’ve cared for any cause at all since you were born, you have probably heard of, seen, or met with Farida Abjani. This is…
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…
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…
Sehba Ali
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…
Jackye Alton
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…
Erin Asprec
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…
Mary Benton
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…
Marianna Brasel
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…
Carlotta Outley Brown
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…
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…
Denise Castillo-Rhodes
Honoree 2016, Denise Castillo-Rhodes was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Texas Medical Center on December 1, 2008. In this position, she is responsible…
Roxann Thomas Chargois
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…
Shern-Min Chow
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…
Marina Angelica Coryat
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…
Debbie Drury
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…
Frances Castañeda Dyess
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…
Amanda Edwards
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…
Dr. Carolyn Evans- Shabazz
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…
Sameera Faridi
As Director and Designer of Poshak Fashion & Style, Sameera Faridi knows that fashion is symbolic. It’s quite literally the thread between culture, history, and personality. It…
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…
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…
Ana Hernadez
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…
Joi-Lin Hunt- Venison
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…
Nathelyne Archie Kennedy
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…
Loren Lane
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…
Nacy J. Li
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…
Raina Mankarious
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…
Dr. Saundra Montgomery
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…
Dr. Laura Murillo
Honoree 2016, Dr. Laura Murillo is President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. With the support of the Chamber board and staff, she has …
Gigi Myung
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…
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. …
Sonia Rivera
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…
Ingrid Robinson
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…
Kim Roxie
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,…
Gracie Saenz
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…
Sallie Sargent
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…
Sonya Taylor Stevenson
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…
Tene Thomas
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…
Teana Watson
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…
Kimberly J. Williams
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…
Spring Williams-Cox
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…