2018 Top 30 Most Influential Women in Houston


The Top 30 Women celebrate the accomplishments and giving spirit of hundreds of diverse, influential and powerful women in Houston and the surrounding areas. 

2018 Top 30 Women Nominees

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…
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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…
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Karla Cisneros

Karla Cisneros is dedicated to serving her constituents as the City of Houston’s District H City Council Member, representing historic neighborhoods to the north and to the…
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Melissa Edwards

Melissa Edwards is a community strategist who has served in leadership roles within the philanthropic and not-for-profit industry.  For more than 15 years Edwards has successfully aligned…
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Brenda Erickson

Brenda Erickson, the Director of Corporate Supply Chain at ConocoPhillips Company has more than 30 years of Marketing and Supply Chain Management experience.  After starting her career…
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Mary Griffin

Grammy-Nominated Artist and Owner, Mahogany Entertainment, LLC Mary Griffin displays the vocal prowess, attitude and range of a true ingénue. With a powerfully unique voice and a…
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Arquella Hargrove

Arquella Hargrove has been “dubbed” a change agent based on her work supporting both established organizations and entrepreneurial ventures advising them through stages of creation, growth, and…
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Grayle Tully James

Trustee, Fort Bend Independent School District Grayle James received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Secondary Education…
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Constance Jones

Vice President Operations, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council Business is in her blood. For as long as she can remember, Constance Jones has had an affinity for…
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Eva L. Loredo

Trustee, District VIII, Houston Community College A life-long educator and community volunteer, Eva Loredo brings a no-excuses spirit to the Houston Community College. She was elected to…
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Jalene M. Mack, Esq.

Entertainment Attorney, Actress, Producer, Author, Founder & Artistic Director, Mack Performing Arts Collective Entertainment Attorney Jalene M. Mack will not be overlooked when it comes to African-American…
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Marie Myers

Global Controller, HP Inc. Marie Myers is an internationally recognized business leader and expert in global information technology, finance and business strategy. As senior vice-president of finance…
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Amber Newman

Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County Amber Newman joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Brazoria County (BGCBC) in September 2016 as Chief…
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LaToshia Norwood

Managing Partner, L’ Renee & Associates LaToshia Norwood is the managing partner of L’Renee & Associates, a project management consultancy firm that supports high-performing organizations by recruiting…
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Michelle Riley- Brown

Executive Vice President, Texas Children’s Hospital Michelle Riley-Brown serves as Executive Vice President at Texas Children’s Hospital, President of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and President of…
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Sadie Rucker

Sadie Rucker, the president of Horizon International Group, LLC is a native Houstonian – rooted in her support for the betterment of her hometown. Horizon International Group…
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Cindi Salas

In her role as Director of Purchasing & Logistics at CenterPoint Energy, Cindi Salas is responsible for supply chain operations including the procurement (strategic sourcing, procurement planning…
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Hazel K. Smith

Hazel K. Smith is a proud owner and operator of several McDonald’s restaurants located throughout Houston. Smith grew up in Dallas, Texas. She was attending college and…
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Maya P. Thornton

Maya P. Thornton is the Historically Underutilized Business Operations Department director at the University of Houston. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Xavier University…
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Joycelyn Williams

Joycelyn Williams has navigated her life with excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Prairie View A&M University. She continued graduate studies at Prairie View A&M…
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Anna M. Babin

Anna M. Babin was named President and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston in August 2005. As chief executive of the nation’s third largest United Way,…
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Cheryl D. Creuzot

Cheryl D. Creuzot is a 35-year industry veteran, wife, mother and current president and chief executive officer of Wealth Development Strategies, LLC. Wealth Development Strategies, one of…
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Karen L. McKemie

McKemie joined Sonic Automotive in 2008. She has held several senior management roles including Divisional Vice President which included the operational and financial oversight of Sonic’s 104…
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