Irma Diaz-Gonzalez

Irma Diaz-Gonzalez is the Chief Executive Officer of Employment and Training Centers, Inc. (ETC). ETC has been named a top workplace by the Houston Business Journal and the Houston Chronicle, with a special expertise in bilingual staffing including Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

Irma’s personal story is directly tied to her career. She grew up in a family of migrant farm workers, but her life changed as a teenager when a non-profit helped her father find permanent employment and housing for the family, allowing the children to enroll in school permanently.

She was so grateful that she began volunteering for the organization; later she was hired as an employment counselor while attending community college. After placing three men in jobs making over $10 an hour, instead of $2 hourly, their families stopped by to thank her—”and I was hooked,” she recalls.

Now, more than 40 years into her career, she still loves helping people find meaningful employment. Married and the proud mother of three grown daughters, she continues to serve the community in a multitude of ways.

Recently, Irma was named Chair of the Board of Directors at BakerRipley—an organization she has been connected to since the 1980s. Irma has served on the Board since 2019.

“I was drawn to serve on the Board of BakerRipley because I believe deeply in its mission to create opportunities and strengthen communities,” says Irma. “I have seen firsthand the challenges many families in Houston face—whether it’s access to education, job training, housing, or social services, and I admire how BakerRipley meets those needs in a holistic and respectful way.”

She is also inspired by BakerRipley’s long history of innovation and adaptability. Since 1907, BakerRipley has met the changing needs of Houstonians and offered emergency aid during times of crisis.

“I admire BakerRipley’s history, resiliency, strong mission, and its unwavering commitment to empowering people,” says Irma. “BakerRipley focuses on building skills, creating opportunities, and fostering dignity—helping individuals and families become self-sufficient and resilient. That philosophy resonates deeply with me because of my personal story and because it creates long-term impact, not just temporary relief.”

Irma’s additional service to the community includes Chair Emeritus of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Past Chair of Mi Familia Vota; Lifetime Board Member of Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital; Amegy Bank Board Member; and past member of the United Way of Greater Houston Board of Trustees. Her awards include Hispanic Business Woman of the Year by the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Comcast’s Hispanic Hero Award; Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women; 50 Most Influential Women in Houston by Texas Women’s Magazine; and the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.

“The golden rule is important to me; treating other people the way you would want to be treated,” says Irma. “I want to be known for having made a difference in people’s lives.”