Lead2Lead

Otto Meyers is an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVIII. A retired executive of Shell Oil, he serves as the managing director of Trilogy Ventures Group, a business coaching and consulting services firm.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth's political career includes nearly two decades working in a progressive series of administrative leadership roles in the clerk's office as well as experience as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill. She is an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXIV. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI, is an experienced civil litigation attorney who has also served as an advisor to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and served as a member of the Houston Independent Police Oversight Board. 

When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced lockdowns and social distancing, Leadership Houston had to quickly pivot the format of its immersive community engagement program from in-person to virtual experiences. Alumni members Alan Steinberg, Amy Tan, Clay Albers, and Lindsay Lanagan describe how Class XXXVIII of 2020 overcame the challenges, strengthened their bonds, and inspired them to virtually pay it forward into 2021.  

I am a corporate communications and public relations professional and alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXIX. I participated in the event ShareTheMicAndTheMoneyNow during August 25-28, 2020. Read the article I wrote and posted on LinkedIn titled, "It's time to invigorate America's corporate supply chain with Black women-owned businesses." 

Beth Wolff is the Chairman & CEO of Beth Wolff Realtors Real Living. She is an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class III and has served on Leadership Houston's Policy Council, was Vice Chair of Graduate Programs, and chaired the Executive Briefing Committee.For more information, visit http://www.bethwolff.com. 

Cesar Rincon is the founder and president of CRI/Cesar Rincon International, a sales, marketing and personal development firm.  For nearly three decades he has been a business leader in live entertainment, event production, radio and television production, sales, advertising, marketing and management. Cesar believes everyone has a diamond and the unlimited power of human potential inside of them, and he strives to have a positive impact on people’s lives by being a resource and an advisor. He’s the author of the book and DVD titled 10 Secrets to Sales Success, and he’s a member of Leadership Houston. 

As the associate director of BridgeUp at Menninger, Linda Civallero connects schools, non-profit organizations, and mental health care practitioners to improve student experiences through innovative programs that foster social and emotional learning, engage constructive behavioral interventions and, when needed, arrange referrals to clinical mental health services.

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Chevazz Brown, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXIII, is a litigator – a commercial business dispute resolution attorney with the Jackson Walker law firm in Houston. He’s also one of the lead coordinators of the Houston Coalition of Diverse Bar Associations and the founder of the tech start-up DiversePro. 

If you count all the people on the Leadership Houston class rosters since 1982, the year LH began, there are more than 1,400 alumni members representing every domain of life in Houston. Why do we take the journey? What did it mean? Why is it still a valuable life experience?

MaryJane Mudd is the president of the League of Women Voters Houston, a 100-year-old organization that fosters civic engagement in the democratic process and provides nonpartisan information such as this Voters Guide (pdf).As an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XVIII, MaryJane has served on the LH board and was chair of LH Class XXX. She is the award-winning principal of MJM Communications.  

Christina Allen is the CEO of FamilyTime Crisis & Counseling Center. She has been involved with domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, awareness, and prevention for more than 20 years. Christina is an alumni  member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI,

Marina Angelica Coryat, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXIX, is a public relations executive, entrepreneur, influencer, and author of The Due [DU] Season. She is also a minister and conference speaker who says she has a heart for God and His people. For more information, visit SunArise International Ministries and Refined Communications LLC. 

An alumni member of Leadership Houston Class I, Julie Brook Alexander has made an impact on Houston as a business executive, art teacher, award-winning professional artist, and life member of the Children's Museum Houston board of directors. For more information, visit https://www.cmhouston.org.

Beth Wolff is the Chairman & CEO of Beth Wolff Realtors Real  Living. She is an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class III and has served on Leadership Houston’s Policy Council, was Vice Chair of Graduate Programs, and chaired the Executive Briefing Committee.  For more information, visit https://www.bethwolff.com.

Angela Young, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXVII who served on the LH board during 2009-2013, is the Associate Dean of the Stanford University School of Engineering. For more information, visit https://engineering.stanford.edu/get-involved/give. 

Julie Baskin Jenkins, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI, is the Senior Director of People & Culture at BakerRipley, a non-profit community organization. 

Matt Connor, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI, is a certified Coach and Infinite Possibilities Trainer who says he's passionate about creating value for people and helping them prosper.  For more info, check out https://www.coach-connor.com.

An alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI, Joy Hutton is the founder and principal of Joy of Consulting, a Houston management consulting firm.  

I am the principal of CCMA Strategies, a Houston consulting business that provides services in corporate strategic communications and content marketing. I participated in the event ShareTheMicAndTheMoneyNow during August 25-28, 2020.For additional commentary, read the article I wrote and posted on LinkedIn titled, "It's time to invigorate America's corporate supply chain with Black women-owned businesses."I am also a member of Leadership Houston Class XXIX.

Renee Griffin is the principal consultant of CCMA Strategies, one of 40 Black women-owned businesses competing in #ShareTheMicAndTheMoneyNow during August 25-28, 2020, in Houston. Note: This episode includes a replay of Renee's personal commentary on the fight against racism and social injustice. 

Attorney Gregg Waddill is a partner at Swann & Waddill, a private practice law firm based in Austin, Texas. His 50-year career practicing law has included experience in the non-profit, for-profit, and public sectors of health care as general counsel responsible for risk management at several hospitals and at large insurance companies that underwrite the policies covering physicians and their medical practices.Gregg's year-long Leadership Houston journey was during 1982 - 1983 as a member of Class I. He’s a former Chairman of Leadership Houston Alumni and a former president of the Leadership Houston Association.

As the associate director of BridgeUp at Menninger, Linda Civallero connects schools, non-profit organizations, and mental health care practitioners to improve student experiences through innovative programs that foster social and emotional learning, engage constructive behavioral interventions and, when needed, arrange referrals to clinical mental health services.

Ray Shackelford, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVII, is the National President of the National Urban League Young Professionals as well as an appointed member of two City of Houston civilian boards – the Independent Police Oversight Board and the Houston Housing Finance Corporation.   

Howard Holsenbeck is one of the founding members of Leadership Houston, a 501(c)3 organization that fosters connection, collaboration, and engagement various segments of the Houston community. Since 1982, more than 1,400 diverse professional men and women have participated in Leadership Houston's year-long journey. For more information, visit www.leadershiphouston.org.

Martha Castex-Tatum, an alumni member of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI, represents District K on the Houston City Council and is the city's Vice Mayor Pro-Tem.  She chairs the council's Economic Development committee and is a member of the committees that oversee Budget & Fiscal Affairs, Ethics Elections &Council Governance, Housing & Community Affairs, Regulations & Neighborhood Affairs, and Transportation Technology & Infrastructure. For more information, visit www.HoustonTX.gov. 

Nicole Thomas, a member of Leadership Houston Class XXIX, is the founder of the Nicallyss Creative Group, her Memphis-based firm that provides Strategic Marketing & Communications for individuals, small businesses, and global brands. She has also consulted Fortune 500 companies on strategies for diversity and inclusion, corporate philanthropy and volunteerism. Nicole's expertise gained a global spotlight with the publication of her article titled “Managing an Age-Diverse Workforce," which is posted online by Diversity & Inclusion in UK Nuclear.

After starting out as a corporate accountant, Debbie Markey transferred her valuable skills into non-profit leadership. The Houston Arboretum & Nature  Center is a 155-acre non-profit urban nature sanctuary nestled between West Loop 610 and Memorial Park. Major financial contributions to the organization from private individuals and charities, capital campaigns, and collaborations with state and local agencies support forest restoration and plantings of flower gardens and Texas-native plants that are attractive natural habitats for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife. This arboretum-nature center also attracts about 400,000 HUMAN visitors every year – people of all ages who enjoy walks, educational and social programs, and even private celebrations like birthdays and weddings while surrounded by nature. There are five miles of walking trails, a botanical hall for children, a nature center building, and a discovery room filled with exhibits. Debbie and her staff are spearheading the next chapter in the site’s history: a multi-million-dollar master plan to restore and support acreage and native ecosystems with large swaths of prairie and savanna habitat, as well as some added facilities and access expansions. For more information, visit the website www.houstonarboretum.org

Cesar Rincon is the founder and president of CRI/Cesar Rincon International, a sales, marketing and personal development firm.  For nearly three decades he has been a business leader in live entertainment, event production, radio and television production, sales, advertising, marketing and management. Cesar believes everyone has a diamond and the unlimited power of human potential inside of them, and he strives to have a positive impact on people’s lives by being a resource and an advisor. He’s the author of the book and DVD titled 10 Secrets to Sales Success, and he’s a member of Leadership Houston. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, tensions over racism, massive protests against social injustice. Through it all, Leadership Houston remains engaged. The year-long experience program was a bit disrupted but never derailed, and alumni members are doing their part to lead constructive discussions and actions to unite and affect change across our diverse community. Leadership Houston Board Chairman Jake Bunch shares insights on the impacts.

In 1982, a group of business and community leaders set a goal to increase dialogue and foster collaboration on projects to improve the quality of life for all Houstonians. Their vision was to identify and reach more leaders -- and those with leadership potential – and inspire them to expand their involvement within the community. That vision became Leadership Houston.From business and education, to healthcare, government, non-profits, and the arts – there are hundreds of professional people who are alumni members of Leadership Houston. This podcast is going to introduce you to many of them and highlight what they’re doing now as engaged leaders, tackling challenges, creating new opportunities, helping people, contributing to the community – sharing knowledge and using their expertise to make a difference. Leadership Houston’s Signature Program is a ten-month journey for a new class of Fellows every year. The journey for each class begins in August, when you attend the kickoff orientation and meet your classmates. In September you go on an overnight class retreat. From October through May you have one full-day learning session every month that introduces you to people and immerses you in experiences to understand what makes Houston tick.You and your class members spend each monthly learning day visiting a venue that’s a key element in a specific sector of the city -- corporate business, educational and healthcare institutions, local government, political offices, and law enforcement, non-profits, the cultural and performing arts… you get deep insights into Houston’s major community issues and unique opportunities to discover and develop ways that you can be a leader where you work and in the larger community. Those insights help your class develop a civic project that you collaborate to complete as an enduring legacy contribution from your class to the community. And then the program culminates with a closing overnight retreat in June. Just how do you qualify to participate in this journey? If you’re sincerely committed and motivated, you could be an ideal candidate if you’re a professional with ten or more years of experience, you have proven leadership skills, and you’re currently involved in the community – but not running for an elected office at the time you put in your application.Leadership Houston accepts applications year-round from candidates who want to join the class of the following year. Visit the website – Leadershiphouston.ORG – to learn more about the application process and to review the class schedule. That’s important because attendance at the retreats and at the monthly learning sessions is mandatory, so you want to avoid any potential schedule conflicts before you submit a candidate application.  The Leadership Houston Podcast host is Renee Griffin, a corporate communications and public relations professional. She is one of the 54 members of Class XXIX which graduated in 2011. That class was a diverse mix representing all kinds of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds -- a mix of extroverts, introverts, folks who take care of business and love to have a good time socially. A highlight of the Class XXIX journey was planning, designing, building, and opening the Palmetto MultiSensory Hiking/Walking Trail at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center near Memorial Park. The purpose of the trail was to enable blind and visually impaired people in our community to independently enjoy the experience of nature for themselves. Class XXIX set a Leadership Houston record by raising nearly $70,000 for the project and gained loads of media attention for it.Currently, the Palmetto Trail is not open; it’s been reverted back to a natural habitat. The arboretum-nature center is in the middle of a master plan restoration, so there may be an opportunity to reestablish the trail in the future. Coincidentally, the Executive Director of the arboretum-nature center is a member of Leadership Houston Class XXX.