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 of Louisiana and a juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center. Prior to joining the University of Houston, Thornton was the procurement manager for Harris County Department of…
Heidi McDonald Smith is the chief of staff at Texas Southern University, one of the nation’s largest historically black universities. In her role as chief of staff, she serves as a member of the president’s cabinet and is responsible for the efficient operation of the president’s office. Her role includes managing the budget, scheduling and…
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 working on her degree to become an accountant when her mother suddenly passed away. At that point, she decided to quit her job at the bank. At the…
Shawn Emerson Simmons, PhD is currently the Environmental & Permitting Manager for the Gulf Coast Growth Venture for ExxonMobil Chemicals. Prior to this assignment she was the Water, Waste and State Regulatory Manager for the Central Safety, Security, Health, and Environment Organization of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Simmons has led global teams as a supervisor, responsible…
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 and purchasing of direct and indirect goods and services), supply/demand planning, logistics, warehousing, material distribution and inventory and supplier management. This responsibility is relative to both electric and…
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 is a premier general contractor and construction management firm which is a City of Houston certified minority and women owned business and Small Business Enterprise and is designated…
Maribel Rodriguez was born in Parral, Chihuahua Mexico and raised in Houston, Texas. She is the oldest of three siblings. She completed her associates degree in Houston and is currently continuing her education to complete her bachelor’s degree. Rodriguez married her husband, Alejandro, at the age of 18, and they have been married for 22…
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 Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. Through her leadership roles, Michelle oversees and directs Texas Children’s broad community strategy. This includes the organization’s community hospitals, primary care practices, urgent…
President & CEO, TKO Biz Solutions Tiko Reynolds-Hausman is the president and CEO of TKO BizSolutions and the director of development for the Transportation Agency Group– Houston Region, a local nonprofit dedicated to building a broad‐based coalition of businesses, local governments and community organizations to demonstrate public support for full and adequate funding of transportation…
Director, Behavioral Health Services, Amerigroup Texas Stacey M. Parker-Blake is a licensed professional counselor and a proud graduate of Prairie View A&M University. She holds a Masters of Arts in counseling and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in psychology. She has dedicated all of her professional life to helping and supporting those who cannot do…