2016

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 Saenz & Burkhardt, PLLC.  Her practice focuses on government relations, business and commercial, and international business transactions.  She is a former Houston City Council Member At-Large (at the time,…

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 Automotive, Inc. to lead their turnaround, and she retired at the end of 2011. After taking some time off to recharge from twenty-five years of leading for Fortune…

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 the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce in 2010 as President.  Under her leadership, she’s driven significant growth in Chamber membership and operating revenue, solidifying the economic presence,…

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 of Business Development and then as the Executive Liaison to the President and CEO of the System, Dan Wolterman. Erin then served on the TMC Campus as the…

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 in Atlanta, Georgia, with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  She has a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Doctorate of Education (Counselor Education) from Texas Southern University. …

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 1998. Market Doctors combines traditional direct mail with interactive digital technology. Market Doctors’ digital Kiosk provides Debbie’s clients innovation and a competitive advantage. Market Doctors’ retention rate and…

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 of Peck for 13 years and an educator for 25 years.  She has served in several capacities in HISD, just recently serving as Lead Principal, but she has…

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 of Houston, Channelview and the cities of Galena Park and Jacinto City. She serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and on the House Committee…

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 public finance matters, in which she solves complex issues relating to tax-exempt bond financings, public-private partnerships, community development projects and nonprofit organizations. Council Member Edwards obtained her Bachelor…