Houston's top 25 business and civic leaders named by local organization
HTown leaders
As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the Center for Houston’s Future has named its first-ever group of Top 25 Business/Civic Leadership Forum Alumni, including energy transition CEOs and legendary craft brewery founders.
The group was selected from among 1,400 alumni of the Center for Houston's Future's Leadership Forum, which hosts two cohorts per year, bringing together leaders from across industries to focus on issues critical to the long-term success of Greater Houston.
The individuals will be honored throughout the year, starting with an event this Thursday, March 20, at the Junior League of Houston called Leaders for Houston’s Future: Women Who Stand Apart, and culminating in the signature Dinner & Conversation event this fall.
Earlier this year, the organization selected an honor roll of 75 Leaders Who Stand Apart before naming the list of 25. See the honor roll here.
“Both our Top 25 and the honor roll of 75 Leaders are a testament to the amazing group of leaders working for the good of our region every day,” David Gow, the center’s CEO and president, said in a statement. “They are also a reflection of the Center’s historical and ongoing commitment to develop, inspire and connect leaders across all facets of our region.
Gow is the founder and chairman of Gow Media, InnovationMap's parent company.
The Top 25 Business/Civic Leadership Forum Alumni list includes:
- Laura Bellows, president and board chairman, W.S. Bellows Construction
- Richard Campo, chairman and CEO, Camden Property Trust
- Anne Chao, co-founder, Houston Asian American Archive
- Donna Cole, founder, president and CEO, Cole Chemical & Distributing
- Suzan Deison, CEO, president and founder, Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce
- Amanda Edwards, principal, The Community Based Solutions Firm
- Bob Eury, retired president and CEO, Central Houston, Inc.
- Sidney Evans II, senior advisor, business affairs, Reliant Energy
- Roland Garcia, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP
- Cullen Geiselman, board chair, Houston Parks Board
- Bernard Harris Jr., former NASA astronaut
- Winell Herron, senior vice president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs, H-E-B
- Paul Hobby, founder and managing director, Genesis Park
- Laura Jaramillo, executive director, LISC
- Melanie Johnson, president and CEO, Collaborative for Children
- Laura Murillo, president and CEO, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Wilhelmina "Beth" Robertson, president, Cockspur, Inc. and Westview Development Inc.
- Judson Robinson III, president and CEO, Houston Area Urban League
- Kimberly Sterling, principal, Sterling for Good
- Y. Ping Sun, of counsel, Yetter Coleman LLP
- Bobby Tudor, founder and CEO, Artemis Energy Partners
- Brock Wagner, founder, Saint Arnold Brewing Company
- Barron Wallace, public finance partner and practice group co-Head, Bracewell LLP
- Marc Watts, president, The Friedkin Group
- Beth Wolff, founder and chairman, Beth Wolff Realtors
Eury, Sun and Wolff serve on the center’s board of directors.
“I’m grateful to be included on the Top 25,” Wolff said in the release. “I cannot stress enough what an extraordinary opportunity it is to participate in the Leadership Forum and focus on Houston’s future. Fellow cohort members become friends and colleagues working together in service of the community.”
This week's panel will feature Cole, Geiselman and Herron. They will be joined by Lharissa Jacobs, executive director of Fit Houston, who made the top 75 list. Frances Castañeda Dyess, president of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce, will moderate.