2023 Houston STEAM Role Mode Icon
Paula Harris
Senior Vice President
Community and Foundation Executive Director
Houston Astros
2023 Houston Role Models
Stella Anderson
Program Director, Faculty Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Human Resources
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Stella Njoku Anderson has been committed to serving as a leader in healthcare for over 22 years. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in health from the University of Houston, her master’s in healthcare administration from Texas Southern University in 2014, and 2019 a doctoral degree in health administration from Capella University. Since 2010, Dr. Anderson has made an impact at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is the Program Director in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Some of her career achievements include creating a robotic education program for the Surgery trainees, leading the first DEI division committee, and creating a checkout process for the patients in the Gynecologic Oncology Center. In addition, Dr. Anderson is the chair of the Organization for Multicultural Employees (OME) and a past member of the President’s Advisory Council and the UT Health System Employee Advisory Council. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mu Kappa Omega Chapter and enjoys volunteering in the community. Most importantly, she is a mother of two beautiful children and a doting wife to her husband, Jamaar Anderson.
Lianne Armpriester
General Manager-CCUS
Chevron New Energies
Lianne Armpriester is General Manager – Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), US East, for Chevron New Energies (CNE), a position she assumed in May 2022. She is responsible for growing Chevron’s CCUS business and is based at CNE’s headquarters in Houston, Texas. A native Houstonian, Lianne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2007, after which she joined Chevron as a Petroleum Engineer. Since joining Chevron, Lianne has held a variety of technical and leadership positions in asset development, reservoir management, portfolio management, and acquisitions and divestitures. Married with two children, Lianne enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and volunteering with Girl Scouts of America.
Megan Avery
Business Development Officer
Stewart Title
Megan is a dynamic and accomplished professional, serving as a national business development officer at Stewart title with a primary focus on commercial services. She has over 18 years’ experience in commercial banking and business development. With a passion for growth and fostering strong client relationships, Megan has an impressive track record of success in the real estate industry. She was inducted into Stewart Titles Presidents Club in 2019 as a top producer. Being born and raised in Waller County, and now raising her family there, it is a priority of hers to help Waller County grow and flourish. Very active in her community, she holds the position of treasurer with her local commerce and civic association. With her help chairing the Hempstead Watermelon Festival- Queens committee she has had two record years raising over 80,000.00 to give back to her community. She is a director of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, a 2022 Thought Leaders Graduate and serves on the advisory board of the rising stars.
In her spare time, she loves to volunteer, hang out with family and is a major foodie. She is the proud parent of daughters Emma and Harper.
Halisha Balla
Butyl Business Team Leader
ExxonMobil
Halisha, a Dominican native, graduated with Honors from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. She began her ExxonMobil career as a Mechanical Engineering Intern at Beaumont Refinery and joined ExxonMobil Baytown Complex in 2009. Halisha has held various engineering and supervisory roles, and is currently the ExxonMobil Baytown Chemical Plant Butyl Business Team Leader. She is the outgoing President of the ExxonMobil Baytown Black Employee Success Team and has been a recipient of ExxonMobil Shared Vision awards and GHWCC Breakthrough Woman awards. Halisha is a proud mom of 11-year-old twins and enjoys family, cooking, and traveling.
Sabeeta Bidasie-Singh
Director, Business Equity
Port Houston
Sabeeta Bidasie-Singh is Port Houston’s Business Equity Director, leading the division’s Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Development Program (MWBE) and supporting the Small Business Enterprise Development Program (SBE). She is responsible for implementing supplier diversity, equity, and training/capacity building programs. Sabeeta has over 25 years of international experience, including working as a SMWBE and an employee with a Tropical Shipping ship-liner. With a Doctor of Business Administration in Data Management Technology, MBA in International Business, Msc. Research, and BBA in Business Administration and Marketing, Sabeeta is passionate about removing wealth-gap barriers and providing access to underserved communities. She has volunteered with Rohingya refugee tribes in Asia and worked on IBM’s women in STEM program in rural Malaysia. Sabeeta serves on several non-profit and advisory boards, and is a mother to two young men.
Patricia Boral
Co-Founder & CEO
Boral Agency
Patricia Boral is an entrepreneur and digital marketing expert. Her entrepreneurial spirit started at a very young age, helping run her first business at 13, after her mother’s passing, back in Bolivia where she is originally from. In 2011, she launched Boral Agency with her sister, a 100% woman and minority-owned full-service digital marketing agency, with a proven track record of success in diverse industries. Honored with the Emerging Business of the Year award by HHCC in 2015. Patricia was a graduate of the Goldman Sacks 10K SB Program, and in 2020, recognized with the HBJ 40 under 40. Patricia’s dedication goes beyond business; she is a devoted advocate for foster children, serving on the board for Houston Angels. Moreover, her passion for sharing knowledge has led her to present at various conferences, associations, and educational institutions, fulfilling her passion to inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Sonya Brazeal
CEO
Amazing Window Cleaners
Sonya is the proud CEO of Amazing Window Cleaners and loves to serve others! Since starting her company in 2020, Sonya leads her team with integrity and a fun-loving attitude! In 2022, Amazing Window Cleaners won The Pinnacle Award from the Better Business Bureau which is their highest honor for promoting quality in the workplace. Sonya is the daughter of a fallen Houston Police Officer killed in the line of duty. She is a native Houstonian and graduated from Aldine Sr. High School. She loves to dance and was selected as an NFL Houston Oilers Derrick Doll in 1985, and 1993-1995. She graduated from Texas State University with a BA in Journalism, Public Relations Major and Spanish Minor. In 1991, she began her career as a Flight Attendant for Southwest Airlines and completed her 32nd year with this Fortune 500 company in May 2023. She is married to a Veteran of the Air Force and Pilot for Southwest Airlines.
Danielle Davis
Vice President, Southwest Head of Diverse Businesses
JP Morgan Chase
Danielle A. Davis is the Southwest Head of Diverse Businesses at J.P. Morgan Chase’s Middle Market & Specialized Industries group. With 22 years of experience, she focuses on strategy execution, business development, and growth of mid-size diverse, women, and veteran-owned businesses in the southwest segment. She has held leadership roles in sales coaching and management, and is involved in JPMC’s business resource groups. She is also the co-chair of the community service committee and a member of the Global Women on the Move Operating Committee. Danielle is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and is a board member of the Ethel Hedgeman Lyle Foundation of Texas, INROADS, and The Edison Arts Foundation.
Susan Dray
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development
Reliant, an NRG Company
As VP, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Susan Dray leads the planning and implementation of the strategic vision for NRG’s national partnerships. She oversees the implementation of strategic techniques that drive sales performance and bottom-line revenue for NRG. Susan was previously recognized as a Top 50 Woman in Oil & Gas and has shared her expertise on many panels on topics from leadership to energy. One of Susan’s passions is supporting other women. She currently serves as an Executive Board Member of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She led the Chamber as a past Board Chair to experience one of its most successful but challenging years, during the pandemic. She was also a Loaned Executive to the United Way of Greater Houston and, perhaps her favorite volunteer activity, supporting her children’s schools. Susan is a proud UT, Austin Alum. She enjoys travel, beach time in Galveston, cheering on Houston’s sports teams, and spending time with her husband and two sons.
Sidney Evans
Sr. Advisor, Business Affairs
Reliant, an NRG Company
Sid, a 48-year Houstonian, is a Senior Advisor at Reliant, an NRG company. He is responsible for community marketing and corporate business relationships in Texas. Sid has been recognized as corporation of the year nine times by seven chambers of Commerce. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Board, YMCA of Greater Houston, and the Annual Giving Campaign. He was recognized as an inaugural “Agents of Change” Award recipient by Comcast in 2022. Sid is married to Sheryl Evans and has four children. Lastly, Sid loves the GHWCC, and happy to say that he shares a May 25th as a birthday with his favorite twin Suzan Deison.
Noureen Faizee
Director, Strategy
Worley
Noureen is a strategist and business leader with over 15 years of experience in the Energy industry. She currently works as a Global Director of Strategy and Growth for Worley’s Hydrogen business to explore opportunities for genuine transformation within the hydrogen marketplace. Prior to this role, she led strategy development for the Upstream and Midstream oil and gas sector in Worley. She has a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo, Ohio. She has been recognized as the Engineering and Construction Contracting (ECC) Association’s “Future Leader” as a part of ECC Future Leaders Program back in 2018. She’s also won other industry awards such as Transition Economist’s Top 100 Women in Energy Transition & GRIT Award by Ally Energy. She is very passionate about sustainability and being socially and environmentally responsible and actively involved in promoting Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) whose mission is to establish sustainability as an integral part of every child’s K-12 learning experience. She also serves as an Advisory Board Member of Energy Industries Council (EIC) for the North America region and their Hydrogen sub-committee.
Julie Flowers
Head of Global Talent Acquisition
Chevron
As the Head of Global Talent Acquisition in Chevron’s Learning & Talent COE, Julie leads a strong, subject matter expert team responsible for setting strategic direction, managing a portfolio of services across the Global Talent Acquisition value chain. Julie has been with Chevron Human Resources since 1998. She has held a variety of HR leadership positions and various enterprise HR functional leadership roles charged with managing and developing global HR talent. She is on various boards and holds diversity network leadership positions and is a certified professional leadership coach for chevron. Julie has a passion for supporting and amplifying other women’s voices. She is a sought-out speaker and has delivered captivating talks at various forums, captivating audiences with her engaging style and expertise. She enjoys snow skiing, dancing, spending time in Hill Country, doing anything with her husband, two amazing sons and friends and she is admittedly chocolate-oholic.
Lorie Fox
Area Director
Adecco Staffing
Lorie has spent 25+ years empowering women and children via her professional and personal platforms. That journey has allowed her to partner with several Community Leaders, City Officials and Fortune 500 Global Organizations. Her 9 years with Adecco, a Fortune Global 500 company and the world’s second largest Human Resources provider and temporary staffing firm, has enabled her to directly impact economic change. Lorie believes serving the community through your employer is occupying “The Marketplace”. She has educated, employed and empowered an innumerable network and her dedicated involvement proves that she loves creating a positive change for those she encounters.
- Adecco Foundation Community Partnership Dress for Success, Empowerment Coach/Mentor
- Adecco ACE Executive Board USA OLYMPIC Partnership, Committee, Mentor
- Adecco Culture Champ Leader
- Adecco SuperStar Award Winner
- Global Sales/Marketing Customer Success Manager
- Green Belt Certification, Lean Six Sigma, Operation Excellent Manager
Brandi Harleaux
CEO
South Post Oak Recycling Center
Brandi Harleaux is the CEO and second-generation owner of South Post Oak Recycling Center (SPORC), Houston’s trusted metal recycling company. SPORC specializes in providing customers with metal recycling service solutions that benefit financially, socially, and environmentally. With 15 years of experience in organizational development and strategy, Brandi has been recognized for her transformative leadership skills and advocacy efforts. She has received numerous awards, including the 2023 Texas Small Businessperson of the Year Award, 2023 Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurs of the Year Award, 2021 Houston International Trade Development Global Seven International Rising Star Award, and the inaugural 2020 ISRI Young Executive of the Year Award. Brandi is also a board member of the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and serves on the board of the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business.
Kate Inman
Director of Indirect Sales
COMCAST
Kate Inman is the Director of Indirect Sales for Comcast’s Texas Region where she is responsible for developing overall sales & marketing growth and go-to-market strategies within the Authorized partner channel including over 400 locations with a wide range of disciplines. A tenacious leader with over 22 years of industry experience, she is committed to putting people first, leading with intention, and winning with integrity.
With a heart for service, Kate takes an active role in the community. She’s been a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 2007, serves a number of local non-profits, and joined the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2023. Kate also leads the Women’s Network for Comcast, with over 500 employee members. She is the mother of three and married to her best friend. They reside in League City, Texas where she loves to eat, travel, and be joyful.
Lindsay Lanagan
Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs
Legacy Community Health Services
Lindsay Lanagan is the Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs for Legacy Community Health Services. In her role, Lindsay oversees federal, state and local government relations for the organization to influence policy at all levels of government and leads the Public Affairs team.Prior to joining Legacy in 2018, Lanagan was Senior Manager of State Government Relations for McKesson Specialty Health, one of the nation’s largest health care companies, where she directed state policy for a 23-state region. Lanagan previously led the City of Houston’s Intergovernmental Relations office where she oversaw local, state and federal government relations for the largest city in Texas. Prior to the Mayor’s office, Lindsay worked on multiple political campaigns, and served as a staff assistant in a congressional office. In her free time she enjoys exercising, cooking and watching live music.
Rosalinda Martinez
Director, Community Strategy – Texas
AARP Texas
Rosalinda is the Community Strategy Director at AARP, the largest nonprofit in the US, focusing on empowering people 50 and older. She has experience in event strategy, campaigns, and public relations, working with corporate companies, non-profits, and foundations. Rosalinda has also served as the Vice President of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and managed operations for the Greater Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She has been recognized as a Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree, Institute of Hispanic Culture as a Hispanic Community Leader, and Young Philanthropist of the Year by the Latino Learning Center. Rosalinda has also served as a Board Member of the Houston Arts Alliance and Kids’ Meals, serves on the Equity Task Force of Houston 2036, and is a Founding Board Member for FitHouston.
Allison McFarlane
Founder & CEO
Allison McFarlane Inc.
Allison McFarlane, Vice President of Business Development at Capital One, is a finance expert with a strong commitment to community service. With a career at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America, she has honed her skills in sales and customer service. Allison is an advocate for community empowerment and serves on the Rising Stars Advisory Board for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She is a sought-after speaker and panelist, sharing insights on growth mindset, leadership development, and community connections. Proudly holding a Bachelor of Science in Communication, Sales, and Marketing from the University of Phoenix, and currently pursuing an MBA, Allison’s education underscores her commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. Connect with Allison for speaking engagements, panel discussions, or to learn more about her ongoing community contributions.
Wendy Nguyen
Founder
NCTP CPAS PLLC
Wendy Nguyen, a CPA with a successful family and businesses, aims to make a difference and give back. With 15 staff members and her business partners, she retained over 1000 jobs and provided clients with over $20 million in 2020 and 2021. Nguyen is a philanthropist, board member, and author. In 2023, she published her first book, “How to Get Paid Doing What You Love,” interviewing entrepreneurs who followed their passion and built successful businesses. She is also the global coauthor of “Global Conscious Entrepreneurs” with Marie Diamond.
Kristie Ondracek
CFO/COO
TX CPA
Kristie Ondracek, CPA, CGMA, CAE serves as chief financial officer/chief operating officer at TXCPA Houston, a membership association for Houston and surrounding area certified public accountants. She is a native Nebraskan and moved to Houston, Texas, in 2010. She received a bachelor’s of science in business administration from Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) in 1998 and a master’s in business administration from University of Nebraska-Omaha. In 2013, she became a certified public accountant and active in the CPA community. Kristie has over twenty years of financial reporting experience, including nearly five years at TXCPA Houston. Prior to TXCPA Houston, Kristie served in various financial accounting roles. She has a very supportive partner who encourages all her dreams, and she is a caregiver to her sister, a special needs adult. Along with her love of numbers, in her limited free time, Kristie enjoys scrapbooking, designing, and creating custom greeting cards, and being a dog mom to two rescue dogs.
Nicole Owens
Assistant Director – Project Delivery
Houston Airports
As Assistant Director, Nicole Owens leads capital programming and project management efforts for the infrastructure department at Houston Airport System. She oversees the implementation of over 100 capital projects that address the airside, terminal and landside construction and rehabilitation projects. She also collaborates with internal and external stakeholders for the Capital Improvement Plan development, grant applications and compliance with federal, state and local regulations. She initially joined HAS in 2019 to lead the Sustainability Program working towards reduced emissions and energy efficiency. Prior to working for HAS, she served as a Planner for the Federal Aviation Administration providing guidance for over 73 airports. Nicole was previously recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 in Airport Business and has shared her expertise on Infrastructure based Transportation panels. She is a proud University of Michigan Alum and earned her master’s degree from Northwestern University. She has a true passion for her work and celebrates this through mentorship with students at Texas Southern University as well as her local Jack and Jill Humble Kingwood chapter. She enjoys travel, tennis, and is most inspired by her two children.
Mindy Patterson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Nutrition &
Co -Director of the Institute for Woman’s Health
Texas Woman’s University
Mindy Patterson, PhD, is an associate professor of nutrition at Texas Woman’s University in Houston. As a registered dietitian, Mindy’s research involves improving the nutritional value of women’s diets to improve their health and wellbeing. In addition, she served as the Co-Director for the Institute for Women’s Health, which is a research hub focusing solely on women, for over 3 years. Mindy is a Fellow of the Texas Academic Leadership Academy and a Distinguished Deans Fellow. As a nutrition expert, she has been featured in Women’s Health, New Scientist and Prepared Foods Magazines, Nature Research, and the Houston Chronicle. Mindy has also traveled world-wide to provide nutrition education services to adults and children in underdeveloped countries.
Nina Perez
Tax Partner
Crowe LLP
Nina Perez is a Tax Partner at Crowe LLP with over 16 years of experience in public accounting. As the only female Hispanic Partner at Crowe, Nina is actively involved in Crowe’s Latino Business Resource Group, which is designed to create a sense of community, promote inclusion through networking and educating our people about diversity while building dialogue and assisting with recruiting efforts. Nina is also an active member in her community and passionate about volunteerism. She has been a member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Transportation Committee for over 17 years. A member of the Texas CPA Society for over 12 years working with the Scholarship Extravaganza raising funds for Accounting Scholarships and part of the Membership Development Committee working to boost new membership and networking with current members. She is currently serving on the Board of TXCPA as the Board Director for the Young Professionals Committee.
Aurelina “Lina” Prado
Supply Chain Execution Senior Leader
Boeing Global Services
Lina Prado is an award-winning Senior Supply Chain Execution leader for a Fortune 100 manufacturing company, supporting government programs in various military programs. She has led the aftermarket Kitting Center of Excellence, Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul sites, and government depot support. Lina started her career as an aircraft technician and is currently earning an executive certification at Harvard University. As an Afo-Latina in STEM she has a passion to develop and promote future leaders into aerospace careers, and was a co-founder and executive director for Women in Aviation Alamo City Chapter. She is passionate about developing future aerospace leaders and serves the community and church, including as a board of director for the Lemonade Circle. Prado is currently serving her third term as a San Antonio Airport Advisory Commissioner and has been recognized with the San Antonio Business Journal Women in Leadership award and the Local Business Leader by the Airport Minority Advisory Council.
Rajoielle Register
Vice President, Marketing
SYSCO
Raj Register, Vice President of Marketing at Sysco, is a detail-driven thinker with a background in product development and marketing. She is responsible for all aspects of marketing for Sysco’s U.S. business, leveraging high-quality branded products, digital customer platforms, and unique capabilities in food service and supply chain. Raj leads the marketing team, executing a robust marketing plan that reinforces Sysco’s customer value proposition, drives penetration and share, and grows Sysco’s own-brand business. She leads the transformation and strategic brand repositioning of the Sysco Enterprise Brand, leveraging advertising, digital marketing, segment strategy, content design, marketing innovation, and brand commercialization. Raj recently joined Sysco from the Ford Motor Company where she held multiple roles of increasing responsibility throughout her 21-year tenure. She has extensive experience in launching new products, managing cross-functional teams, and managing international service assignments. Raj is a frequent speaker on panels and conferences, and has received honors such as a Michigan Chronicle Woman of Excellence, Driven Vanguard Award, and Rainbow PUSH Emerging Leader Award.
Courtney Rife
HR & Contractor Services Director
Airswift
Courtney has grown with Airswift on a remarkable 11-year journey. Excelling in roles spanning business development, account management, operations, and recruitment, she currently serves as the HR & Contractor Support Director for the Americas. In 2017, Courtney played a pivotal role in the post-merge transformation of the Americas Service Team. With her visionary approach, she spearheaded its redesign, forming a cohesive and high-performing team. Amidst 2020’s uncertainty, Courtney stepped into the Americas HR Director role where she skillfully navigated complex HR issues and ensured COVID compliance at 250+ client sites, prioritizing the well-being of employees and clients alike. As a member of Airswift’s Global Leadership Team, Courtney led a team to select, design and implement a global employee engagement platform, significantly enhancing colleague connectivity and engagement. Courtney holds a bachelor’s degree in I/O Psychology from Texas A&M University and is PHR certified. Beyond her professional achievements, she finds balance in her personal life as a devoted wife and loving mother of two sweet girls.
Nicole Riley
Director, Audit
PKF Texas
Nicole has over 17 years of experience performing financial statement audits and providing consultation to her clients. She works closely with privately held businesses in variety of industries, including health care, energy services, manufacturing and distributing, and professional service firms. Additionally, she has experience in internal controls, fraud prevention, and potential theft assessment. Nicole provides audit and financial reporting services to international clients with multiple U.S. and foreign subsidiaries, as well as not-for-profit organizations and trade associations. Her experience also includes performing compliance audits under Government Auditing Standards and Uniform Guidance.
Rachel Roosth
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Rachel Roosth is a Houston-based disputes lawyer with a focus on complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and ESG risk advisory. Her clients include individuals and companies from various industries, including healthcare, insurance, energy, construction, and financial services. Rachel’s litigation and arbitration practice covers contract, construction, insurance, employment, fiduciary, and securities law. She advises clients on contract formation, modification, termination, and employment agreements. Rachel has also defended and prosecuted claims related to corporate governance and executive employment. She handles various contract disputes, including those related to LLC, vendor, earnout, employment, confidentiality, independent consultant, and asset purchase agreements. Rachel also advises clients on mitigating litigation risks related to environmental sustainability, human rights, and ESG reporting. She collaborates with colleagues to offer a multidisciplinary approach to addressing legal ESG concerns. Rachel aims to understand and achieve clients’ objectives, whether it’s avoiding litigation, obtaining a favorable settlement, vindicating rights, or resolving disputes through mutually beneficial business solutions.
Kim Roxie
Founder & CEO
LAMIK Beauty
Kim Roxie, Founder, and CEO of LAMIK Beauty, is dedicated to celebrating the beauty of all women. With degrees from Clark Atlanta University and Tuck School of Business, including an
executive leadership certification, Kim’s background sets the foundation for her success. She earned her esthetician license from Houston Community College, where she opened her first
store at 21. Kim’s groundbreaking achievements include launching the first Black-owned clean makeup brand on ULTA.com and HSN. Beyond the beauty industry, she has raised $500,000 for The Rose, providing uninsured Black women access to mammograms. Recognized as 40 under 40
in the Houston Business Journal, she was chosen for the Tory Burch Fellowship and received the Texas Women’s Foundation Young Leaders Award in 2021. Kim’s inspiring journey has been featured in interviews, such as CBS with Gayle King on
International Women’s Day, highlighting her game-changing impact.
Sydney Sorsby
Commercial Lender
Stellar Bank
Sydney Sorsby is a Texas native and Commercial Bank Officer at Stellar Bank. She brings her proven track record for exceptional business practices and client services to commercial banking, helping businesses start, grow and protect their financial legacy. In 2021, Stellar Bank awarder her the Outstanding Service and Contribution Award showing casing that she cares about making a difference, as a Banker she is committed to being responsive, relationship-based with strong ties to the local community.
Sandra Steed
Senior Lead Business Execution Consultant
Wells Fargo Bank
Based in Houston, with over 30 years of banking experience in marketing, finance, project management, and communications. Over the years Sandy has developed a deep understanding of the financial implications of life events, and the important role we play to support our customers when they need us most. She now applies her experience, skill set and passion as Head of Life Events Services for Branch Banking. She also serves as the Communications Director for the enterprise Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Steed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chapman University, and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Retail Bank Management (GSRBM). She is currently working on certifications in behavioral finance. She is a self-described “army brat” and takes pride in supporting supporting Veterans’ causes. Sandy has two children— Connie and Matthew, and her furry baby cinnamon. She enjoys biking, kayaking, hiking, anything waterside and dreaming up tiny house projects. Personal Motto: “We all leave fingerprints. I want to make sure the fingerprints I leave on a project, team or community make a positive difference.”
Tameka Stegall
Well Construction Division HQ Global HR Leader
SLB
Tameka Stegall has established herself as a global HR leader within SLB, who partners with corporate professionals and executives to help drive business decisions, navigate careers and further develop future leaders. As an active leader and volunteer within several Houston area professional and civic organizations, notably United Way of Greater Houston and Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, she is most fulfilled mentoring and empowering other young women to maximize their potential. She is currently the Associate Chair of the Greater Channel Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors for Breakthrough Houston. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Administration from Indiana University, a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Houston Baptist University, and is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP). Tameka is a devoted mother to one exceptional daughter, Aaryn, 2023 graduate of Baylor University. In her free time, she is an avid reader, self-proclaimed foodie, and aspiring world traveler.
Michelle Thomas
Vice President, Sales and Growth Leader
Carelon
Michelle Thomas is the Vice President of Business Development, Sales & Engagement at Anthem, with a background in healthcare. She drives strategic growth and fosters meaningful partnerships. Michelle is involved in empowering young women and promoting education, serving on the board for TWST for Girls and Program Committee Chair. She is a first-generation graduate and excels in building relationships, driving results, and fostering a collaborative environment. With her professional track record, community involvement, and passion for empowering young women, Michelle continues to inspire and make a positive impact in her industry and beyond.
Maegan Toups
Vice President, Marketing
Airswift
Maegan has been with Airswift for 14 years and is currently the VP of Marketing. Airswift is a workforce solutions provider that places technical talent in the STEM industries. Maegan built the company’s global marketing department from the ground up. The company has been through two mergers in the last 7 years, during which Maegan spearheaded the integration work for the marketing and communications workstream. The Marketing Team has grown from a two-person operation to a team of 12 spread across five different countries worldwide. Maegan’s execution of strategic marketing campaigns has played an important role in diversifying the business’ portfolio by increasing the number of clients from outside of the oil & gas industry. Maegan holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Texas A&M University and is a board member of the American Cancer Society’s Houston and Southeast Texas Area Board.
Veronique Trudeau
President & CEO
HMT LLC
Veronique Trudeau is the accomplished CEO of HMT, a global company based in The Woodlands that specializes in above-ground storage tank solutions and inspections. She also holds a board position at National Trench Safety (NTS) in Houston. Originally from Canada, Veronique achieved an Engineering degree and later pursued further education, earning a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Emory University. With an impressive career spanning roles at GE and JCI, Veronique has consistently demonstrated leadership and a drive to make a difference. Throughout her professional journey, her unwavering passion has been empowering women to find their voices and embrace their unique strengths. She believes that diversity of teams and perspectives is a crucial factor in her own advancement within the industrial sector. Veronique’s dedication and accomplishments extend beyond her professional life. Her greatest source of pride and compass is her two daughters, Claudia and Victoria, who inspire her every day with their resilience and determination.