Leadership Team

 

Staff & District Coordinators

Executive Director

A native Houstonian, Brittani has served as an educator to Houston-area students for over 12 years. She also co-leads the women’s ministry at Higher Expectations Church in Humble, TX. Working with Loving Houston gives Brittani the opportunity to exercise both her passions for education and ministry.

Director of Operations

Kareen started her career in project management before moving to the nonprofit space eight years ago. She has a BA in Humanities Pre-Law from University of Houston and an MBA from University of Phoenix. Kareen and her husband Jon enjoy traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with their four children and two grandchildren.

Houston ISD North & West

With a caring heart and 20 years of serving in ministry, Tawana has been a pioneer in connecting businesses, churches, and organizations to support children and youth. She has dedicated her life to helping youth grow academically, socially, physically, and economically as they utilize their God-given gifts and talents.

Houston ISD

Ryan is the Lead Pastor at Pneuma Church, following in the footsteps of his 4th generation family legacy. He received a BA in Business Administration from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and an MA in Theology, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in Biblical Exposition at Liberty University. Alongside his ministry is his beautiful wife of 11 years; they are blessed with two precious daughters.

Houston ISD South & Central

Tiera has dedicated nearly 12 years to the non-profit field, driven by a commitment to empowering families and youth while advocating for social equity and mental health. Tiera is also a founding member of Sojourn Southside where her husband serves as the lead pastor. In her most cherished role, she is a loving parent to three wonderful children.

Klein ISD

Sheri’s career has been in the corporate world, but she has always been involved in the community and at her church. She has served with NW Habitat for Humanity, Casa de Esperanza, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and currently serves with her church’s children’s ministry and Community Ministry Center.

Aldine ISD & Humble ISD

With over 20 years serving in church administration, Tanisha is also the founder of UnMuted Woman and Destiny Preparatory Academy where she leads people to wholeness through Jesus and education. Her greatest desire is to please the Lord and serve others, and nothing brings her greater joy than her role as a wife and mother to their children.

Lamar CISD & Stafford MSD

Christi has been working in ministry for nearly 30 years, working with small local churches to a global network of churches. Christi has her BA in Business, MBA in Economic Development, and is an ordained minister. She is a mother of 4, and the assistant pastor and pastor’s wife at Southwest Church of the Nazarene in Richmond.

 

Board of Directors

Rick Lester

2023 Board Chair. Long-time Houstonian. Retired CPA and oil and gas financial executive. Advisor/board member for multiple nonprofits. Loves spending time with family (grandkids), sipping coffee as the sun rises over the mountains, tennis, and hunting.

Dr. Jenny McGown

Klein ISD Superintendent. Board member with multiple nonprofits and member at Faithbridge Church. Enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and their two children.

Dr. Lawrence Scott

Lead Pastor of Harvest Point Fellowship Church. Church Consultant with Union Baptist Association. ThM and DMin from Dallas Theological Seminary. Married to the love of his life, Shannon, and the father of six children.

Terri Wang

2022 Loving Houston Board Chair. Board member of multiple nonprofits. Enjoys volunteering with refugee kids, studying the Bible with BSF and CBS, and dividing her loyalties between her children’s schools: UT Austin and Texas A&M!

Robert Zimmerman

Native Houstonian, Oil and Gas entrepreneur, and Grandfather of 4! Enjoys mentoring, promoting Urban Young Life, and spending time outdoors biking, hiking, and skiing with his wife, Nancy.

John Meredith

Attorney and Non-Profits/Law Firms Executive. Board Member/Advisor with multiple nonprofits and Deacon/Class Director at Second Baptist Church. Enjoys spending time with family (wife – Shirley and sons and extended family) and friends and traveling and competing on the tennis/pickleball court.

 

Advisors

Lawrence Allen, Jr.

Member of the Texas State Board of Education, and former Community Relations Liaison overseeing Faith-Based Partnerships in Houston ISD.

Dr. Tom Billings

Former Executive Director of Union Baptist Association. Interim Pastor at South Main Baptist Pasadena. Former Board Chair of Loving Houston.

Scott Brown

Managing Director of Volant Energy Partners with local and national experience with youth, inner city, and leadership ministries.

Neil Bush

International businessman, co-chair of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, and chair of the Points of Light board of directors.

Steve Capper

Lord of the Streets Vicar and Founding President of For Houston’s Kids, with expertise in leadership development, spiritual formation, and community transformation.

Chad Clarkson

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Houston Church Planting Network, a network of church networks working together to reach the city.

Rick Figueroa

Managing Partner with Patron Partners with extensive community leadership experience. CPA, CRPC, CFM, CSNA.

Peter Forbes

Founding President of National Christian Foundation Houston. Former Board Chair of Loving Houston, and former Financial Executive.

Brian Gowan

Houston Methodist Hospital Chaplain with 35 years of pastoral and community transformation leadership throughout Houston and currently in Fifth Ward

Dr. Ruth Lopez Turley

Founder and Director of the Houston Education Research Consortium, Associate Director of the Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and Professor of Sociology at Rice University.

Mike Malkemes

Founder and CEO of Generation One. Owner of Float Spa – CryoTherapy and Wellness Center. Marine Corps Desert Storm Veteran. Former Loving Houston Board Member.

Scott McClelland

President of H.E. Butt Grocery Company’s Houston and Central Market division. Provides leadership for the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Food Bank, Brighter Bites, and Memorial Hermann Hospitals.

Kevin Palau

President of the Luis Palau Association. Nationally respected thought leader on mobilizing church networks to express the spoken and embodied gospel so their cities flourish.

Dr. Dave Peterson

Director of Community Outreach Programs with The McNair Foundation. Pastor Emeritus of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Founding Board Chair of Loving Houston.

Girien Salazar

Director of the Faith and Education Coalition for the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Former Associate Professor and member of the Naval Reserves.

 

Founding Investors

David & Bonnie Weekley
Robert & Janice McNair
Rusty & Paula Walter
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