Leadership Team

 

Staff & District Coordinators

Executive Director

Marilyn has education, corporate, nonprofit, and ministry experience, a B.A. from Rice University, and an MBA from the University of San Francisco with a focus on nonprofit management and development economics. Marilyn and her husband Andy love to travel, play sports, and spend time with friends and family.

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.

Director of Programs

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.

Houston ISD District Coordinator

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 District Coordinator

Carlos is a die-hard Houston sports fan. He’s a lover of music, art, tacos, exploring and celebrating culture, and history. He and his wife, Chelsea, have two beautiful sons: Josiah and Joaquín. Carlos is also lead pastor at Trinity East End, an urban neighborhood church in and for Houston’s Greater East End neighborhood.

Aldine/Humble ISDs District Coordinator

Reverend Deon (or Pastor D) graduated from the College of Biblical Studies and is currently working on his Master of Divinity Degree. He was ordained by The Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church, and planted Redeeming Word Community Church with his wife in 2017 through the Houston Church Planting Network.

Klein ISD District Coordinator

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.

Lamar CISD/Stafford MSD District Coordinator

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

Kelly Handel

2021 Loving Houston Board Chair. Certified Public Accountant. Enjoys tutoring second graders, reading, traveling, and serving in leadership roles at her church and local organizations.

Harry Holmes

Native Houstonian and leader in the Houston real estate industry. Enjoys mentoring at Spring Woods Middle School, serving as a grief facilitator, and providing leadership on several local boards.

Rick Lester

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.

 

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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