Leadership Team
Staff & District Coordinators
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Klein ISD Superintendent. Board member with multiple nonprofits and member at Faithbridge Church. Enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and their two children.
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.
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!
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
Member of the Texas State Board of Education, and former Community Relations Liaison overseeing Faith-Based Partnerships in Houston ISD.
Former Executive Director of Union Baptist Association. Interim Pastor at South Main Baptist Pasadena. Former Board Chair of Loving Houston.
Managing Director of Volant Energy Partners with local and national experience with youth, inner city, and leadership ministries.
International businessman, co-chair of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, and chair of the Points of Light board of directors.
Lord of the Streets Vicar and Founding President of For Houston’s Kids, with expertise in leadership development, spiritual formation, and community transformation.
Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Houston Church Planting Network, a network of church networks working together to reach the city.
Managing Partner with Patron Partners with extensive community leadership experience. CPA, CRPC, CFM, CSNA.
Founding President of National Christian Foundation Houston. Former Board Chair of Loving Houston, and former Financial Executive.
Houston Methodist Hospital Chaplain with 35 years of pastoral and community transformation leadership throughout Houston and currently in Fifth Ward
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.
Founder and CEO of Generation One. Owner of Float Spa – CryoTherapy and Wellness Center. Marine Corps Desert Storm Veteran. Former Loving Houston Board Member.
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.
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.
Director of Community Outreach Programs with The McNair Foundation. Pastor Emeritus of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Founding Board Chair of Loving Houston.
Director of the Faith and Education Coalition for the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Former Associate Professor and member of the Naval Reserves.
