Board of Directors

Secretary

City Position: 05

Originally Selected: 12/16/2015

Term Expires: 8/31/2025

Dr. Laura Murillo is President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. With the support of the Chamber Board and Staff she has set unprecedented records, including becoming the largest Hispanic Chamber in the Country. 

She also serves as the Founding President & CEO of the Chamber’s Foundation, Founding Executive Producer/Host for the Chamber’s Television Program on CBS KHOU and for the Chamber’s Radio and TV Program on Univision. Additionally, she is the Founding Executive Producer/Host for the Chamber’s Radio Program on (6) CBS Radio Stations and Telemundo Political Commentator. 

She served as an Executive at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. She holds a B.A., a Masters Degree, and a Doctorate from the University of Houston, where she served as an Executive. The University of Houston bestowed its highest honor, the President’s Medallion, to the Chamber and Dr. Murillo. 

She has received many state, national and international honors including being named among the “Most Powerful & Influential Women in Texas” and the “Top Latino Leader Award” by the National Diversity Council, “Woman of the Year” by Success Magazine and the “International Leadership Award” by Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation. 

Dr. Murillo was also included in the “Top 10 Who’s Who in Business” and has been named a “Top 5 C-Suite CEO Finalist” by the Houston Business Journal. In 2014, she was honored with the “Hispanic Leadership Award” by the National Football League (NFL). 

Dr. Murillo serves on the Houston BBVA Compass Board of Directors, the University of Houston Board Of Advisors, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, the Houston Symphony’s Hispanic Leadership Council, the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority Board of Directors, the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Texas Advisory Committee. In addition, she has served as a political analyst for Telemundo. She is the proud mother of Marisa, 17 and Mia, 13. 

Treasurer

City position: 11

Originally Selected: 12/16/2015

Term Expires: 8/31/2025

Robert Woods, M.Ed., is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Success and Independence (TCSI), a CARF-certified, non-profit mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment agency serving adolescents ages 12-17 since 1999.  TCSI provides long-term residential treatment and intensive outpatient services to youth who are suffering from emotional distress, behavioral health issues, substance abuse, other addictive disorders, and trauma, such as abuse, neglect, abandonment and child sex trafficking. 

In 2015, TCSI launched the Recreational Alternative Program (RAP), a new peer support after-school recovery program designed in partnership with Harris County Juvenile Probation and Rockwell Foundation for low-income and minority adolescents.  TCSI was also named the recipient of a federal grant with Montrose Clinic for the development of pregnancy and STD prevention programs for youth, especially in the LGBT community.  TCSI also provides training and clinical services to address traumatic stress disorders among juvenile justice-involved youth, with a special focus on girls and boys who are victims of domestic child sex trafficking.  Mr. Woods has been successful in building partnerships for these expanded programs with generous grants from SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockwell Fund, and The Simmons Foundation, among others, and is currently working with the Victims of Crime Act.  In addition to his duties at the Center, Mr. Woods maintains a private practice and is sought out as a trusted advisor to organizations interested in starting residential treatment facilities and as a mentor for teens. 

Mr. Woods began his former football career at Grambling State University.  He was ranked as a number one punt returner in the nation as a college senior, and was ranked in the top ten for yardage and points scored.  He was a world-class sprinter who was ranked among the top five fastest men in the world for two years in a row.  Upon graduation, he was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.  He subsequently played with the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, and for three years with the Houston Oilers.  Mr. Woods also played in the Canadian Football League.  As a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist (CTRS), he uses his experience in sports and activity to engage his patients in the therapeutic process.  Mr. Woods went on to earn his M.Ed. at Texas Southern University. 

Mr. Woods serves on several boards, including the Homeless Youth Network of Houston/Harris County, Network of Behavioral Health Providers, Adolescent Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (AROSC), the NFL Alumni Association, Houston Heights Association, and the advisory board for the “Generation Found” film production, a story of youths, their families and the community in the process of recovery.  He has also served on the boards of the Houston Area Women’s Center and Child Advocates. 

He is an active volunteer with the Dan Pastorini Charity and Bum Phillips Charities and actively participates in fundraising events for these and other organizations. Mr. Woods is also a 2019 Be an Angel Honoree recipient and a proud donor of his alma mater Grambling State University’s Robert Woods Scholarship. 

Director

County position: 09 

 Originally Selected: 9/24/2019 

Term Expires: 8/31/2025 

Mr. Burke has served as President and CEO of the Economic Alliance since 2009. The Economic Alliance is the economic development corporation for the Houston Ship Channel region; home to the world’s largest petrochemical complex and the nation’s #1 exporting port. The mission of the Economic Alliance is to grow the regional economy by attracting new businesses and creating an environment where existing businesses can expand. 

There are over 250 members of the Economic Alliance, including 13 cities, Harris County, and the Port of Houston Authority. Since 2008, the Economic Alliance has supported 82 successful projects that have helped create 4,174 new jobs and over $18.8 billion of capital investment to the Houston Port Region. 

Chad serves on a variety of community boards and committees, including the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, Deer Park Education Foundation, and the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association Board. In 2019, he was recognized as one of Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs. 

A graduate of Texas A & M University, Mr. Burke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He and his wife Shannon have two children, and one grandson that occupies most of their time and energy. 

Hobbies: Shannon enjoys barrel racing and trains and boards their horses at home in La Porte. Chad carries on the tradition his grandfather began as a beekeeper and regularly coaches his grandson’s baseball and football teams. 

Director

City position: 2 

Originally selected: 09/09/2020 

Term expires: 8/31/2024 

Mr. Nomaan K. Husain is the founder of Husain Law + Associates, PC, a boutique law firm based in Houston, Texas which focuses on Litigation | Immigration | Aviation. Mr. Husain maintains a diverse practice and has represented clients ranging from foreign governments to individual business owners.  

Mr. Husain has been involved in representing the governments of several countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Husain has also represented clients based abroad in countries such as France, Austria, Sweden, Kenya, Morocco, Turkey, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Honduras, and Cameroon.  

Mr. Husain is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and he is Board Certified in Personal Injury Litigation by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  

He currently serves as on the Board of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, an Advisor to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Ft. Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, the Dean’s Advisory Committee for University of Texas at Austin’s College of Liberal Arts and University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston.  

He has served as the Chairman of City of Houston’s Ethics Commission; Chairman and President of the South Asian Chamber of Commerce, member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for South Asia and as the Legal Counsel to Pakistan Chamber of Commerce. He is a Senior Fellow of American Leadership Forum (ALF class XXVIII), a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a member of the US Justice Department’s Community Liaison Committee, and has served as a member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Panel.  

Most recently he was selected by his peers as a SuperLawyer in the field of Personal Injury. In addition, he has been inducted into the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates.   

Mr. Husain is a certified Mediator and has successfully represented clients in both State and Federal Courts. He is also a member of the International Bar Association, and the London Court of International Arbitration.  

Mr. Husain is licensed to practice in Texas, New York, Oklahoma, the District of Columbia, and is a licensed solicitor for England and Wales. He is also licensed to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court, the  

U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the Eastern District of Texas, and the Northern District of Illinois.   

Mr. Husain graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Political Science (1994) and South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1997). Mr. Husain was the Articles Editor of the International Trade Law Journal and clerked for the Honorable Scott Link 80th District Court.  

Mr. Husain speaks several languages including English (Native); Urdu/Hindi (Native). 

Director

City position: 04 

Originally Selected: 4/04/2018 

Term Expires: 8/31/2025 

Martye Kendrick is Of Counsel with the law firm of Greenberg Traurig in its Houston, Texas, office and has significant expertise in handling matters relating to tax-exempt bond financings, commercial real estate transactions, structured finance, and tax.  

Known for being both thoughtful and decisive, she takes a collaborative and consultive approach with her clients and helps them to make sound decisions to drive their business forward.  As a strategic advisor, she cultivates and nurtures relationships with clients, peers, and partners in both the public and private sectors.  

Martye was previously recruited to lead and drive growth for the public finance and real estate practices at a boutique school law firm in its Houston office.  A committed public advocate, she advises school districts, municipalities, and other public entities on their tax-exempt and taxable bond financings, real estate matters and special projects.  Her areas of concentration are public finance (bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, disclosure counsel) and real estate (acquisitions and dispositions, rights-of-way, easements, and special projects).  With her specialized expertise in tax law, she also has served as tax counsel to issuers to opine on the tax-exempt status of their bond financings.   

Prior to joining the school law firm, Martye was responsible for the real estate practice at a boutique public law firm in Houston.  In this role she focused on corporate and real estate lending, advising pubic-public partnerships and private developers on financing strategy, capital risk mitigation, and deal structure.  Her earlier experience in commercial real estate included roles as an associate attorney with a Denver based firm, in which she handled matters ranging in scope from mortgage-backed securitized loan transactions to land acquisitions/dispositions and commercial lease negotiations.  

Martye has successfully helped clients navigate complex real estate issues and many public entities trust her extensive knowledge in real estate and public finance. Since 2013, Martye has served on the City of Houston Water Adjustment Board. Additionally, Martye serves on the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority Board. 

Director

County Appointee Position: 10 

 Originally Selected: 7/20/2021 

Term Expires: 8/31/2025 

As an attorney and entrepreneur, Lynden Rose has been in practice for more than 30 years. He has served as Honorary Consul for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in the State of Texas since 2014. He has vast legal experience in corporate law, sports and entertainment law, real estate development, construction and infrastructure. He has represented several governmental entities and companies in issues involving community interests, impactful initiatives and development projects. Mr. Rose’s legal practice and consulting company’s clients include domestic and international organizations and high net worth individual investors, as well as elite professional athletes. Lynden Rose, a conservative, is an active participant in national and local political, civic and philanthropic activities. Lynden Rose is also Founder and Chairman of National Education and Sports Solutions (NESS), and Founder of the LM Rose Consulting Group. He was also a former student athlete and captain of the University of Houston basketball team in 1982. Lynden Rose was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION/RECOGNITION  
Lynden Rose’s professional honors and community achievements are numerous. He served on the 2007 Texas Inaugural Committee for Governor Rick Perry, and in 2019 on the Texas Inaugural Committee for Governor Greg Abbott. He has been recognized with the Arrival Award by the University of Houston Law School Immigration Clinic. He has previously served on the Board of Regents of the University of Houston, his alma mater, Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. He currently serves on the Board of Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the State of Texas, and also serves as a Regent/Trustee for the College of Biblical Studies. He is married to Marilyn, and they have three children, Madelyn, Lynden Jr., and Lynnard. 

Director

County Appointee Position: 6 

Originally Selected: 3/30/2021 

Term Expires: 8/31/2024 

Mr. Wolf has been a member of the Insulators Local 22 for 39 years and is currently the Business Manager, the Vice President of the Houston Gulf Coast Building Trades Council, President of the Texas Gulf Coast AFL-CIO, and Vice President of the Texas AFL-CIO District 13. Lacy worked 20 years as a reserve deputy, retiring from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. For 10 years, he taught classes and volunteered for St. Christopher’s Catholic School, Mt. Carmel High School/Mount Carmel Academy, and Houston Community College, enjoying 26 years coaching junior high, high school, and juco sports teams. Lacy has mentored many students through apprenticeship instruction, as well as coaching football, basketball, softball, and baseball teams, and continues to serve communities through development and engagement processes. 

“I believe in trying to do what’s right and equitable for all people. From coaching to law enforcement, teaching to Labor works, all my endeavors are geared towards opportunities that show people they matter.” 

 

Director

City Position: 07 

Originally Selected: 04/23/2024 

 Term Expires: 8/31/2024 

Christian D. Menefee serves as the County Attorney for Harris County, Texas. 

Prior to being elected Harris County Attorney, Christian practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, focusing on complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters in federal court, and representing clients in matters involving the US Department of Justice, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other government agencies. Christian began his career at Norton Rose Fulbright, where he focused on business litigation in federal and state courts, investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and other matters involving the SEC. 

The son of two veterans, Christian is a product of Harris County public schools, and was the first in his family to attend college. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio and The Washington University School of Law (St. Louis). 

Christian resides in Houston with his wife Kaitlyn, their sons Gabriel and Malcolm, and their two rescue dogs. 

Director

County Position: 12 

Originally Selected: 10/10/2023 

Term Expires: 8/31/2025 

Linda Morales is a fierce advocate for Latinos, women, LGBTQIA+, and worker rights.   

Morales’s extensive professional experience includes work in healthcare, state government, and labor organizing. This includes serving as a Legislative Assistant to members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives; Television Specialist on the Marketing Team for the Texas Health Report with Dr. “Red” Duke, an internationally syndicated health information commentator; Producer of MIDDAY, a health program for Texas Medical Center community and Editor of What Goes On, a newsletter for healthcare professionals in the Texas Medical Center.  

Morales has worked for the AFL-CIO, Sheet Metal Workers International Union, SEIU Local 1, California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, and now works with the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), where she is responsible for worker advocacy in 13 Houston-area counties, with local union affiliates to improve workforce safety standards, wages, training opportunities, and empower workers on the job.  

Morales currently serves as President of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin Advancement (LCLAA), which works on civic engagement and civil rights, and has served in numerous leadership roles, including the aiding victims of domestic violence at the Rose/la Rosa Center; supporting efforts to end the HIV epidemic at the AIDS Equity League; and, most recently, serving the Harris Health System as Board Trustee.  

Morales has been recognized widely for her work to grow power for working families and advocacy for social and economic justice in our community, including receiving the ‘Si Se Puede’ Award at the Harris County Democratic Party Johnson-Rayburn-Richards Annual Dinner and the A. Philip Randolph Living Legend Award.  

Originally from Uvalde, TX, Morales has made Houston her home since 1977 and is married to Esther Martinez. 

Director

County Position: 08

Originally Selected: 10/07/2024

Term Expires: 08/31/2026

Brandon Dudley Serves as Cheif of staff and counsel to Harris County Commissioner and former State Senator Rodney Ellis.

Brandon’s career and service has been consistently committed to advancing equity, fairness, opportunity for all people. Brandon began his professional career in social work– serving as a youth counselor and later directing various educational and empowerment programs for youth in underserved communities. He later served as an attorney and policy advisor at the Innocence Project -advocating for policy reforms to create a fair and equitable justice system, and seeking to free and exonerate those who have been wrongfully convicted. Brandon has also served as Managing Director for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Deputy Campaign Manager for Wendy Davis for Governor, and Southeast Texas Political director for Obama for America.

Brandon has served on the boards of the Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Defender Service, Houston Planning Commission, Mayor of Houston’s Task Force on Equity, and Houston Downtown Management District.

Brandon received his BA and attended the Graduate School for Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. JD from the University of Houston Law Center, and Certificate in executive leadership from the Harvard

City Position: 01 

Originally Selected: 10/09/2024 

Term Expires: 08/31/2026 

Director

City Position: 03 

Originally Selected: 10/09/2024 

Term Expires: 08/31/2026 

John Arnold is founder and co-chair of Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, Arnold Ventures is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity.

John and his wife, Laura, first launched a charitable foundation in 2008. Their philanthropic focus has since expanded to cover areas such as education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change. As signatories of the Giving Pledge, the Arnolds have committed to giving away most of their wealth during their lives.

With an extensive, 15+-year history, Arnold Ventures has been one of the foremost results-oriented philanthropies in the United States. The philanthropy consists of more than 100 experts and leaders on a mission to understand and solve the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems.

In addition to his work at Arnold Ventures, John is co-founder and chairman of Grid United, a developer of interregional, high-voltage transmission projects with a mission to make America’s power grid more reliable, resilient, and efficient. He serves on the boards of Meta, Vanderbilt University, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy, and The City Fund. He also chaired the City of Houston’s 2026 bid for the FIFA World Cup.

John grew up in Dallas, Texas, and received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. He and Laura have three children and live in Houston.