'Special Place in Hell'

Female leadership in action at Greater Houston Women's Chamber awards luncheon

As former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright noted in a recent campaign stump for Hillary Clinton, there is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women. With that in mind, it was definitely a heavenly scene at the Astorian when the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards luncheon.

The special event venue was packed to the rafters with high-powered professional women and community leaders, apparently all committed to helping the sisterhood advance professionally. Albright would have been pleased.

With KTRK Channel 11's Deborah Duncan as emcee, the event served to bid adieu to outgoing board chair Denise Castillo-Rhodes, Texas Medical Center executive vice president and CFO, and welcome incoming chair, Valerie Gibbs, Allegiance Bank executive vice president and chief C&I officer. State Rep. Ana Hernandez did the honors of inducting Gibbs and new board members.

The fast-paced awards presentation honored numerous women — Elizabeth Brock of CenterPoint Energy as Committee Chair of the Year, Shelby Hodge, editor at large with CultureMap for Media Excellence, Brenda James of Clayton Personnel as Volunteer of the Year, Ruth Reading of Burnett Specialties as Ambassador of the Year, Dr. Kathryn Peak of St. Luke’s Heart Institute for Role Model Awards, Amy Lach and Lacey Krause of Pierpont Communications for Star Awards, Ariana Smetana of artVIA as Entrepreneur of the Year, Rhonda Arnold of Houston Airport System and Irene Helsinger of Newport Board Group as Presidents Key Supporters.

The packed gathering includedAlicia Smith, Ellie Francisco, Virginia Hodge, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Linda Lorelle, Lucinda Loya, and Donae Chramosta, Anne Carl.

Proceeds benefit the chamber's community programs which include providing scholarships for female students and working to increase the number of women on corporate boards.

Greater Houston Women's Chamber founder Suzan Deison and incoming president Valerie Gibbs.

luncheons awards

College Bound

A Princeton moment steals the spotlight at Houston nonprofit's luncheon

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

Ambition is contagious.

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

And that was the ethos when Emerge supporters gathered at River Oaks Country Club for the organization’s annual Build the Village Luncheon, a polished midday affair centered on a simple but powerful idea: Investing in Houston’s next generation of leaders.

More than 400 guests filled the room for the program, including Emerge scholars, for a celebration of the organization’s mission to help high-achieving students from low-income communities gain admission to and graduate from the country’s top colleges.

Serving as co-chairs were Kate Dearing Fowler and Kate Schilling Kelm, who welcomed guests to a lively gathering. The luncheon honored Mia Mends, chief executive officer of Cushman and Wakefield Services and former Emerge board chair, recognizing her years of leadership, mentorship, and steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for the organization’s scholars.

One of the afternoon’s most electric moments arrived when Klein Collins High School senior Diana Villatoro Sorto stepped to the podium and announced that she will attend Princeton University this fall. The declaration sparked an immediate roar of applause across the ballroom, the kind that ripples through a crowd and lingers for longer than expected.

The program also spotlighted Emerge alumna Marlee Morgan, whose story of resilience and academic success is an example of the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting scholars well beyond the college admissions process. Emerge’s work doesn’t end with an acceptance letter. It extends into helping students navigate college and launch meaningful careers.

The crowd’s enthusiasm translated into tangible support. Attendees raised more than $760,000.

On the scene were Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Farid Virani, Liz DeMontrond, Jack Blanton, Ann Stern, Elisa Villanueva Beard, and Ruth Lopez Turley, and many others.