Board

Brenda Brinson

Chief Diversity Officer, Phillips 66

With more than 30 years of business experience across multiple industries including financial services and consumer goods, Brenda Brinson has deep expertise in talent management, organizational effectiveness, culture shaping and large-scale transformation. Before joining Phillips 66, Brinson served as assistant vice president for USAA’s Talent and Organizational Effectiveness functions. She and her team were responsible for designing talent, organizational architecture and employee engagement strategies, preserving and strategically enhancing USAA’s culture, and leading large-scale human capital and organizational transformation efforts. Before joining USAA, Brinson was the global Information Technology transformation and change management thought leader for the Whirlpool Corporation. She led enterprise change initiatives with direct reports on three continents. Before joining Whirlpool, she held roles at Pierre & Associates as well as Allstate Insurance Company. Brinson holds a Bachelor of Science in interpersonal communications from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Myra Caldwell

CEO and Founder, Caldwell Consulting Services, LLC

Myra Caldwell is the CEO and founder of Caldwell Consulting Services, LLC, which offers program development and support services for corporate DEI programs.

Prior to founding her own firm, Caldwell spent 40 years in Houston banking. She began her career at Cadence in 2011 and held other key executive roles prior to being named Chief Diversity Officer in 2020. including, Director, Treasury Management Product Management & Strategy, and Director, Treasury Management Operations and Deposit Operations during her tenure.

Prior to joining Cadence, she served 18 years with Amegy Bank in various roles, including Senior Vice President, Director Product Management and Director Treasury Management Strategy. She has over 35 years of bank experience in Houston and is a Certified Treasury Professional. Caldwell received her Certified Treasury Professional in 2004, her Bank Ops Certification from The American Banking Institute, a Six Sigma Green Belt training from Villanova in 2010, her Diversity Executive credential from IDC, Society for Diversity in 2020, and her DEI Certification For HR from Cornell University in March 2023.

Caldwell serves her community through several volunteer opportunities such as the Houston Food Bank, Houston Area Urban League and United Way. She is a board member of the Houston Area Urban League where she chairs the program committee and is a member of the audit committee.

Brenda Cooper

Senior Vice President, Amegy Bank

Brenda Cooper is a Senior Vice President at Amegy Bank where she has worked for 19 years. She partners with business leaders to develop strategic initiatives implementing a company wide Everyone Counts inclusion program maintaining accountability for an inclusive culture. She focuses on marketplace, workplace and workforce initiatives that build competitive advantage in the market, enhance employee engagement, and plays an active role in shaping processes across the organization. She previously worked at JPMorgan Chase and hold degrees from Houston Christian University and Kent State University.

Arianne Dowdell

VP, Chief Culture & Engagement Officer, Houston Methodist

Arianne Dowdell is the Vice President, Chief Culture & Engagement Officer for Houston Methodist. She is responsible for leading the hospital’s culture and vision for unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation through system-wide strategy, programming and implementation with key internal and external partners.

Arianne joined the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation in July of 2019 and was appointed to her current role in September 2020. Prior to joining Houston Methodist, Arianne worked in higher education where she was the Senior Director of Operations and Partnerships at Syracuse University. She also held leadership positions at Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia and The Rockefeller University, in New York. She also served as the Communications Director and then President of the National Association of Black Automotive Suppliers. With a passion for journalism, Arianne began her career in television where she worked at Court TV and Madison Square Garden Network. A former attorney, Arianne previously practiced as a labor and employment lawyer in Detroit, Michigan. She holds a JD from Wayne State University, an MA from Syracuse University and a BA from Hampton University.

For her work and leadership, Arianne has been recognized with several awards from Modern Healthcare and Becker’s Healthcare, just to name a few.

Sandy Frieden

Principal, Sandy Frieden Consulting

Sandy Frieden, Ph.D. has over 30 years of experience in leadership development, organizational management, training, team building, and consulting, including 30+ years at the University of Houston and the past 15 years in her own consulting practice. Her consulting work has focused on leadership development, as well as individual and team assessment and coaching to improve collaboration and performance. She has administered communication and work-style assessments to leadership classes and to teams, boards and staff members of numerous organizations and companies, and supported their culture change with retreats, workshops, team-building sessions, continuing strategies to reinforce change, and individual coaching.

Alex Fernandez

Director, Inclusive Leadership Institute, C. T. Bauer College of Business

Alejandro (Alex) Fernandez is a Professor and Director of the Inclusive Leadership Institute at C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, with degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master of Science in Management, Cornell University, Master of Science in Human Resource Management, and Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Industrial Engineer. Fernandez is the Former VP of Corporate Development & Communication for Brenntag Latin America. Brenntag is the world’s largest chemical distributor. In that role, he was responsible for the policies, practices, and systems that influence employee behaviors, attitudes, and performance across 16 countries.

Until 2001, Fernandez was Director of Training and Development at PETRÓLEOS DE VENEZUELA. He was a leader in establishing and implementing a wide range of training and development programs. Programs included curriculum development, market and client training needs, assessments, technology innovation, and client service. He held different positions in Human Resources, Corporate Planning, and Information Systems.

Lynn Frostman, Ph.D.

VP of Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility, Syzygy Plasmonics

Lynn Frostman, Ph.D. is VP of Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility at Syzygy Plasmonics, where she is developing and implementing Syzygy’s strategy on safety, sustainability, diversity equity & inclusion, organizational development, community engagement, and corporate governance. She previously served as Syzygy’s VP of Engineering, leading the team developing novel photocatalytic reactors that will electrify the manufacturing of chemicals, fuels, and fertilizers, thereby reducing both cost and emissions. Prior to joining Syzygy, she spent 23 years in the oilfield services industry, including a variety of technical, strategic marketing, and operational roles at Baker Hughes and Newpark Fluids Systems. She holds both B.S. & Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering. Lynn currently serves as Chair of the External Advisory Board for the Chemical Engineering & Materials Science Department at the University of Minnesota, a member of the Michigan State University Engineering Alumni Board, and a member of the Pearland Innovation Hub Advisory Board.

Jerry Guerrero

Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader, Roku Inc.

Jerry Guerrero is a transformative diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executive with over 18 years of dedicated expertise. He has pioneered DEI strategies at industry-leading organizations including Roku (Director of DEI), The Kraft Heinz Company (first Head of Global DI&B), and Hines (first Global Director of DEI). His track record spans complex global environments across technology, CPG, commercial real estate, and numerous other sectors, where he has shaped comprehensive DEI initiatives impacting workforces of up to 38,000 employees across 20+ countries. Combining deep management consulting experience with strategic vision, he excels in driving cultural transformation through data-driven approaches, change management, and executive leadership engagement.

Josetta Jones

Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Chevron

Global Human Resources leader with experience at Chevron, Hewitt Associates, and Northern Trust.

Expertise in talent management, talent acquisition, learning & development, total rewards, and business partner services. Recognized as a highly collaborative and inclusive leader with outstanding communication skills.

Managed the formation of new Learning & Talent organization from conception to launch to serve the global enterprise. Redesigned recruiting strategy and processes for a 4000+ IT workforce. Won Clear Leader Award for outstanding excellence in project results.

Donovan Mattole

Global Talent & People Leader, CHRO Langan Engineering

Since December 2023, serving as Chief Human Resources Officer/Associate Principal at Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, a leading provider of comprehensive environmental and engineering consulting services to a diverse range of clients both nationally and internationally. Previously held the position of Vice President of Human Resources Americas at Brenntag SE, the global leader in ingredient and chemical distribution. On a professional level, Mattole has over two decades of senior leadership experience in human resources, with expertise in employee engagement, talent management, and organizational development.

Prior to joining Brenntag, Mattole worked for Mars, Inc. as the global head of HR for their direct-to-consumer retail and e-commerce businesses, with employees in China, France, the UK, and the USA. Before that, he worked as Senior Director for their Banfield Pet Hospital business, where he oversaw all HR business partnering, associate relations, talent acquisition, and training & development across an organization of over twenty thousand employees.

Carliss D. Miller, Ph.D.

Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer, Transformation Architects

Carliss D. Miller, Ph.D. is a trailblazing organizational behavior expert, Founder and Chief Transformation Architect of Transformation Architects, where she leads innovative initiatives to foster inclusive leadership, workplace transformation, and systemic change. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management and extensive global experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, Miller’s work empowers organizations to create cultures of psychological safety, inclusion, and belonging. Known for her engaging storytelling and research-driven insights, she equips leaders with tools to navigate complex challenges and inspire sustainable change. Miller’s expertise spans leadership dynamics, psychological safety, and courageous inclusion, making her a sought-after thought partner in fostering workplaces that elevate humanity.

Tambre’ C. Moten, SHRM-SCP

Director of Human Resources, Cy-Fair Fire Department

Strategic HR leader, mentor, and advocate for inclusive leadership with over two decades of experience, including 21 years in the U.S. Navy. Currently serving as the Director of Human Resources at Cy-Fair Fire Department, specializing in HR strategy, compliance, and organizational growth. Passionate about leadership development and employee engagement, working to align people, purpose, and performance while fostering inclusive workplace practices. As the 2025 University Liaison Committee Chair for HR Houston, committed to mentoring and empowering the next generation of HR professionals. Believes inclusive leadership isn’t just a strategy but a responsibility to build diverse, high-performing teams. Holds a Master’s in Organizational Development and Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Enrica Ruggs

Associate Professor of Management, C. T. Bauer College of Business

Enrica N. Ruggs, Ph.D., is an associate professor of management in the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Rice University and is a proud alum of Prairie View A&M University. In her research, she examines the manifestation of bias and discrimination to provide managers and HR practitioners with evidence-based management solutions for developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures. Her current research examines indicators of and factors related to subtle forms of workplace mistreatment against employees with stigmatized social identities, the outcomes of these behaviors, and strategies that individuals and organizations can engage in to combat and reduce discrimination. Additionally, she examines the experiences of minority employees to understand factors that influence job attitudes and psychological well-being. Her research appears in premier academic journals such as the Journal of Applied Psychology and Journal of Management and practitioner journals such as MIT Sloan Management Review. Her work has also been featured in popular media outlets like Bloomberg, New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, and Fortune.

Renu Sachdeva

Global Head of Coaching, Talking Talent

Renu Sachdeva is the Global Head of Coaching at Talking Talent, where she leads a team of world-class coaches who deliver excellence in coaching across a diverse range of geographies, industries, and clients. Her team is grounded in their mission of improving one million lives per year by developing their coaching clients into the powerful leaders of today and tomorrow, recognizing that their growth will have a ripple effect across all of the lives they touch in the workplace and in their communities.

Sachdeva has deep subject matter expertise in leadership development and coaching, leading ERGs across multiple markets, and building workplace cultures driven by connection and belonging. As an Executive Coach and facilitator, she is skilled at working with groups and individuals to have courageous conversations about topics that create meaningful change in the workplace, and she holds space for her coaching clients to explore belief systems so that they may expand their paradigms about self and others. Sachdeva has facilitated numerous workshops and group coaching sessions on topics including allyship, inclusive leadership, courageous conversations, and psychological safety and belonging. She has previously taught courses to undergraduate business students as an adjunct professor, with the mission of developing the next generation of leaders. She serves on the Board of the Bauer College of Business Inclusive Leadership Institute at the University of Houston and the Mind Body Spirit Institute at The Jung Center of Houston.

Carlos Sarmiento

Director of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, SLB (Schlumberger)

With 30 years of career experience in SLB (Schlumberger), and a decade leading a key region, now has the challenge of driving Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion in the company so that Together we create amazing Technology that unlocks access to Energy for the Benefit of All.

Sarmiento holds an MBA from Erasmus and a Masters in Conscious Business from CBI, Ecuadorian, married to a Colombian, father of 3, nature lover and believer on the power of Collective Intelligence

This is my WHY “I believe that the complex world we live in requires new people’s talents that will allow us to be better humans who care for each other. In everything I do, I challenge assumptions and provide different perspectives so that we can grow in authenticity, gain trust, and be more inclusive.”

Pranika Sinha

Managing Director, Organizational Development & Culture, Greystone

Pranika Uppal Sinha oversees organizational development and culture at Greystone. In this role, she is responsible for initiatives relating to culture and community, including education, resources, and programming, across the entire firm to ensure Greystone’s efforts evolve and move forward to build belonging and support our tagline 'where people matter.' Greystone's Culture and Community committee and overall program is award-winning and recognized nationally. As a part of organizational development, Sinha oversees performance management, training, and leadership programs - creating impactful content for employees and leaders at all levels to develop and grow. Prior to Greystone, she worked at Oxy, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, and 21st Century Consulting in various talent, development, HR, training, and inclusion-focused areas and roles. Sinha earned a Bachelor’s degree at Northwestern University and an MBA at Rice University. She is based in Houston, TX.

Kresha Sivinski

VP of Human Resources and Support Services, CITGO Petroleum Corporation

Kresha Sivinski was named Vice President of Human Resources and Support Services in October 2022. During her 35-year career with CITGO, Sivinski has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility, serving most recently as General Manager Terminal Facilities and Pipeline, where she oversaw the safe operation of the company’s extensive distribution network, while also providing human resources support through the Leadership Rotation Program and leading the Employee Wellness work group. In addition, she continues to serve as President of Lake Charles Pipe Line and also serves on several corporate committees, including the Operations Committee and Real Estate Review Committee. Prior to her General Manager position, Sivinski served as Manager, Engineering Pipeline Compliance and Control; Manager Capital Planning and Budget; and Lake Charles Capital Project, Budget and Control Manager. Kresha holds a bachelor’s degree Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Aisha Washington

Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Strategic yet hands-on leader transforming the ecosystem with results-oriented and tech-enabled strategies aligned to desired business outcomes, program implementation, and pipeline building. Reimagining the possible across key functional areas by leading activations to develop skilled allies prepared to stand in solidarity in creating organizational equity. Highly experienced human capital, operations, and belonging professional delivering global strategic upskilling in the US, Mexico, Canada, and India. With over 17 years of leadership experience, Aisha Washington is recognized as a strategic visionary known for implementing tech-enabled strategies that align with desired business outcomes. Has a proven track record of driving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on a global scale, with successful outcomes at both Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and PwC, even in challenging circumstances. As a current Executive Board Member at the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), actively contributes to increasing underrepresented minorities' participation in STEM fields. Holds certifications as a Professional Coach, IPEC, and in Management, Cornell University. Graduated from University of Missouri – Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree. In summary, Washington is a hands-on DEI advocate with a global impact and a strong commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces.

Shanil Wijeyewardene

Managing Director, Deloitte

Shanil Wijeyewardene is a Managing in Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Risk and Financial Advisory Practice. He advises companies on managing risk and compliance related to business processes and information technology controls. Shanil has over 25 years of experience performing external audits, internal audits, controls transformation projects, technology consulting, and risk assessments. Wijeyewardene has extensive experience planning, managing, staffing, and executive reporting for large, complex, global engagements across various industries, including the energy, manufacturing, and retail industries. Wijeyewardene is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a BS in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and holds the CIA, CISA, CRISC, CISM and CGEIT certifications.