Gwen Emmett

Chair
Community Leader & Advocate

Matthew Barnes

Vice Chair
The Education Game

Tommy Inglesby

Vice Chair
Accenture

Hank Holmes

Finance & Administration Chair
Cadence Bank

Irma Diaz-Gonzalez

Secretary
ETC, Inc

Mary Eliza Shaper

Vice Chair
Community Leader

Heather C. Simpson

Vice Chair
Community Leader

Caroline Baker Hurley

Vice Chair
Community Leader

Ruth Raudales

Director/ HeadStart Policy Council Chair
Community Leader

Allison Odom Bashir

Director
Harris Health System

Richard Campo

Director
Camden Property Trust

Jeff Dudderar

Director
BBVA Compass

Eloy Cortez

Director
ILA District

Christopher Greeley, MD

Director
Texas Children's Hospital

Henry "Hank" Jones

Director
Community Leader

Carleton Riser

Director
Transwestern Development Company

Barrett Reasoner

Director
Gibbs & Burns LLP

Nasruddin Rupani

Director
World's Gold & Diamonds

Suzan Samuels

Director
Community Volunteer

Tom Sanders

Life Member
Sanders Enterprises

Elizabeth Schiffer

Director
Community Leader

Emily Sheeren

Director
ghSMART
Claudia Aguirre

Claudia Aguirre

President and CEO

Claudia Aguirre is President and CEO of BakerRipley, leading the agency to respond and evolve to the emerging communities we serve. Aguirre has been with the agency since 2010, where she led efforts for program development and developed innovative solutions for Houston communities. Read more about Claudia’s work with BakerRipley.

Kirk Rummel

Kirk Rummel

Chief Administrative Officer

Kirk Rummel is BakerRipley’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for accounting, reporting, treasury, budgeting and financial analysis, as well as oversight of the Information Technology, Human Resources, and Facilities teams for the agency. Read more about Kirk’s work with BakerRipley.

Rene Solis

Rene Solis

Chief Program Officer

Rene Solis is BakerRipley’s Chief Program Officer. In that role, he leads the operation of the Workforce Solutions Career Offices, Utility Assistance & Weatherization programs, Child Care subsidy programs, Veterans Services, and the Stay Connected Disaster Recovery initiatives. Read more about Rene’s work with BakerRipley.

Kate Birenbaum

Kate Birenbaum

General Counsel & Vice President of Governance
BakerRipley

Kate Birenbaum is BakerRipley’s General Counsel and Vice President of Governance. Kate provides legal counsel to all departments and divisions. She conducts trainings, develops policies, and assists in risk management. She also serves as a liaison to the Board for the Agency on governance and compliance matters. Read more about Kate’s work.

May Cahill

May Cahill

Chief Development Officer

May Cahill joined BakerRipley with an established career in fundraising and grant development. As the Agency’s Chief Development Officer, May provides leadership and strategic direction in philanthropy, marketing, communications, and stakeholder cultivation.
Read more about May’s work with BakerRipley.

Steve Gomez

Steve Gomez

Chief of Special Projects

Steve Gomez is BakerRipley’s Chief of Special Projects. Steve focuses on the Agency’s internal processes and organizational development, ensuring a streamlined approach to maximize the level of service provided throughout our community with an engaged BakerRipley workforce. Read more about Steve’s work with BakerRipley

Regina Harris

Regina Harris

Chief of Staff

Regina Harris is BakerRipley’s Chief of Staff. Regina joined the Agency in 2020 as the Senior Advisor for the President’s Office. Since then, she has had additional roles, with her last promotion to Chief of Staff in October 2021. Read more about Regina’s work with BakerRipley.

Secretary James A. Baker III

61st U.S. Secretary of State

Susan G. Baker

Founding Member, National Alliance to End Homelessness

Nancy Andrews

President and CEO, Low Income Investment Fund

Mike Ballases

Accord Business Funding

Richard Baron

Co-Founder and CEO, McCormack Baron Salazar

J. Murry Bowden

Chairman and CEO, The Hanover Company

Henry Cisneros

Chairman, CityView

Jonathan Day

Of Counsel, Andrews Kurth LLP

Ira Goldstein, Ph.D.

President, The Reinvestment Fund

Dr. Karen Otazo Hofmeister

President, Global Leadership Network Inc.

Bruce Katz

Vice President and Founding Director, Brookings Institution, Metropolitan Policy Program

Marc Shapiro

Chairman, Chase Bank of Texas

Margery Austin Turner

Senior Vice President for Program Planning and Management, Urban Institute

Marc Shapiro

Campaign Co-Chair
Chase Bank of Texas

J. Murry Bowden

Campaign Co-Chair
The Hanover Company

Secretary James A. Baker III & Susan G. Baker

Honorary Co-Chairs

R. Edwin Allday

Campaign Member
Independent Nonprofit Counsel

Mike Ballases

Campaign Member
BakerRipley

William E. Chiles

Campaign Member
Bristow Group Inc.

Jonathan Day

Campaign Member
Andrews Kurth LLP

James W. Crownover

Campaign Member
McKinsey & Company

John Hofmeister

Campaign Member
Citizens for Affordable Energy

Dr. Karen Otazo Hofmeister

Campaign Member
Global Leadership Network Inc.

Hank Holmes

Campaign Member
Cadence Bank

Wilhelmina E. “Beth” Robertson

Campaign Member
Community Leader

Heather C. Simpson

Campaign Member
Community Leader