Claudia Aguirre serves as the President and CEO of BakerRipley, one of the largest and most respected nonprofit community development organizations in the United States. With more than 1,300 team members and an annual operating budget of $600 million, BakerRipley operates over 50 locations across the Greater Houston region, serving more than half a million people each year.

Under Claudia’s leadership, BakerRipley has become a trusted and adaptive force in the region, large enough to drive systems-level change, yet grounded enough to respond to the specific needs of each community. The organization focuses on the most pressing issues facing the region and provides solutions through programs in education, workforce development, immigration and citizenship services, disaster recovery, and community engagement. BakerRipley’s work is guided by a strength-based approach, combining data-driven insights with deep local relationships to help individuals, families, and entire neighborhoods build paths to economic mobility and long-term resilience.

Claudia has led the organization through some of its most transformative moments, including the region’s largest nonprofit-led disaster recovery response during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also launched Houston’s first public charter school designed for newly arrived immigrant students and has expanded neighborhood-based strategies that meet people where they are, with the dignity, trust, and cultural awareness they deserve.

Since joining BakerRipley in 2010, Claudia has held several executive roles, including Vice President of Community-Based Initiatives, Superintendent of Promise Community Charter Schools, and Chief Program Officer. Her leadership has been instrumental in deepening BakerRipley’s impact and positioning the organization as a model for inclusive, community-driven development.

In 2025, Claudia was appointed Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Board of Directors by the Board of Governors, becoming the first Hispanic woman to serve in this role. She also serves on the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership and the United Way of Greater Houston. In addition to her board service, Claudia plays an active role in regional task forces, cross-sector convenings, and policy forums, where she contributes to strategies focused on equity, workforce opportunity, poverty alleviation, and inclusive community development.

Recognized nationally for her insights and influence, Claudia is a trusted voice on issues at the intersection of education, economic mobility, and community resilience. Her thought leadership has been featured by the Center for American Progress, the National Diversity Council, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Houston Chronicle. She has been named one of Houston’s Most Admired CEOs and recognized among the Top 30 Influential Women in Houston.

Claudia holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University, a Master of Education from the University of Houston, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Edward’s University. She is a certified educator and school superintendent, and holds an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard University. Her commitment to equity, innovation, and community continues to shape BakerRipley’s mission to build a Houston where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive.

Kate Birenbaum became Chief Operating Officer/Chief Legal Officer of BakerRipley in 2024, after serving as the Agency’s General Counsel and Vice President of Governance since 2017. In her current role, Kate oversees the Administration, Programs, Compliance, People & Culture, and Legal functions. She additionally serves as a liaison to the Board for the Agency on governance and compliance matters. 
 
 Before joining BakerRipley, Kate practiced law for nearly 25 years, primarily advising and representing employers in employment law matters. She was recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine as a “Super Lawyer” in the area of “Employment Litigation: Defense” every year from 2012 to 2019. Kate has written articles on employment topics and spoken around the state at legal education seminars and other programs to educate attorneys, human resources professionals, and executives on employment law issues. She served on her law firm’s Pro Bono Committee, where she worked with local non-profit organizations such as Tahirih Justice Center, Kids In Need of Defense, and Catholic Charities to coordinate pro bono representation.  Kate also represented several individuals, including undocumented women seeking asylum after fleeing their home countries to avoid gang-related persecution and persecution based on sexual orientation. 
 
Kate is a native Houstonian. She graduated from Smith College with a major in psychology and a minor in psycholinguistics. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She is married and has three children. Her volunteer work has included serving on the Board of Advisors for Dress For Success Houston, and volunteering at the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, the Houston Area Women’s Center and the Houston Food Bank. 

May Cahill joined BakerRipley’s executive team with an established career in fundraising and grant development for academic and healthcare organizations. As the agency’s Chief Development Officer, May provides leadership and strategic direction in areas of philanthropy, marketing, communications, and stakeholder cultivation.

Prior to joining BakerRipley, May was an independent consultant providing strategic planning, training, and coaching services to nonprofit clients. She previously served as Chief Development Officer at CHI St. Luke’s Health, Vice President of Development for Houston Methodist Hospital, and Director of Principal Gifts at Yale School of Medicine.

Throughout her career, May has supported initiatives centered on providing resources and services to marginalized groups. Her work has enabled programs that provide coaching, home visits, and resource navigation to low-income, first-time parents; training for healthcare workers to identify, intervene, and help human trafficking survivors; and the study of the genetics of dyslexia in historically understudied populations.

May earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Rice University, and she continues to support her alma mater as a volunteer for the university’s annual fund. May’s volunteerism also extends to service on the trustee boards of Duchesne Academy, the Ninfa Laurenzo Foundation and BakerRipley Immigration and Citizenship program. May is an alumnus of the Center for Houston’s Future. She serves on the gala committee for the Dominican (Vietnamese) Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province and is a member of the finance committee for St. Joseph Parish.

In September 2024, Laura Granger joined BakerRipley’s executive team as the Vice President of Human Resources. In this role, Laura is dedicated to fostering the growth of the executive team, spearheading a cultural transformation within the agency, and driving overall organizational development. 

Laura brings a wealth of experience from her leadership roles at McDonald’s Corporation, Waste Management, and Jake’s Finer Foods. Her career began in South Africa, where she played a pivotal role in supporting McDonald’s expansion. In 2005, Laura relocated to the US and continued to excel in various HR leadership positions. 

Laura earned a degree in Human Resources from the University of South Africa. Throughout her career she has undergone continuous learning and development to ensure she provides relevant and innovative solutions. Laura is passionate about building successful teams, fostering a culture of excellence, and driving organizational growth. Her strategic and empathetic approach ensures that every team member feels valued and motivated to contribute to the organization’s success. 

Outside of her professional life, Laura is married to Greg, and they have three daughters. The family enjoys spending their time at volleyball and softball games throughout the year. Laura is also deeply committed to serving her church and local community, actively participating in various activities. 

 

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

Prior to joining BakerRipley, Regina worked as a Project Manager at Sysco Corporation, and in various other roles at the Houston Chronicle, Humana, Inc., and United HealthCare. In these roles she saved these organizations millions on an annual basis through streamlining and improvement processes to make them more efficient.

Regina has a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Tarleton State University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baker College, and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources with the HRCI.

Ernest Lewis III joined BakerRipley in 2022 as Senior Director of Economic Initiatives. He is a nonprofit veteran with a diverse background in management, fund development, media, literacy, arts administration, and community development. In his role, Ernest is responsible for leading the agency’s strategy, measurement and evaluation of impact, partnership development and management, volunteer engagement, and sustainability planning and implementation.

Within his 25 years of service in the nonprofit arena, Ernest has cultivated, secured, and managed more than $22 million in public and private funds to help nonprofit organizations in New Orleans and Houston develop and shape signature programs for delivering basic needs as well as disaster recovery, youth development, adult and family literacy, senior services, workforce development, entrepreneurship, art education, and homeless prevention. Prior to joining BakerRipley, Ernest served as President and CEO of a local adult education nonprofit. In this role, he focused on engaging, educating, and empowering communities of adult learners on advancing literacy skills and employment.

Ernest earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, and operations, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He also completed undergraduate coursework at Xavier University and the University of New Orleans. Ernest is pursuing an executive doctorate in business administration at the University of Houston, expected in 2028. He is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum Class XL and a former board member of Literacy Texas and the Pearland Leadership Foundation. Ernest is married and enjoys singing, cooking, and traveling with friends and family.

Eric Marin joined BakerRipley in 2026 as Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 20 years of executive leadership in financial strategy, nonprofit management, and organizational transformation. He oversees BakerRipley’s financial operations and helps ensure the organization’s resources are aligned with its mission and long-term goals.

Prior to BakerRipley, Eric served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for United Way Tarrant County and previously as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer for Southwest Key, where he led complex financial operations, compliance, audits, investment management, and systems modernization for large-scale nonprofit organizations. His background also includes executive leadership in consulting, technology, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, including roles at Accenture, Quorum Business Solutions, and R&M Global Advisors.

Eric earned his MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Houston and his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, with a minor in Electrical Engineering, from Texas A&M University. He has also served in numerous community and board leadership roles across the nonprofit and higher education sectors.