Leadership

A native Houstonian, she was greatly influenced by the dichotomy of her parents’ professional lives. Her father spent his career as an educator in the Fourth Ward, and her mother worked in the business office of a local country club. Witnessing the intersection between intergenerational economic status and race, combined with the power of education and community, led Jessica to a career in the non-profit sector.

She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and began her nearly 20-year fundraising career in New York City and then Philadelphia before returning to Houston in 2012. Her experience ranges from small, early stage nonprofits to established organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Away from work, Jessica enjoys the outdoors and relaxing with her husband and two daughters. She is an active volunteer and passionate about investing in the community, especially in the areas of child development, literacy, and education.

Houston born and raised, Simi is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, BBA and Masters in Accounting. She is a licensed CPA and spent the first 14 years of her career in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ audit practice serving public and private clients in the energy industry. More recently, Simi has transitioned to a growing renewables energy company investing in decarbonizing our energy infrastructure. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston teaching Oil & Gas Accounting.

Simi’s passion to get involved in the non-profit space stems from her immigrant parents’ mantra of giving in any way you can. The combination of a background in finance/accounting and leading successful teams allows her to contribute her skills to make a difference. Simi is honored to collaborate with a diverse group of women leaders in Impact100 Houston to drive transformational change in her hometown community. She also serves on the board of Art Start, a NYC based organization providing educational opportunities in the creative arts for marginalized youth communities.

An ideal weekend for Simi includes exploring Houston’s beautiful parks, practicing yoga, impromptu dance parties with her three kids and husband, and spending time with family & friends.

Steph serves as the Talent Management Advisor for the Commercial and Land Americas group at Chevron. She began her career with Chevron’s Land Department in 2006 after having graduated from California Western School of Law in San Diego, CA. While at Chevron, she has actively served on the Houston Women’s Employee Network LT, currently serving as Chair, where she advocates for women’s issues within the company and assists in numerous community service, mentoring, and development opportunities. Prior to law school, Steph worked in corporate event planning and sales for Six Flags AstroWorld, as well as in media planning in New York City. She graduated with a degree in Advertising, and a minor in business, from The University of Texas at Austin.

Giving back has always been a passion of Steph’s. She currently serves as the Development Chair on the Board of Camp For All; Vice Chair and Development Chair on the Undies for Everyone Board; and the Development Chair on the DePelchin Board of Directors. Her passion for kids’ health and mental stability also extends to serving as a support group facilitator at Bo’s Place. For the past 19 years, she has advocated and supported women through The Junior League of Houston, Inc. (JLH) having served as the JLH President in 2018 – 2019. She still serves as a Sustainer Advisor and an active member on the JLH Sustaining Club Board.

Outside of work and volunteering, Steph and her husband stay busy with their amazing, creative, and cool boy/girl twins. They love watching their kiddos put their passion into their sports and activities including baseball, tennis, basketball, track, NCL, and so much more. Steph also enjoys reading, dancing, traveling, playing tennis, and trying to increase her mahjong skills.

Meghan Bertani-Yang was born and raised in St. Louis and earned a BA in Psychology at Central Missouri State University and then her master’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Missouri. After completion of an internship at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, she moved to Houston in 2001 when she accepted a position as a Child Life Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital. For 13 years, she worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as well as high-risk maternity services in the Pavilion for Women. As a child life specialist, she presented at several conferences, contributed to a maternity nursing textbook and other publications, served in various leadership roles, and helped to establish the first neonatal bereavement committee as well as the first perinatal hospice team. She now is a stay at home mother to her son and daughter.

Outside of her family responsibilities, Meghan has spent her time volunteering in various ways, such as delivering meals for Interfaith Ministries/Meals on Wheels, facilitating grief support groups for Bo’s Place, serving on both welcome teams and move-in teams for Houston Welcomes Refugees, and actively participating in the PTO at both of her kids’ schools.

In her free time, Meghan enjoys reading, traveling with her husband and kids, trying out new restaurants, and watching her beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Holly Frantz joined Impact100 Houston in its inaugural year and quickly became involved in grant review and the Big Three Events committees. For the last two years she served as co-chair for the Environment grant review committee. Holly avidly believes in Impact100’s mission to lift up local organizations by donating her time and skills to the group. She is looking forward to continuing to serve as a Board member and the new chair of the Big Three Events committee.

A native Houstonian, Holly is a strategic IT leader in the construction and environmental engineering fields. Holly has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Houston and holds a M.S. in Information Technology and Cybersecurity from SNHU.

Outside of work and volunteering, Holly enjoys watching movies with her husband (a certified ethical hacker) and hanging out with their pets. She is an avid reader, a fan of true crime podcasts, and an enthusiastic researcher of historical recipes. Holly also believes it is possible to be a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars.

Born in Saint Louis and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas as the daughter of immigrant parents, Prathima has always been taught the value of education and the joy of helping those around you. As the mother of two daughters, she strives to share those same values with them and inspire their volunteerism.

Prathima has had a variety of professional experiences in management consulting, healthcare administration, technology startups and real estate development and currently advises healthcare clients at Vynamic, a healthcare management consultancy. Prathima brings her professional learnings to Impact100 as the co-chair of the Health and Wellness FAC and her volunteer and philanthropic focus areas are education and healthcare.

Prathima earned her undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Economics from Trinity University in San Antonio and her MBA from Washington University in Saint Louis.

Prathima enjoys new adventures with her 2 daughters and extended family, volunteering at community organizations and her children’s school as a room parent and PTO Board Member and hosting family and friends at home.

Stacy Humphries is the President of Pye Legal Group, a boutique executive search firm that recruits and places lawyers and legal professionals in-house with companies. Before becoming a recruiter, she served as the V.P. of Legal Affairs for the Houston Rockets organization, where she managed the legal department and served as a member of a seven-person senior management team during the development of Toyota Center. She began her legal career as a transactional associate at Vinson & Elkins. Stacy earned a law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Since 2004 Stacy has used her unique blend of legal experience to recruit for and build in-house legal departments. She has filled positions from General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer down to Counsel across numerous industries and practice areas.

Stacy is active in local non-profit organizations and is an avid sports fan and a dedicated Peloton owner. She and her husband have two sons: a recent graduate of the University of Miami and a current undergrad at Hamilton College.

Alex was born and raised in Russia and that multicultural experience brought about a unique understanding of empathy, belonging, and personal struggle. A graduate of St. Catherine University who went on to earn her MBA from Western Carolina University, Alex is a project manager enthusiast who tailored her career and education to align with her strong desire to make sense of corporate chaos.

After years of building strong client relationships and effective project teams in the corporate world, Alex switched gears to the world of nonprofits. She developed a compelling drive to help others after her daughter was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy. The ensuing journey gave her a great appreciation for the world of nonprofits and an even greater passion to get involved and make an impact.

Marly currently serves as Executive Director of the Houston ToolBank, where she leads the organization’s strategic growth and operational development. The ToolBank strengthens the nonprofit ecosystem across Greater Houston by providing shared resources, fostering collaboration, amplifying volunteer efforts, and equipping local organizations to expand their impact. With a shared inventory supporting over 1000 nonprofit and community partners, the ToolBank plays a critical role across many mission types, with a focus on disaster response and recovery efforts throughout the region.

Marly began her career in the oil and gas industry as a Field Engineer in the Gulf of Mexico before shifting her focus to community service through the United States Peace Corps, where she served as a Youth Development Facilitator in Shakhtinsk, Kazakhstan. Since returning to the Gulf Coast, Marly has led nonprofit teams for the past 15 years, with deep expertise in capacity building, project management, and logistics.

Marly holds a B.S. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management from the University of Houston-Downtown. She is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum (Class LVI) and serves on the board of Texas VOAD.

Lauren McFarland is a native Houstonian and understands first-hand how small efforts can have a significant impact on the community.

Lauren is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Texas and spent the first seven years of her career in the audit practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Subsequently, Lauren held progressive accounting roles at a Fortune 500 energy company and is currently the Director of Technical Accounting for a publicly listed financial technology company.

She attended Howard University where she not only earned a BBA and MBA, but also realized her passion for serving her community. She has spent many years in service through membership in church, mentorship to other accounting professionals and other community organizations.

Michele McGovern is a native New Orleanian but has been in Texas since 2009. Her entire professional career was spent supporting education and non-profit organizations, primarily through fundraising and eventually in executive management.

Making a difference in her community has always been a focus, professionally and personally. Michele is thrilled to now be able to utilize her deep understanding of non-profits to serve Impact100 Houston. As a founding member, she immediately volunteered to serve as a FAC Co-Chair, then joined the Grant Review Committee, and eventually Co-Chaired the Grant Review process for two years. Her membership in and work with Impact100 perfectly blends her professional expertise with her desire to help Houstonians thrive.

Michele has been happily married for 35 wonderful years and is the proud mother of two young men. When she’s not volunteering, Michele loves spoiling her two rescue dogs, reading, cooking, being outdoors, and traveling.

Nina is the co-owner and partner of the Houston-based branding and marketing agency, Bespoke Communications, where she creates collaborative relationships with clients and acts as both marketing strategist and business adviser. Her biggest goal is to be a strong brand advocate for her clients, to help them define and refine their brands to grow their businesses and reach new heights.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, specializing in Public Relations, from Florida State University, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Notre Dame with a focus in marketing.

In addition to her involvement with Impact100, Nina sits on the Advisory Board of the Children’s Museum of Houston and is an active member of the Dress for Success Corporate Guild, the Bush Literacy Foundation Ladies for Literacy Guild, and actively participates in supporting the schools her children attend. Nina is a Michigan native who found a strong love for the city of Houston upon moving here after business school. She is a proud wife and mom of two active boys. Outside of work, she loves being active, traveling, playing Pickleball and Mahjong, and discovering new restaurants.

A native of Houston, Dr Melanie Rodriguez has a professional background in Talent Management and Executive Development. After serving in various talent management roles in corporate America, Melanie founded Elevate Latinas, a leadership development and coaching firm focused on diversifying the corporate leadership pipeline.

Melanie is active in local non-profit organizations supporting causes such as community healthcare, education and food insecurities. Melanie also loves using her talents to support nonprofit organizations through strategic planning and board development.

Melanie and her wife Cindy have two amazing children Arianna and Isaias. When they are not volunteering, Melanie loves golf, cooking, being outdoors, and traveling.

Camden is a CPA and finance professional with over a decade of experience in accounting operations, financial reporting, and process improvement. Her expertise lies not only in the numbers but in building strong relationships. She is passionate about mentoring, connecting people, and helping clients navigate change with clarity and confidence.

Outside of work, Camden is a wife and mother of two young boys. Her family is active in their church and community, and she brings that same spirit of service to her work with Impact100 Houston. As a new board member, she is excited to help drive meaningful change through the power of collective giving. She strongly believes when women come together with purpose, the impact is unstoppable.

Ayesha is a native of Galveston, Texas. She is the cofounder of Park Street Homes, a top producing realtor, and lead of The Ayesha Shelton Team. She has been working and serving within the City of Houston since 2001. Raised by Rev. Louis Simpson and Sue Johnson, both nationally recognized for their contributions to the Galveston community and the State of Texas, Ayesha was raised with a heart of service.

From contributions to the early childhood community including educating inner-city youth teachers with Collaborative for Children to co-founding the award-winning homebuilder Park Street Homes in 2016 serving the greater Houston community through housing and service. Ayesha started her career in early childhood education, completing her undergraduate at the University of Houston and continuing to complete her master’s degree at Texas Southern University.

After starting a second career in real estate she co-founded Park Street Homes in 2016. Park Street Homes has been featured in the Houston Chronicle, Fox 26, and was recently recognized for its outstanding projects and community work by winning the Pinnacle award from the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. Ayesha is a licensed realtor in the State of Texas and has sold over $10M in real estate since 2019 earning the award for top 20 realtors in Houston from HBREA in 2021.

Ayesha is the mom of 3 beautiful children, a loving wife, and her newest title is puppy mom. When she’s not selling or buildings homes, running behind her toddlers and the new puppy; you can find her nestled up with a good book playing classical music in the background.

Nicole Spaur is a Managing Director at Macquarie Group, where she leads the Commodities and Global Markets Regulatory Compliance team. With over 25 years of legal and regulatory experience, Nicole has built a distinguished career specializing in physical energy, over-the-counter-derivative, and financial markets.

Nicole is also an advocate for workplace culture and inclusivity. She serves on Macquarie’s Racial Equity Fund Committee and co-chairs the Unity Employee Network Group, driving positive change within the organization.

Beyond her professional achievements, Nicole is deeply committed to her community in Houston. As a dedicated wife and mother, she and her family actively engage with numerous local nonprofits. Nicole is a founding member of Impact100 Houston and currently serves as President of the RaiseUp Families Board of Directors, demonstrating her passion for making a meaningful impact.

Mehgan Wichuk is SVP, General Counsel and CCO for Trillium Flow Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of valves and pumps for water, power, oil & gas and industrial sectors. Utilizing the in-the-trenches legal experience she gained during her early years in private practice, Mehgan has steadily amassed legal skills and an in-depth understanding of the oil industry while working her way up the ranks as in-house counsel for some of the largest and most well-known companies in the field, including Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Global Geophysical Services, Inc., Trican Well Service, Seadrill Americas, and Gyrodata Incorporated.

A graduate of University of Texas at Austin, Mehgan went on to earn a JD/MBA at the University of Houston Law Center and Bauer College of Business. Mehgan lives with her husband and three children in Houston and actively participates in the National Charity League, the University of Houston Law Center mentoring program and at her children’s school.

Paige was raised in Midland, Texas, and is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics. A licensed CPA, she spent most of her professional career in the energy industry.

Paige’s commitment to community service was shaped early by watching her parents and grandparents serve on boards and invest deeply in their communities. Following their example, she has volunteered for many years through her church, local schools, and youth-focused organizations. Her service includes PTO leadership, Junior Achievement, advisory committees, and student mentoring—experiences that strengthened her belief in collective action and long-term community investment.

In recent years, Paige has found fulfillment through her work with Impact100, where she has served as Co-Chair of the Health and Wellness Focus Area Committee and has continued to stay involved as a volunteer with several past grant recipients. This role allows her to combine her analytical background with her commitment to meaningful, community-driven philanthropy.

Paige has been married for 36 years and is the proud mother of three daughters. Outside of volunteering, she enjoys spoiling her two dogs, playing board games, visiting baseball stadiums across the country, and traveling to explore new places.

A small-town Indiana girl drawn to Texas by sunny skies and Lake Travis sunsets, Heather Sasser earned her broadcast journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Her reporting career took her from Missouri to Abilene to Las Vegas before she landed in Houston in 2001.

After stepping away from news, Heather spent five years (2002-2007) with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as a Regional Coordinator. There, she discovered the power of storytelling for a cause, creating videos to generate funds for the local chapter and producing the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon while running campaigns like Fill the Boot and Shamrocks Against Dystrophy. In 2013, she co-founded VideoEnvy, a Houston video production agency.

Heather's path to Impact100 Houston started when she produced the organization's Angela's House video, a story about second chances and the transformation that happens when women come together. Seeing that impact made her want to be part of Impact100.

Active in her community, Heather served 11 years on the American Marketing Association Houston board and has volunteered at her sons' schools at every level. She is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.

Outside of work, Heather is a dedicated sports mom. Her sons Carter (WashU soccer) and Reid (Episcopal High School basketball and baseball) keep her and her husband, Brian, crisscrossing the country for games, tournaments, and summer ball. When she's not in the stands, you'll find her running, hiking, or planning the next adventure. Two very opinionated lab mixes hold down the fort while they're away.