THE CHAMBER WELCOMES ITS NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS!

The South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that seven prominent business people have been elected to its Board of Directors for three-year terms beginning September 1st. As required by The Chamber’s Bylaws, each candidate is a Chamber Member in good standing, resides or works in The Chamber’s trade area, and has agreed to accept the responsibility of directorship.

The slate is the result of Nominating Team deliberations, which considered such factors as Chamber and community involvement, leadership skills, potential, and decision-making ability. There is also the on-going endeavor to shape the Board’s composition to represent the diverse business and geographical sectors of our trade area, plus a recognition that effective Chambers of Commerce strike a balance between those whose involvement earned them a place on the Board and those within our corporate community who bring resources and influence to help accomplish The Chamber’s goals.

The Nominating Team is composed of nine members--four are appointed from The Chamber membership-at-large and five from the current Board. It is headed by our immediate past Chair, Byron Ellis.

Please help us congratulate the following outstanding individuals!

DR. TOM BUTLER – Montgomery College

Dr. Butler, president of Montgomery College since 2002, serves on boards of Montgomery County United Way (Chair-elect), Greater Conroe Economic Development Council, Education for Tomorrow Alliance (Chair-elect), American Heart Association of Montgomery County, and HEART of Montgomery County. He was 2006 Campaign Chair for Montgomery County United Way. He is an ex-officio for Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe, Montgomery County Hispanic, and our Chambers of Commerce.

He was Provost of the 14,000-student campus at Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Dr. Butler taught economics in community colleges in North Texas and Thomas Nelson Community College in Virginia. He was Director of Research for International Data Bank, public sector management consultant for Commonwealth of Virginia, and Assistant Commissioner of Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

Dr. Butler is a native Texan, attended school in Carrollton, and received B.A. and M.S. degrees in Economics from University of North Texas. His doctorate in Higher Education is from the College of William & Mary.

 

DEBBIE BUCKALEW CAMPBELL – Woodforest National Bank

A Vice President of Woodforest National Bank since 2001, Debbie worked in banking for 23 years previously. She participates in community activities including Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area and our Chambers, Montgomery County United Way, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (Life Member), Montgomery County Fair Association (Life Member), South County Buyer’s Group, and Montgomery County Baylor Club. She has been associated with Financial Women International, American Business Women’s Association, and Houston Area CRA Officers Council.

She was in the Merchant Card Division of Citizens National Bank in Waco, Bank Examiner for the State of Texas, and officer for North Houston Bank. She served on Conroe ISD PTA and PTO Boards, Operation Graduation, and TWHS FFA Booster Club.

Debbie is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery County and a winner of the Conroe Symphony’s Guest Celebrity Conductor Contest. She grew up in Conroe and graduated from Conroe High School and Baylor University. She has resided in The Woodlands since 1985.

 

LINDA KOENIG – Chevron Phillips Chemical Co LP

Linda is Manager, Government and Community Affairs, of Chevron Phillips. She previously owned The Koenig Group, a public affairs firm specializing in grassroots political campaigns, lobbying, political action committee management, and campaign fundraising. As Director of Community and Government Affairs for Halliburton Company, she managed corporate political action committees, coordinated corporate philanthropic contributions and social awareness programs, and was political liaison at local, state and federal levels.

She served on boards of American Heart Association, Girl Scouts of America, Child Advocates, Community Partners, Texas Association of Business, Education for Tomorrow Alliance (Chair), Texas Association of Manufacturers, and San Jacinto River Authority. She chairs the Conroe Business Coalition for Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas. She is a member of Advocacy Committee of Greater Houston Partnership, National Petrochemical Refiners Association, and Texas Chemical Council.

A native of Houston, Linda graduated from Rice University President’s Executive Administration Program - Jesse Jones School of Business. She is an alumna of Leadership Texas.

 

FRED RICHMOND – Compass Bank

Fred is Vice President of Business Banking at Compass Bank. His focus is on the financial needs of privately-owned businesses. He has been in the financial services industry for more than 25 years. He has also served as Regional Director for Prison Fellowship Ministries, with responsibility for six states. Fred is on the board of the Conroe Family YMCA and the Fund Allocation Committee of the United Way. He is also on the Transitional Housing committee of the Montgomery County Women’s Center. He was a board member of The Woodlands Children’s Museum and is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Montgomery County.

A graduate of the University of Houston (with Honors), Fred also holds a Master's degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

 

KAREN SMITH – Drucker, Rutledge & Smith, LLP

Karen was admitted to the Texas bar in 1992. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas.

Her higher education consists ofJ.D. (Baylor University School of Law) in 1992 and B.S. (Sam Houston State University) in 1982. Karen’s professional memberships and affiliations are:Order of Barristers; National Mock Trial Team (1991-1992); Houston, Montgomery County and American Bar Associations; Women in the Profession Committee; State Bar of Texas (2000-2002); Texas Women Lawyers - Board of Directors (2000-present) Treasurer (2004-2006), President-Elect (2006-2007); Montgomery County Bar Association - Board Member (2000-present), Treasurer (2004-2006); AWA Foundation - Board of Directors (2005-2007); AWA Foundation Board - Chair (2006-2007); and Education for Tomorrow Alliance - Board of Directors (2005-2008).

 

DEBRA SUKIN – St. Luke’s Community Medical Center–The Woodlands

Debbie is the Chief Executive Officer of St. Luke’s and Vice President of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System. She is a dedicated health care executive with experience in not-for-profit, academic health care systems. Before her career at St. Luke’s, she was V.P. Operations for Methodist Hospital, where she created and implemented the DeBakey Heart Center. She was Methodist’s Director, Heart Care and Transplant Service Lines and Acting Director, Urology Service Line.

At Duke University Hospital, she was Manager, Corporate and International Programs, after being in its Health Network Administrative Fellowship Program. Career highlights include governance development and responsibility, strategic planning, clinical and non-clinical operational expertise, and financial acumen for strategic business development to implementation of successful operations.

Debbie’s education includes: University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Global Leadership in Healthcare; Duke University Health System Post Graduate Fellowship; Washington University School of Medicine Health Administration Program, Master’s of Health Administration; and Mary Baldwin College, Bachelor of Arts with Honors.

BRUCE TOUGH – Law Offices of Bruce Coulson Tough

Bruce is engaged in civil trial litigation and trials in Texas state courts. He represents plaintiffs/defendants in bankruptcy, criminal law, contract, employment, business, construction, personal injury, attorney/guardian ad litem, and family law litigation. He was an associate with creditor rights law firm Thomson & Elkins, assistant to president of Hartzog Restaurants, and is a licensed Real Estate Broker.

Bruce earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree from University of Houston and law degree from University of Houston Law Center. He is a Life Member of Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Graduate of Leadership Montgomery County, member of YMCA Partners of Youth, Director of The Woodlands Community Association (President 2000-05), Conroe ISD Trustee, and “Hometown Hero.”

He was The Chamber’s 2006 Economic Outlook Conference co-chair, director 2002–2005, and V.P. 2004-2005. He belongs to Memorial Hermann Advisory Board and Boy Scouts of America – Strake District, past president of The Woodlands Fire Department, and past chairman of The Woodlands Community Service Corporation.