Boot-wearing Texans Take Boston Conference

In October 2015, a dozen of us flew to Boston to attend the World Leadership Conference (taking notes for 2017!) Here are members Mary Lawler, Beth Wolff, Susan Pye, Gracie Cavnar, Suzanne Hite, Karen Love, Loretta Cross, Mary Kelly & Karen Garcia. Not pictured, but attending the conference was Clare Sullivan.   

Many of our group were wearing beautiful cowgirl boots from Pinto Ranch to attract attention to the 2017 conference in Houston.

NASA Insights with Ellen Ochoa

In April 2015, We had the pleasure of touring behind the scenes at NASA, including the historic Mission Control, thanks to member Ellen Ochoa. Enjoying the day were members Susan Pye, Donna Alexander, Phoebe Tudor, Mary Lawler, Ellen Ochoa, Gracie Cavnar & Mary Kelly.

IWF-Houston members go to Berlin

Innovationskraft-Power, Passion, Promise, IWF annual World Cornerstone Conference  takes place in Berlin, May 21-23 and Houston will be well represented.  Attending are: Donna Alexander, Gracie Cavnar; Loretta Cross, Karen Garcia, Suzanne Hite, Susan Pye, Mary Kelly, Catherine Mosbacher and Beth Wolf.

Berlin, which has been Germany’s modern capital for only 23 years, has reached a coming-of-age moment. As it attempts to evolve from a city that relies heavily on government support to one with sustainable industries, companies like Google and Etsy have opened up offices, joining technology start-ups like SoundCloud and ResearchGate, giving credit to the hype that Berlin is becoming a contender for Europe’s Silicon Valley.

The city’s Wild West energy and landscape is also changing. Certain areas, like Mitte and pockets of Kreuzberg and Neukölln, are transforming faster than it takes to say “fair-trade organic coffee bar.” Berlin still boasts a legendary nightclub and art scene, but now it seems that every two weeks, a grown-up cocktail bar or restaurant opens up in Mitte, the neighborhood of choice for Berlin’s global professionals.

Not long ago even the gentrifying parts of Neukölln were too gritty for most tourists, but these days, the shops and cafes popping up along its streets will charm even less adventuresome travelers. Nowadays, everyone can have fun in Berlin, not just 20-somethings with the right jeans.

IWF Houston members have organized two group touring opportunities.  

Wednesday, May 21 - An Introduction to the History of Berlin leaving from the InterContinental Hotel at 9:45 a.m. and returning at 3:00.  

Saturday, May 24 - Berlin Facing Forward leaving from the InterContinental Hotel at 9:45 a.m. and returning at 5:30.  $155 per person.  

We suggest that you also secure a Museum Pass before your leave USA.  A 5-day pass would see you Tuesday through Saturday.  

Congratulations IWF-Houston member Jane Weiner on her wonderful TEDx Houston 2012 performance

Y Ping Sun

Happy Birthday Y Ping Sun!

Ping is a Representative of Rice University and of Counsel at Yetter Coleman LLP.   A native of Shanghai, China, Ping attended school in Beijing and received a full scholarship to Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude with an AB degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.  She received a law degree from Columbia University School of Law, where she served as an editor of the Journal of Transnational Law.  Ping practiced law in the New York offices of White & Case LLP and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, where her practice focused on corporate and cross border issues. In Houston, Ping is of counsel with the law firm of Yetter Coleman LLP, a boutique litigation firm with offices in Houston and Austin.

Ping came to Houston from New York City in 2004, when her husband David W. Leebron became Rice University's seventh president. As University Representative, Ping is fully engaged with the community both on and off campus.  Ping has many roles: Member of the advisory board of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research; and honorary co-chair of Rice’s Baker Institute Roundtable.  She also hosts a luncheon series called “Something New for Lunch at Rice University,” which brings Rice faculty members together with civic leaders. 

She is a trustee of Texas Children's Hospital and a board member of the Asia Society, Texas Center, St. John’s School and the United Way of Greater Houston. She also serves on the advisory boards of Asian Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Community Center, Houston Arts Alliance, Julia Ideson Library Preservation Partners, and the Mayor’s International Trade and Development Council for Asia/Australia. Ping is also a director of MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.and is an alum of Center for Houston’s Future Leadership Forum .  

Ping’s community service has been recognized by several organizations: In 2010-Teach For America;  International Executives of the Year (along with her husband) by the Greater Houston Partnership and 50 Most Influential Women of 2010.  In 2011: Texas China Distinguished Leader in Education Award, the Asian American Leadership Award from Asia Society Texas Center, and Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women. In 2012 she was an ABC Channel 13 Woman of Distinction.  

Ping and David have two children, Daniel, 16, and Merissa, 13. 

An Energized Evening Launches IWF in Houston

Several dozen founding members of the Houston chapter gathered at Gigi's Asian Bistro this evening--our first "meeting" and celebration of the Lunar New Year of the Snake.  Pat Smothers dropped in from San Antonio as part of the official welcome crew.  Not a shy gal in the bunch, it didn't take a second after introductions for conversation to flow.  Even those who had planned to duck out early, stayed for hours. A most welcome and welcoming evening.  Mark your calendars for noon on March 13 at Sparrow.

Happy Birthday to Loretta Cross!  

Loretta Cross

Now Vice President, Energy and Environment for Charles River Associates, Loretta has built and led a number of practices with specialized consulting expertise and has been responsible for both the growth of mature organizations, along with building practices from the ground up. 

She recently joined Charles River Associates to open their Houston office and to expand the Energy Practice.  Prior to joining Charles River Associates, Loretta led the Grant Thornton, LLP Energy Advisory Services, which encompasses economic, operational and control-related consulting. 

Loretta has more than 30 years of experience including bankruptcy, restructuring, audit, management consulting and financial consulting.  Her key specialization is assisting companies in financial distress with their out-of-court restructures, in court restructures and liquidations.

She has been the key business advisor to parties of interest in some of the largest bankruptcies and restructurings in the United States including, Flying J, Idearc, Calpine, Reliant Resources and Enron Corp.  She has provided expert testimony in numerous courts from Connecticut to Phoenix on issues including plan viability, valuation, use of cash collateral, substantive consolidation, avoidance actions and subordination issues. 

Loretta's awards and recognitions are numerous, including selection as a 2012 Woman on the Move, Texas Executive Women; 2011 Who’s Who in Energy, Houston Business Journal and in 2010 as one of the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Texas.