Leadership & Committees
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) provides the Gulf Coast Workforce Board staff support that powers the Board’s leadership and strategic direction. Board staff manage core functions including planning, evaluation, fiscal management, procurement, and information systems, ensuring the Board’s initiatives are effectively implemented and aligned with its vision for an innovative, inclusive, and thriving workforce system.
If you have any questions about Workforce Solutions or any of its projects, feel free to contact one of our staff.
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Juliet Stipeche
Executive Director
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Kristi Rangel
Director
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AJ Dean
Assistant Director
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Brandi Brown
Manager, Fiscal Administration
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Brittany Eaton
Manager, Professional Development
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Carl B. Salazar
Senior Manager, Workforce Strategy & Innovation
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Cheryl Shepphard
Manager, Early Child Care Expansion
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Crosby Brito
Manager, Employer Engagement
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Danielle Knotts
Manager, Career Pathways
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E. Desmond Taylor
Board Relations and Government Affairs
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Jacinth Chapman
Senior Manager, Early Education Quality
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Jennifer Graves
Manager, Community Engagement
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Jennifer Starling
Manager, Child Care Scholarships
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Jenny Johnson
Manager, Quality Assurance
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Kevin Rodney
Manager, Program Operations
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Latoya Casimere
Manager, Youth Services
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Dr. Maria Franco Cortes
Board Relations and Government Affairs
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Parker Harvey
Manager, Regional Economic Analysis
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Philip Garcia
Manager, Data Analytics & Accountability
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Russell Tomlin
Senior Manager, Career Services
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Sabrina Parras
Equal Opportunity Officer
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Sabrina Uy
Senior Manager, Quality Assurance and Risk
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Sharon Spillman
Manager, Early Education Quality
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Thomas Brown
Manager, Contract Administration
Serving the 13-county Gulf Coast region, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board leads the strategic vision for Workforce Solutions. Business-led and community-driven, Board members represent private industry, education, labor, and community-based organizations.
In collaboration with the region’s chief local elected officials, the Board sets priorities that promote long-term economic growth.
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Mark Guthrie
Board Chair
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Dr. Bobbie Allen Henderson
Board Vice Chair
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Guy Robert Jackson
Board Vice Chair
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Paul Puente
Board Vice Chair
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Marie Arcos
Board Member
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Jennifer Baker
Board Member
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Shonda Below
Board Member
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Carl Bowles
Board Member
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Rachel Cevallos
Board Member
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Dorian Cockrell
Board Member
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Michael Dobert
Board Member
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Michael Ferdinand
Board Member
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Mia Garcia
Board Member
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Dr. Melissa Gonzalez
Board Member
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Cheryl Guido
Board Member
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Dr. Allatia Harris
Board Member
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Alan Heskamp
Board Member
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Joyce Johnson
Board Member
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Lavone Jones
Board Member
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Doug Karr
Board Member
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Jeff LaBroski
Board Member
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Shareen Larmond
Board Member
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Susan Lindsey
Board Member
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Jonathan Lowe
Board Member
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Tanya Makany-Rivera
Board Member
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Edward Melton
Board Member
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Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez
Board Member
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Sineria Ordonez
Board Member
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Margaret Oser
Board Member
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Adrian Ozuna
Board Member
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Glenn Rex
Board Member
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Monica Riley
Board Member
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Grace Rodriguez
Board Member
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Dr. Melanie Rodriguez
Board Member
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Mou Sarkar
Board Member
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Lenora Sorola-Pohlman
Board Member
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Sandra Taylor
Board Member
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Lizandra Vazquez
Board Member
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Dr. Michael Webster
Board Member
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Bin Yu
Board Member
The Gulf Coast Workforce Board’s committees bring together Board members, employers, educators, community partners, and other stakeholders to help guide the region’s workforce system. These collaborative forums provide space to evaluate services, share insights, and shape strategies that address the Gulf Coast region’s evolving workforce needs. Through their work, the committees help ensure the Board’s vision and goals are grounded in community input and aligned with regional economic priorities.
Audit & Monitoring Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Guy Robert Jackson | Chair |
| Carl Bowles | Vice Chair |
| Cheryl Guido | Member |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Doug Karr | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
Budget Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Carl Bowles | Chair |
| Mark Guthrie | Vice Chair |
| Bobbie Henderson | Member |
| Guy Robert Jackson | Member |
| Doug Karr | Member |
| Rachel Cevallos | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
By-Laws Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Michael Webster | Chair |
| Adrian Ozuna | Vice Chair |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Alan Heskamp | Member |
| Guy Robert Jackson | Member |
Career Services Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Adrian Ozuna | Chair |
| Cheryl Guido | Vice Chair |
| Melissa Gonzalez | Member |
| Dorian Cockrell | Member |
| Michael Webster | Member |
| Bin Yu | Member |
| Edward Melton | Member |
| Micael Dobert | Member |
| Allatia Harris | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
| Lizandra Vasquez | Member |
| Joyce Johnson | Member |
| Mou Sarkar | Member |
Communications Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Doug Karr | Chair |
| Monica Riley | Vice Chair |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Bobbie Henderson | Member |
| Guy Robert Jackson | Member |
| Michael Webster | Member |
| Melanie Rodriguez | Member |
| Marie Arcos | Member |
| Rachel Cevallos | Member |
| Cheryl Guido | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
| Lizandra Vasquez | Member |
| Tanya Makany-Rivera | Member |
Education Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Bobbie Henderson | Chair |
| Doug Karr | Vice Chair |
| Shonda Below | Member |
| Cheryl Guido | Member |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Alan Heskamp | Member |
| Jeff LaBroski | Member |
| Edward Melton | Member |
| Margaret Oser | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
| Monica Riley | Member |
| Sandra Taylor | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
| Grace Rodriguez | Member |
| Jennifer Baker | Member |
| Guy Robert Jackson | Member |
| Allatia Harris | Member |
| Joyce Johnson | Member |
Employer Engagement Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Alan Heskamp | Chair |
| Jeff LaBroski | Vice Chair |
| Cheryl Guido | Member |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Bobbie Henderson | Member |
| Guy Robert Jackson | Member |
| Shareen Larmond | Member |
| Mou Sarkar | Member |
| Melanie Rodriguez | Member |
| Grace Rodriguez | Member |
| Marie Arcos | Member |
| Glenn Rex | Member |
| Michael Webster | Member |
| Allatia Harris | Member |
| Carl Bowles | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
| Lizandra Vasquez | Member |
Government Relations Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Guy Robert Jackson | Chair |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Bobbie Henderson | Member |
| Tanya Makany-Rivera | Member |
| Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez | Member |
| Lenora Sorola-Pohlman | Member |
| Adrian Ozuna | Member |
Nominating Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Doug Karr | Chair |
| Jeff Labroski | Vice Chair |
| Alan Heskamp | Member |
Procurement Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Bobbie Henderson | Chair |
| Doug Karr | Vice Chair |
| Cheryl Guido | Member |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Alan Heskamp | Member |
| Jeff LaBroski | Member |
| Adrian Ozuna | Member |
| Paul Puente | Member |
| Guy Robert Jackson | Member |
| Rachel Cevallos | Member |
Strategic Planning Committee
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Carl Bowles | Chair |
| Paul Punte | Vice Chair |
| Cheryl Guido | Member |
| Mark Guthrie | Member |
| Bobbie Henderson | Member |
| Doug Karr | Member |
| Adrian Ozuna | Member |
| Melanie Rodriguez | Member |
| Grace Rodriguez | Member |
| Michael Webster | Member |