2025 East End Means Business
Breakfast Panel: From Ship to Shelf: How Tariff Changes and Supply Chain Costs are Reshaping Business Planning
Daron Peschel | Moderator
Senior Vice President in Charge of Houston Branch
Federal Reserve Bank
Daron Peschel
Daron Peschel is senior vice president in charge of the Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and a member of the Bank’s Executive Leadership Team. In this capacity, Peschel oversees the activities of the Federal Reserve in the Gulf Coast region.
Since joining the Federal Reserve in 1989, Peschel has served in numerous analytical and official roles, including cash operations, financial and risk management, administrative services, public outreach and the board of directors. He also served on special assignment at the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.
Active in the Houston community, Peschel serves on the Greater Houston Partnership board of directors, Central Houston board of directors, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston advisory board and is a past member of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership board of directors. An advocate of business and financial education, Peschel serves on the University of Texas McCombs School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, Sam Houston State University Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking Advisory Board and the Junior Achievement Gulf Coast board of directors.
Peschel holds a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in banking and financial institutions from Sam Houston State University. He is also a graduate of Leadership Houston Class XXVII, the Center for Houston’s Future, the Federal Reserve senior management training program, and numerous other executive education programs.
Cris Borzani
Manager, International Logistics and Customs Compliance
Igloo
Cris Borzani
Cris Borzani, Manager, International Logistics and Customs Compliance, Igloo
Cris Borzani, currently serving as the International Logistics and Customs Compliance Manager at Igloo Coolers, boasts a decade of experience in the supply chain industry. His career trajectory includes six impactful years collaborating with the Houston Port, where he honed his logistics expertise.
Originally based in Miami, FL, Cris specialized in managing Latin American trade lanes, collaborating closely with Freight Forwarders to facilitate seamless transportation across all modes and handling both imports and exports. His in-depth knowledge and experience led him to take on a pivotal role as a Customs Specialist, directly interacting with US Customs to ensure the smooth flow of international imports.
Within Igloo Coolers, Cris’s journey showcases remarkable growth. He began as a Compliance Analyst, and his meticulous attention to detail and compliance acumen soon propelled him to the head of the logistics department. Under his leadership, the company has consistently optimized its global operations, solidifying its position in the market.
Cris Borzani’s journey in the supply chain industry has been marked by dedication, growth, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As he continues his career, Cris is committed to not only furthering his own knowledge and expertise but also to helping others grow within the industry. He firmly believes in sharing knowledge and collaborating with peers, while pushing Igloo Coolers to new heights in the global market. With his passion for the field and a commitment to continuous improvement, Cris Borzani is poised to make even greater contributions to the world of international logistics and customs compliance.
Steve Clarke
Vice President-Cities and Places
Jacobs
Steve Clark
Steve Clarke, PE
Vice President, Jacobs | Houston, TX
Steve Clarke, PE, is a Vice President at Jacobs with over 34 years in the A/E design consulting industry, including 26+ years at Jacobs. He leads strategy and growth for the firm’s full-service A/E practice across the Western U.S., overseeing client development and business planning across diverse markets such as aviation, infrastructure, and advanced facilities.
Previously, Steve led Jacobs’ Houston region for 17 years, playing a key role in shaping the city’s skyline through projects like NRG Stadium, the GRB Convention Center visioning and masterplan, and multiple airport terminals. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in 11 states and an active civic leader, serving on the Greater Houston Partnership Board, current Chair of the Aviation & Aerospace Committee, and several infrastructure and resilience steering committees.
A Texas A&M graduate in Electrical Engineering, he is a member of the Texas A&M Chancellor’s Council and the College of Engineering Advisory Council. Steve lives in Bellaire, TX, with his wife Rachel. They have three grown daughters.
Chelsie Kramer
Director of Foundation & Regional Engagement Advisor
Texas Association of Business
Chelsie Kramer
Chelsie Kramer is Director of the Texas Association of Business’ Foundation
As Director of the Texas Association of Business Foundation and leader of TAB’s statewide regional engagement, Chelsie Kramer has dedicated more than a decade to ensuring that Texas business leaders are connected to one another and to the policy conversations shaping our state in Austin and beyond. Through the Foundation—TAB’s research and thought leadership arm—she oversees initiatives that provide the data, analysis, and convening power to drive informed, actionable policy across key areas such as workforce and education, international trade, healthcare, energy, environment, and technology and innovation.
Before joining TAB, Chelsie gained extensive experience in state government and politics, serving for several legislative sessions as a staffer to a prominent Republican State Senator. She also worked on multiple political campaigns, including campaigns for statewide office, where she developed a deep understanding of the legislative process, coalition building, and the dynamics that shape Texas policy and elections.
Chelsie is also known for building coalitions, guiding legislative strategy, and helping business leaders effectively engage in immigration policymaking—grounded in the belief that good policy starts with those closest to the impact.
A proud graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in political science, she resides in the Houston metro area, but frequently travels across the state to stay connected to regional leaders and issues.
Craig Rhodes
Senior Vice President-Regional Economic Development
Greater Houston Partnership
Craig Rhodes
Craig Rhodes
Senior Vice President, Regional Economic Development
Greater Houston Partnership
Craig has worked at the Greater Houston Partnership for 13 years. In his current role, Craig leads GHP’s economic development team. This team works with companies across the U.S. and around the world to attract new jobs and capital investment to the 12-County Houston region in multiple industry sectors. Craig has been a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) since 2015, with over 18 years of economic and community development experience in Houston. In addition to GHP, Craig also worked on the economic development team at CenterPoint Energy, supporting new growth across the greater Houston region.
Craig served as Chair of the Houston Regional Economic Development Alliance (HREDA) from 2017-2022 and has served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Economic Development Council and the Utility Economic Development Association. He is an active member of the International Economic Development Council and has held numerous Board and leadership roles in economic development across the Houston area. Craig is a graduate of University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife Kristi have three children.
Session A: Smarter Decision Making-Unlocking Financial Potential With Frost Bank
Oscar Martinez | Moderator
Executive Vice President
Frost Bank
Oscar Martinez
Oscar Martinez, Executive Vice President, Frost
Oscar is executive vice president and sales coach in the Houston market. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing a team of commercial lenders and driving business growth. Oscar guides his team toward developing new banking relationships throughout the business community in Houston and surrounding areas and managing existing Frost relationships to ensure clients have access to Frost’s full array of products and services. Oscar brought a wealth of knowledge and experience when he joined Frost in 2019.
Robyn Jefferson
CPA
RDJ+CO.
Robyn Jefferson
Robyn Jefferson, As a graduate of UH, I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2007. For almost 2 decades, I’ve had the pleasure of advising affluent and high net worth families and multi- million dollar companies, across several industries: including but not limited to real estate (both commercial and residential), technology, service-based businesses, oil & gas, construction & manufacturing. Today, I run a small CPA firm, along with a team of 8 in the Galleria area. We focus heavily on tax, advisory and accounting services.
I’m a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s, where I serve on The Young Professionals Committee, CPAs Helping Schools committee and The Event Planning subcommittee.
Aside from my practice, my second passion is empowering underserved communities by teaching them how to become financially literate. I believe economic empowerment is one of the major keys to success and unfortunately, many families in underserved communities are lacking many areas of financial literacy I’m a Texas native, a wife and a mother of 2 beautiful daughters. Outside of my career, Ienjoy spending time with family, shopping and hey, just living. If you challenge me to who could eat the most Mexican food in any given week, I can guarantee you’ll lose.
Samantha Kato
Market President
Frost Insurance
Samantha Kato
Samantha Kato, Frost Insurance
With 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, Samantha Kato brings proven leadership, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to client service in her new role as Market president at Frost Insurance. Her career reflects a strong foundation in both agency ownership and corporate leadership, uniquely positioning her to guide market growth, support team development, and deliver exceptional value to clients and communities. Prior to this role, she served as the Commercial and Personal Lines Service Manager and then as a Commercial Lines Advisor here at Frost, where she led high-performing teams and built trusted relationships across the region. Before joining Frost, Samantha co-owned multiple Independent Insurance Agencies, served as President of the PIA North Houston Chapter demonstrating her long-standing dedication to excellence and to the independent agent community.
She attended Sam Houston State University and continues to invest in learning, mentorship, and the development of others. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and staying grounded in the values that guide her personally and professionally.
Cindy Urrutia
Senior Loan Officer
PeopleFund
Cindy Urrutia
Cindy Urrutia, PeopleFund, Houston Loan Officer
As the daughter of an entrepreneur, Cindy understands the challenges small business owners face and is passionate about advancing affordable capital to entrepreneurs. She joined the PeopleFund team in the summer of 2019 after 12 years in banking with both BBVA and J.P. Morgan Chase. In addition to her experience in the financial sector, Cindy has certifications in real estate and insurance. She has a degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Houston Downtown. Outside of the office, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family and finding new places to eat with her teenage daughter.
Jose Valdez
Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking
Frost Bank
Jose Valdez
Jose Valdez, Executive Vice President, Frost
Jose is executive vice president and a sales coach for Frost in the bank’s Houston region. In his position, Jose oversees responsibilities for developing new banking relationships throughout the business community in Houston and surrounding areas and managing existing Frost relationships to ensure clients have access to Frost’s full array of financial products and services. Jose’s career began at Frost in 2002 as a teller. His career continued within several areas of the bank, including personal banking, credit analysis, relationship management and now sales coach. A graduate of the University of Houston Downtown, he earned a Bachelor of Finance and is credit risk certified by the RMA.
In his free time, Jose enjoys salsa dancing and mountain biking on local trails. He can also be found exploring new restaurants with his wife.
SESSION B: Keys to Success in Outsourcing
Jevon Wooden | Moderator
Leadership Coach, Speaker & Business Consultant
BrightMind Consulting Group
Jevon Wooden
Jevon Wooden, is a sought-after speaker, coach, podcast host, and author specializing in emotionally intelligent leadership and business practices. A veteran, CEO, and expert in emotional intelligence, he empowers leaders to build high-performing teams, cultivate caring workplace cultures, and achieve sustainable business growth. Jevon's insights have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, and more..
AmyJo "AJ" Foreman
Associate
Houston, Chamberlain Hrdlicka
AmyJo "AJ" Foreman
AmyJo "AJ" Foreman is an associate in the litigation section. Her practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation, labor & employment, and appellate matters.
AJ graduated from the University of Houston Law Center where she was an active member of the mock trial team, winning awards for her advocacy at local and national competitions. While in law school, AJ defended many students in their Honor Board proceedings.
After law school, AJ clerked for The Honorable Juan F. Alanis in McAllen, Texas. Before beginning her legal career, she worked in fundraising for several esteemed arts organizations, including NPR and the Smithsonian. She will always have a love for the arts.
Because she has been an advocate in multiple capacities, AJ knows how important it is to understand a case from every angle so she can present it in the most compelling way.
Max Gordinier
Senior Manager-OASyS
Withum
Max Gordinier
Professional Experience
▪ Over 10 years of professional experience in public accounting, including four years in
auditing and six years in advisory/consulting.
▪ Expertise in helping clients run their businesses more effectively, in either a fractional
capacity or complementary to leadership, through technical accounting guidance,
managing existing people and processes, and helping them prepare for third-party
engagements such as audits, transaction diligence and other compliance matters.
▪ Mainly served in fractional CFO and Controller roles.
Credentials/Education
▪ Master of Accountancy, Baylor University
▪ BS, Accounting, Baylor University
Memberships
▪ Association of Builders and Contractors
▪ Secured Finance Network
▪ Turnaround Management Association
Todd Gregory
Regional Director
Americas, Fifth Ring
Todd Gregory
Todd Gregory, Regional Director – Americas, Fifth Ring
Like a great craft beer, Todd has the right ingredients, the right timing, and the local influences needed to be exceptional. With more than 30 years of fermentation in Texas and along the California coast. His intrinsic understanding of client’s needs and ability to translate them into superior marketing, advertising, and communications strategies is the cornerstone of my success. He has assisted Fortune 500 companies in many industries to achieve their sales and marketing goals. He currently serves as Fifth Rings Regional Director, Americas. He will guide the continued growth and success of the team. Develop nationwide and global opportunities across multiple segments. He is passionate about bringing change to organizations by providing insights and big ideas that propel them. Todd also finds time to mentor others and gives back. Todd serves on the board of directors for the American Marketing Association as the Vice President of Community Impact and board of directors for Junior Achievement South East Texas.
Ignacio "Iggy" Perez
Business Advisor
G&A Partners
Ignacio "Iggy" Perez
Ignacio “Iggy” Perez is a Business Advisor for G&A Partners, a local human resource outsourcing firm. During his tenure at G&A he has worked with small to medium size businesses from various industries. He is passionate about providing excellent service and being a resource to business leader by helping them navigate the world of HR and benefits. When Iggy is not busy serving clients, he enjoys spending time with his four main girls, his wife and three daughters.
ENTREPRENEUR PANEL-CEO Roundtable
Heather Orrico | Moderator
Vice President
Comcast Business
Heather Orrico
Heather Orrico, Regional Vice President, Comcast Business Texas.
In her current role, Heather is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive revenue growth, customer retention, and customer experience excellence for Comcast Business.
Heather brings a wealth of knowledge to the industry. She began her career in engineering designing networks and has spent over 20 years on the service provider side of the industry working for competitive and incumbent carriers as well as Multiple System Operators. She is proud to call Comcast her home for the last 12 years.
Under Heather’s leadership she has created a career progression program that develops team members through a focus on leader competencies. Heather also developed a podcast called Unscripted Leadership, where industry leaders discuss how they are leveraging future-forward technology to drive business growth. She has earned Presidents Club awards, being recognized for unprecedented results and year over year growth in both sales and revenue attainment. And in 2023, she was deemed Leader of the Year for her impact to the organization beyond sales and revenue results.
She is a part of the Executive Women’s Partnership through Greater Houston Partnership, is the Executive Sponsor for Women’s Network ERG in Texas, and is the Executive Lead for multiple cross functional workstreams inside of Comcast.
Her passion is empowering people and bringing teams and individuals together cross-functionally to overdrive results and to increase internal and external customer satisfaction through mindshare and thought diversity.
Heather holds a Master of Finance from Auburn University and has a Computer Science undergrad from Troy University. In her free time, traveling and experiencing new cultures is top of the list.
Eric Calderon
President and CEO
L-K Industries
Eric Calderon
Eric Calderon
TXE Partners
Founder and CEO
Eric R. Calderon founded TXE in 2013 and currently leads the firm’s daily operations. Previously, Mr. Calderon worked as the Vice President of Western Energy and Support Technology (WEST), which acquired his initial search fund company, LK Industries, in 2018. Mr. Calderon started his career as a petroleum engineer in the Permian Basin and, in 2012, had the privilege of working for House Speaker John Boehner on energy policy and legislation. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Eric serves on the Board of Directors for Integrity Bank and currently serves as Chairman of the Harvard Business School Club of Houston. To further his passion for education, Mr. Calderon is active on the Interview Board for Harvard Business School and previously served as Chairman of YES Prep Public Schools.
Rick Figueroa
CEO
Patron Partners
Rick Figueroa
Rick is a respected community leader involved in several organizations, including serving as chairman of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a board member of Memorial Hermann Health System, and a Kingdom Advisors Champion. He holds a B.B.A. in Accounting and a Master’s in Agriculture, Land Economics & Real Estate from Texas A&M University. In 2020, Rick co-founded Patron Partners to bring conservative values-based investing into client portfolios. He believes in engaging with corporate America rather than divesting from companies led by misaligned boards. Patron Partners’ clients have shareholder proposals filed with companies including Starbucks, BlackRock, Disney, Caterpillar, Pfizer, American Express, AbbVie, Coca-Cola, Walmart, and Morgan Stanley for 2025 annual meetings. Raised in public housing in Bay City, Texas by a single mother, Rick is the youngest of eight children. He is passionate about mentoring others, inspired by those who once invested in him. He frequently speaks to college students and enjoys building relationships with future leaders. Rick and his wife live in Brenham, Texas, and have four children. He finds peace working cattle on his ranch and entertaining family and friends.
Tona Trondsen
Founder and CEO
Workplace Safety Screenings
Tona Trondsen
Tona Trondsen is the founder and CEO of Workplace Safety Screenings, a nationwide provider of Occupational Health and Drug Testing services. Ms. Trondsen got her BA in business management from Le Tourneau University, a Master’s in intercultural studies from Southeastern College. She is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and is a certified professional collector trainer (CPCT).
Tona's journey to success is an interesting one that proves the path to success is rarely a straight one. Born in Norway to a Merchant Marine Ship Captain and raised in Houston, she learned at an early age the importance of accessing and adapting to new situations. She began her career as an Administrative Director, first for an international school in Korea, then for a maritime telecommunications company before joining a franchise offering mobile drug testing. Constrained by the franchise from making improvements to her services, she decided to take the leap and in 2017, launched her own company, Workplace Safety Screenings (WSS).
As an independent company, WSS was able to quickly grow offering nationwide 24/7 On-site Drug Testing & Injury Triage, Background screening, an array of Occupational Health services, and more. With its catalog of services, WSS now partners with businesses to keep their employees and jobsites safe and their organizations compliant with industry regulations. The Houston Business Journal recognized Workplace Safety Screenings on their 2021 and 2022 "Fast 100" list of Houston's fastest-growing companies.
When the COVID-19 pandemic jeopardized the global supply chain, Ms. Trondsen and her WSS team were one of the first to join the International Seafarer Vaccination Program, eventually vaccinating over 34,000 seafarers. This has allowed WSS's Port Health division to provide medical care to innumerous seafarers after the pandemic. In recognition of her support of Houston's maritime industry, the Houston International Seafarer Center named her the 2023 recipient of the Bronze Anchor Award.
Tona believes strongly in giving back to her community. She participates in youth mentorship programs, supports local community & industry non-profits, and encourages her WSS team members to continue their education, giving them flexible schedules and financial support. Tona and her husband, Victor Kukulinski, are tireless patrons of Sky High for Kids, a children's cancer charity that supports research, the warriors, and their families.
Presenting Sponsor
CEO Roundtable Panel Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
Exhibitors
Frost Bank
Comcast
Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity for Harris County
Federal Reserve Bank
Harris County Transit
HCC Procurement
HISD
Navarro Insurance Group
Valero
Workplace Safety Screenings/Port Health
Port Houston