OPENING SESSION: AI & BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
What to Embrace, What to Avoid & How to Succeed
Presenter
Frank Danna
CPartner at Softway, Co-Founder Culture+
Frank Danna
Partner at Softway | Co-Founder Culture+ | Bestselling Co-Author of Love As A Business Strategy & Love As A Change Strategy
Frank, the oldest of six children, can often be found perfecting the art of brewing, drinking, and sharing coffee with friends and family. Frank is an entrepreneur at heart, having successfully sold his first startup at twenty-five. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his gorgeous wife Megan, awesome children Emma and Levi, and his massive dog Holly. He has a flair for the unexpected, creative, and ridiculous.
Frank views life with wonder, awe, and gratitude. Frank is a pop culture connoisseur, world traveler, and citizen of Disneyland. In his spare time, he bakes award-winning cookies, makes silly videos, and enjoys fitness (to offset the cookies).
SESSION A: KEYS TO SUCCEED IN OUTSOURCING
Moderator
Jevon Wooden
Business Growth Consultant
BrightMind Consulting Group
Jevon Wooden
Dr. Jevon Wooden, CEO of BrightMind Consulting Group, is a leadership and workplace culture advisor, author, and coach who specializes in the intersection of emotional intelligence and business strategy. A Bronze Star recipient and U.S. Army veteran, Jevon blends resilience with deep empathy to help organizations build cultures where people feel valued and empowered.
His approach is rooted in authenticity and his signature 5Y Framework, designed to help leaders achieve sustainable growth while fostering high-performing, human-centric teams. Jevon’s insights have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company, solidifying his role as a trusted partner for organizations looking to bridge the gap between strategic results and meaningful workplace connection. Whether through advising, coaching, or speaking, Jevon is committed to helping leaders unlock their full potential by leading with heart.
Patricia Boral
Digital Marketing Ninja
Boral Agency
Patricia Boral
Patricia Boral is the CEO and co-founder of Boral Agency, a Houston-based B2B marketing agency specializing in strategic marketing, branding, demand generation, and AI-powered marketing.
She began her entrepreneurial journey at age 13 in Bolivia and went on to co-found Boral Agency in Houston in June 2011. What began as an entrepreneurial venture has grown into a B2B marketing agency serving enterprise and mid-market companies across complex industries.
Today, Patricia is leading Boral Agency into the next era of marketing, combining proven marketing strategy with AI automation to help companies build smarter, more scalable marketing systems and generate measurable growth.
Her leadership has earned recognition including Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Role Model in STEAM. Boral Agency received the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Emerging Hispanic Business of the Year Award, WBENC WBE Star recognition, and has been recognized by the Houston Business Journal as a Top Women-Owned Business, Best Family-Owned Business, and twice as one of the Largest Houston-Area Hispanic-Owned Businesses, in 2023 and 2025.
Beyond marketing, Patricia is a passionate advocate for foster children and is working to launch a nonprofit dedicated to helping foster youth discover their unique “superpowers.”
Roland Robb
Manager
Advisory Services
Withum
Roland Robb, MA
Professional Experience
▪ Over 12 years of public accounting experience, all in accounting assistance and advisory services.
▪ Expert at helping clients manage their businesses more effectively, particularly focusing on all facets of the accounting function, in either a fractional capacity or alongside leadership.
▪ Works with business owners, CFOs and other finance leadership in the Construction, Energy, Industrial Services and Manufacturing industries.
Credentials/Education
▪ Master of Arts, Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Austin
▪ BS, Bioengineering, Rice University
▪ BA, Kinesiology, Rice University
Memberships
▪ American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Ignacio “Iggy” Perez
Director of Sales
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.
Daniel Saenz
CEO
Nieto Technology Partners
Daniel Saenz
Daniel Saenz is a proud native Houstonian who was raised in the city's historic East End. He is devoted to his family and takes great pride in his wife, Liliana, and their three children, Jeremy, Lucia, and Rafael.
Daniel earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown and has built a distinguished 25-year career in the information technology industry. He currently serves as a Senior Partner at Nieto Technology Partners, where he helps organizations leverage technology to achieve their strategic goals.
A dedicated community leader, Daniel is an alumnus of several prestigious leadership programs, including United Way’s Project Blueprint, Leadership ISD, Leadership Houston (Class 39), and the American Leadership Forum (Class 65).
Daniel currently serves as Vice Chair of SERJobs and Education Committee Chair for LULAC Council 60. He previously served as Deputy Director of Young Adults for LULAC District VIII. His board service has included Southwest Public Schools Charter School, Young Learners, and The Collegiate School of Houston.
His passion for community service was inspired by his parents, both of whom dedicated their careers to public service in the City of Houston. His father served as a Houston Police Officer for 25 years, while his mother, Gracie Saenz, served as Houston City Council Member At-Large from 1991 to 1997.
Throughout his career, Daniel has remained committed to advancing educational equity and expanding opportunities for students of all backgrounds. He is dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to a quality education, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or circumstance, while continuing to serve and strengthen the communities he calls home.
SESSION B: SMARTER DECISION MAKING
Unlock Financial Potential with Frost Bank
Moderator
Oscar Martinez
Executive Vice President
Frost Bank
Oscar Martinez
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.
Ryan E. Ferrin
MPAS®, CFP®, AIF®,
Vice President,
Wealth Advisor
Frost Bank
Ryan E. Ferrin
Ryan Ferrin, Vice President, and Wealth Advisor with Frost Wealth Management. Ryan joined Frost in 2024, bringing more than 20 years of experience in investment management and financial planning. He specializes in helping individuals, families, and small businesses develop customized strategies to meet their unique financial goals. Ryan takes a highly personalized approach to advising, working closely with each client to understand their objectives and create thoughtful financial and investment solutions. As a fiduciary, he is committed to putting his clients' best interests first and ensuring they feel informed, confident, and comfortable with their financial plan and investment portfolio. Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in financial planning. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) professional and holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracey, of 22 years, their four children, and growing family, including three grandchildren with another on the way. He is a proud Eagle Scout and enjoys the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing.
Bill Horwitz
Score Mentor
Bill Horwitz
Bill Horwitz is a volunteer mentor at SCORE Houston and has done so since retiring in 2018. Prior to joining SCORE he was an executive for more than 30 years in both the international construction and energy sector businesses with activities both in the US and abroad (South and Central America, Asia, and Europe). He served on the board of more than 20 subsidiary companies, many of which were related to public infrastructure projects - including power plants, pipelines, ports, highways, and airports. His role included the development, delivery and ongoing operational management of these projects. He successfully formed alliances with industrial partners and managed relations with public sector entities, including raising funding from both public and private sources for many projects.
At SCORE Houston he helps clients with business plans, financial reporting and budgeting, development of policy and governance discipline, the negotiation and formation of alliances, as well as partnerships and other ownership agreements. He advises clients on programs available through the SBA including the pursuit of government guaranteed loans for small businesses. He received a BA from Rice University and an MBA from the University of Texas, Austin. And he o hers mentoring services in both English and Spanish.
Sam Razmandi
CPA, Partner
Jeremy S. Sweet, LLC
Sam Razmandi
Sam Razmandi is a Partner at Jeremy S. Sweet CPA, LLC, where he leads the firm’s Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAS) practice. He joined the firm in June 2026, returning to public accounting after more than 4.5 years in leadership roles at a large Houston-based family office. Sam brings more than 15 years of experience in public accounting, financial reporting, accounting operations, and business advisory services, helping privately held businesses and their leadership teams build effective accounting and financial reporting functions.
Prior to joining the family office, Sam spent more than 10 years with PKF Texas, where he ultimately served as a Director in the firm’s Entrepreneurial Advisory Services practice. He specialized in manufacturing, construction, industrial services, and international inbound companies, as well as other privately held and private equity-backed businesses. His work included outsourced CFO and controller services, accounting assistance, financial reporting, financial statement audit readiness, and advisory services.
He also helped clients improve accounting processes, implement accounting and ERP systems, develop financial reporting and KPIs, manage budgets and forecasts, and prepare for financial statement audits.
In November 2021, Sam left PKF Texas to join a large Houston-based family office as Director of Financial Reporting. Over his more than 4.5 years with the organization, he held several leadership roles, including serving as an officer during his final year. He led and supported accounting and financial reporting for a global portfolio spanning multiple industries and international markets, including portfolio companies and operations in South America, Europe, and Canada.
His time at the family office provided Sam with valuable experience from inside the organization he had previously advised from the outside. In addition to leading accounting and financial reporting functions, he gained firsthand perspective on the people, processes, systems, and reporting requirements involved in managing a complex organization. His global experience includes financial reporting across South America, Europe, Canada, and Southeast Asia.
Today, Sam focuses on helping small and midsize businesses that need more than just bookkeeping. Through the CAS practice at Jeremy S. Sweet CPA, LLC, he provides support ranging from day-to-day bookkeeping and monthly closes to outsourced controller and CFO services. Sam works closely with owners and management teams to understand their businesses, explain what their financial information is telling them, and help identify and solve the accounting headaches and financial challenges that can distract owners from running and growing their businesses.
Sam’s approach is highly relationship-driven and practical: understand the business, identify the underlying accounting and reporting issues, improve the processes and information, and give owners the guidance they need to make confident business decisions.
Jose Valdez
Executive Vice President, Corporate Banking
Frost Bank
Jose Valdez
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.
ENTREPRENEUR PANEL - CEO ROUNDTABLE
Moderator
Paula Whitfield
COO
ImagineCRM
Paula Whitfield
Paula Whitfield is Chief Operating Officer at ImagineCRM, a Salesforce and AI solutions firm serving nonprofits and foundations nationwide, where she leads business strategy, operations, and the firm's AI transformation efforts. With more than two decades of operational leadership spanning automotive, healthcare, and philanthropy, including a ten-year tenure at Gulf States Toyota and a major grant systems project at Houston Endowment, Paula brings a practical, execution-focused perspective to conversations with business leaders. She holds a BBA in Finance from Howard University and an MBA from Louisiana State University, and is active in the Houston community through Harvest Point Fellowship Church and Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston. Paula lives in Houston with her husband, Robert, and their two sons, Robby and Myles.
Andrew Kaldis
President & Developer
Kaldis Development Interests, Inc.
Andrew Kaldis
Andrew Kaldis, President & Developer, has been involved in the Houston Real Estate business since 1981 and has family roots in the business that extend back to 1952.
This history has provided him with extensive experience in his field. Mr. Kaldis has participated in the successful renovation of urban shopping centers, office buildings, and apartments throughout the Houston Metropolitan area.
These Projects Include
- Houston Avenue Retail and Workspace
- EADO Workspace
- 2315 Commerce Art Studios
- 2327 Commerce Loft Offices
- RB Everett Historic Loft Offices
- Historic Antone’s Deli
- Art Square Studios on Fannin
- Historic Panama Condominiums
- Historic Imperial Plumbing Building (Hugo’s)
- Historic Alabama Shepherd Shopping Center*
- Historic Commercial National Bank Building*
- Historic Scanlon Building
- River Oaks Welch Building
- Bellfort Retail
- Idlywood Retail
- Terraces
- Driscoll Street Retail
- Hazard Street Retail
- New Hyde Park Studios
- Cherryhurst Center
- Glidden Paint Center
- Shepherd Retail Shops
Stephanie McGraw
Managing Partner, Houston
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
Stephanie McGraw
Stephanie is an experienced litigator with first chair trial and alternative dispute resolution experience, including arbitrations. She develops and implements efficient and effective litigation plans that advance client interests.
Stephanie represents companies in complex litigations and class actions involving consumer fraud, false advertising, breach of warranty, breach of contract, and other torts. She represents clients in product liability, cannabis and business matters in state and federal courts.
Stephanie also advises product manufacturers and distributors on pre- and post-market safety issues, including regulatory compliance and product recall best practices across industries.
Stephanie has represented clients in business litigation involving breach of contract claims and royalty and licensing fee disputes. Her product liability experience includes automobiles, pharmaceuticals and natural supplements, medical devices, personal protective equipment, durable infant goods and various consumer products. Before joining Shook, Stephanie represented the only product manufacturer named in the In re World Trade Center respiratory litigation arising from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
A member of Shook’s search committee, Stephanie has also been recognized for her pro bono work. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys being with her family and serving her community through her work with the William B. Travis Foundation.
Dr. Esmaeil Porsa
President & CEO
Harris Health
Dr. Esmaeil Porsa
Dr. Esmaeil Porsa serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Harris Health, which is a public, integrated health system dedicated to improving the health of our communities by delivering high-quality, person-centered care in collaboration with community and academic partners.
Harris Health is the public healthcare system for the nation’s third most populous county and operates 37 clinical locations including community-based clinics, health centers and two renowned trauma hospitals: Ben Taub Hospital (Level I) and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (Level III). In March 2022, Harris Health began providing correctional healthcare within the Harris County Jail. In all, the system provides high-quality care and treatment for nearly 1.5 million outpatient visits and more than 30,000 hospital cases each year with an operating budget of $2.53 billion.
Under his leadership, Harris Health received the overwhelming support of Harris County residents who approved a $2.5 billion bond package in 2023 to fund the construction of a new Level I trauma-capable hospital on the campus of Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, expand Ben Taub Hospital and build three new health centers and facilitate extensive upgrades and renovation to Harris Health’s outpatient platform.
Prior to his returning to Harris Health in 2020, Dr. Porsa served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Integration Officer at Parkland Health and Hospital System where he had worked since 2007 in different capacities including the Medical Director of the Dallas County Jail Health program, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Professional and Academic Affairs and Interim Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Porsa completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio before earning his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School in San Antonio. He completed his training in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston where he also served as the Chief Medical Resident. Dr. Porsa completed a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health as well as a fellowship program in primary care at the UTHSC-Houston medical school in 2005. Dr. Porsa obtained his MBA degree in Health Care Leadership from University of Texas in Dallas in 2017.
Dr. Porsa has a special interest in improving community health through addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and health care delivery in correctional settings. He currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and is a member of the Certified Correctional Health Care Professional Board of Trustees for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Additionally, Dr. Porsa serves on multiple governance and advisory roles including : current co-chair, Front Line Hospital Alliance in Washington, D.C.; member, America’s Essential Hospitals Policy Committee; president, American Heart Association (Houston, TX Chapter); past chair, Teaching Hospitals of Texas Board of Trustees; member, Texas Hospital Association Executive Committee; Texas Association of Business Houston-Gulf Coast Regional Ambassador Council Public Health Care Regional Policy Advisor; member, Emergency TeleHealth and Navigation (ETHAN) Health Local Government Corporation (LGC) Board; member, Board of Directors, and chair, Health Care Advisory Committee, Greater Houston Partnership; and member, EPIC CEO Council.
An avid soccer fan and former soccer and volleyball coach, Dr. Porsa was especially enthusiastic about Houston having the exciting opportunity to host the FIFA World Cup this year.
Hector Villareal
CEO
The Confident CEO
Hector Villareal
Hector Villarreal is a business leader, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with extensive experience spanning international manufacturing, consumer brands, private equity, technology, and the energy sector.
He serves as CEO of LUCHO Holdings Inc., a privately owned holding company established in 2003 with manufacturing and importing operations across Mexico, Brazil, Italy, and Nicaragua. Under his leadership, the company has overseen the development, production, and international distribution of LUCHO-branded products, including menswear, women’s footwear, and a private-label cigar line.
Hector was also a founding member of Venture Strategies; a boutique private equity firm focused on emerging technologies and innovative projects within the energy sector. His career reflects a passion for identifying opportunities, building businesses, developing strategic partnerships, and bringing innovative ideas from concept to execution.
Beyond business, Hector has dedicated significant time to civic and philanthropic leadership. He has served on the boards and advisory boards of numerous organizations, including the American Cancer Society Gulf Coast Development, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Theatre Under the Stars, the Women’s Fund for Health and Resilience, Hermann Park Conservancy, Virtuosi of Houston, and the University of Houston’s Technology Retailing and Consumer Science program. He also served as Board President of Helping a Hero, an organization dedicated to building adaptive homes for wounded veterans.
Recognized for his contributions to business and the community, Hector was named a World Affairs Council Global Business Influencer. His work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, international business, innovation, and philanthropy has made him a sought-after voice on leadership, business growth, global markets, and community engagement.
Hector brings to every conversation a unique perspective shaped by decades of entrepreneurial experience, international business relationships, and a deep commitment to giving back to the communities he serves.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Harris County Transit
Harris Health
Houston City College
JPMorgan Chase
Port Houston
EXHIBITORS
Frost Bank
Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity
Harris County Transit
Houston Independent School District
METRO
Navarro Insurance Group
Port Houston
San Jacinto College
The Confident CEO