Mayor John Whitmire and the City Council welcome new members to join the Board of Directors charged with enhancing the city's reputation as a world-class destination for tourism and conventions. In a move mirroring the city's proud diversity, the board will now boast a majority of women and include the first member of Chinese descent, marking a momentous shift in the leadership landscape of the Bayou City.

As reported by a recent press release, the recent nominations come with vast territories of expertise and a shared dedication to manifest Houston's ambitions on the global stage, since 2011 Houston First has built a name for itself in fostering the city's international connections and drawing big-time events and buzz to H-Town.

Among the new appointees confirmed for terms ending December 31, 2026, are Wea H. Lee, Chairman of Southern News Group, who brings his media prowess across print and digital platforms to the table, and Nicki Keenan, with her sharp acumen in strategic sales at the helm of Landry's Inc.'s hospitality division. Shareen Larmond, who directs the show at the West Gulf Maritime Association, carries the flag for the city's maritime interests, while Roxann Neumann from Silver Eagle Beverages, one of the largest Anheuser-Busch distributers, adds her corporate savvy to the mix.

The mayor's confidence in the appointees was palpable during the Council meeting, "Each of the new appointees has a long history of community involvement and philanthropic initiatives and wants the best for the City of Houston. I am certain they will do an excellent job working with the rest of the Houston First board and leadership. I thank each of them for their public service and leadership. Houston First is one of our economic engines, and because of the organization, Houston attracts hundreds of meetings, conventions, visitors, and events to the City each year," Mayor Whitmire was quoted as saying in the same press release.