Board of Directors

Desrye is the Vice chair for Houston First Corporation.  As a member of Houston First board of directors, Desrye also chairs the theater and operations committee, a member of the joint entrepreneur committee and previously served on the finance and operations committee.   As a board member for over 8 years she has been integral in the development of the Theater District master plan, Miller Outdoor Theater master plan, the recently unveiling of the Jones Plaza re-design, Super Bowl 51 and Harvey recovery, among other initiatives.  Her strong leadership has been integral with Comicpalooza, LAUNCH boutique for emerging designers, and the activation of Avenida Houston.

Desrye is a managing director with the Southwest Public Finance group of Wells Fargo Securities.  She is an accomplished lawyer and investment banker with over 18  years of experience, advising and structuring over $9 billion of municipal financings for housing, transportation, airport, water and sewer systems and other public benefit projects.  Desrye has served as the lead banker on bond financings for the City of Houston, Harris County, Harris County Metro, City of Dallas, New Orleans Rapid Transit Authority and Texas Water Development Board, among others.  At Wells Fargo, Desrye also serves on the Houston Leadership Reputational Council and the Diversity and Inclusion Council. As a lawyer, her area of practice consisted of public finance, corporate and business transactions with concentration on business acquisition and regulatory compliance.

A native of New Orleans, Desrye moved to Houston to attend the University of Houston where she earned a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Political Science.  She went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law.  In addition to the Houston First Board, Desrye currently serves on the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston and the South Texas College of Law Alumni Boards.  She has previously served as a board member of the Super Bowl 51 Host Committee, Houston Are Urban League, Project Row Houses and the Contemporary Arts Museum. She is a member of National Association of Securities Professionals, Lupus Research Alliance, a 2010 graduate of Center of Houston’s Future, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and the Missouri City, Texas Chapter of the Links. 

A native of Argentina, Sofia Adrogué is a senior trial partner with Diamond McCarthy LLP, a 10-year Texas Super Lawyer & Latino Leaders “25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyers” & “Most Powerful Women in Law.” Having served on over 15 boards, she is currently a Member of the Houston First Board of Directors as well as the City of Houston Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board and Chair of the Boards & Commissions Appointments Subcommittee. She is also a member of the NYSE Board Advisory Council. She serves as the Editor of the TEXAS BUSINESS LITIGATION treatise (5th Edition) & has published and/or spoken on over 250 occasions. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Program, an alumna of HBS (U.S. Keynote Graduation Speaker for HBS OPM 37, ostensibly the first woman, & U.S. Class Representative), and a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, & Rice University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, both on full academic scholarships. She has received over 40 awards, including a 2023 UHLC Hispanic Wall of Honor Accolade; a 2022 Top 30 Women in Houston Award; 2021 World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Global Leader of Influence; 2020 Comcast Hispanic Heroes Award; a Greater Houston Women's Chamber “Hall of Fame” Inductee; a HOUSTON CHRONICLE Channel 11 “Texas Legend” & 10 “Extraordinary Latinos” (Inaugural List) ; National Diversity Council “Most Powerful and Influential Woman of Texas” & one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers”; a UH Law Center Immigration Clinic Arrival Award & a Houston Jaycees “Outstanding Houstonian”; a Texas Jaycees “Outstanding Texan”; and a U.S. Jaycees “Outstanding Young American”; among other recognitions. She serves as the Co-Host & Co-Producer of LATINA VOICES—SMART TALK. Sofia has been recognized for her public service by the City of Houston with a proclamation of July 10, 2004 & December 18, 2018, as “Sofia Adrogué Day.”

An innovative and tenacious advocate in and out of the courtroom, seasoned litigator and leader of 30 years, Sofia represents clients in diverse industries, ranging from entrepreneurs to multinational conglomerates with worldwide business holdings, including energy, healthcare, real estate, hotels, and cosmetic manufacturing. A native of Argentina, having handled matters arising in Texas, as well as in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, among other venues, she has obtained favorable judgments and settlements on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in U.S. state and federal courts and in alternative dispute resolution (ADR—mediation & arbitration) proceedings. Her fluency in Spanish adds international flexibility to her cross-border, transnational disputes, and her cases have spanned the country and the globe, with an emphasis on Latin and Central America. As a partner in the national boutique of Diamond McCarthy LLP, with offices in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, she serves as an advocate and a facilitator, navigating and resolving a litany of issues, with deep industry knowledge, from the simplest to the most complex. A well-known thought leader and pragmatist, with her confident leadership and consistent persistence invaluable in turbulent times, she serves as outside general counsel for select clients, advising on best strategies and actionable resolutions for business success.

Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock is director of local relations for CenterPoint Energy. Her story starts in Monterrey, Mexico where she was born, however. she was raised in Texas and considers herself a proud Houstonian. 

Her career in government has taken her from congressional intern to legislative aide in Houston and Austin, then on to becoming district director for the Dean of the Texas Senate. Ms. Gonzalez Brock is recognized for her ability to develop strategic solutions to achieve public policy goals. She has successfully coordinated legislative agendas, community activites and campaign strategies. 

Ms. Gonzalez Brock is a dedicated community leader serving on the boards of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Greater Houston Area Women’s Chamber, Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement. 

She is married to Andy Brock and they have two boys, John and Owen.

Alex Brennan-Martin’s entire professional career has been spent in and around the kitchen. In fact, he and his family are members of the Culinary Institute of America’s Hall of Fame.

Mr. Brennan-Martin has been president of the acclaimed restaurant Brennan’s of Houston for more than two decades, earning numerous accolades in the process. He grew up in the revered New Orleans establishment Commander’s Palace, which was owned and run by his mother, Ella Brennan, and where he interacted with such celebrated chefs as Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse.

Mr. Brennan-Martin attended Louisiana State University before graduating with honors from the La Varrene culinary school in Paris.

Executive Chef Reginald L. Martin Jr., CEC, CCE is a 1990 Graduate of Texas A&M University. He trained as a classical chef of French cuisine at the Culinary Institute Lenotre in Houston, TX. Chef Martin uses his culinary skills to delight the palates of his clients with a wide array of American, Southwestern, and Regional Creole Cuisine. Chef Martin earned his credentials from the American Culinary Federation as a Certified Executive Chef and Culinary Educator. In 2016 he completed his MBA, focused in Management and Strategy at Western Governor’s University.

Chef Martin has been featured at the Grand Wine and Food Festival, on ABC’s Crossroads and the Houston Chronicle. This Houston native has hosted his own cooking series on the Houston Media Source public access channel. He is a Past-President of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association, sits on the boards of the Texas Restaurant Association, and Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, currently serving as Treasurer.

Chef Martin is the Executive Chef and owner of Lemond Kitchen. The company has over 20 years of experience in catering and event management in the Greater Houston area. The company is known for serving corporate clients, socialites, American and foreign dignitaries. Chef Martin also has almost a decade of teaching and career training experience with HISD and Houston Community College.

Chef Martin works alongside his wife and business partner, Merinda Watkins-Martin, President of Lemond Kitchen; together they have two adorable children Elizabeth and Christopher.

Nicki Keenan is a recognized and respected leader in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Ms. Keenan who is senior vice president of sales for Landry’s, Inc. has built a reputation as a top performing sales and marketing professional. Her impressive skills include identifying and capturing market opportunities, revenue management, strategic planning, and improving profit contributions.

She has provided strategic direction for the Landry's Inc. Hospitality Division which includes: The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center, Galveston Island Hilton, Holiday Inn Resort on the Beach, The Westin Houston Downtown, The Post Oak at Uptown Houston, Golden Nugget Las Vegas, Golden Nugget Laughlin, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Biloxi, and Golden Nugget Lake Charles. In addition, Ms. Keenan delivers valuable sales leadership for Landry's Inc. group sales/private dining services, which includes such highly acclaimed concepts as Morton's Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick's, Mastro's, Bubba Gump, Oceanaire, Rainforest Cafe and Landry's Seafood House.

Prior to joining Landry’s, Ms. Keenan was director of sales and marketing at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center. She is a former board member of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau serving from 2005 until 2017. In 2014, she was named one of the Top 25 Business Women in Houston by the National Diversity Council. She is an active member of the Executive Women Partnership of the Greater Houston Partnership and serves on the Executive Leadership team of the American Heart Paul Bear Bryant committee.

Ryan Martin leads governance and strategy across LDR Growth Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm, and revenue strategy, transactional & governance design, and brand cultivation across LDR’s portfolio.

Prior to LDR, Ryan practiced as an attorney with Vinson & Elkins LLP, where he specialized in representing publicly traded companies and private equity firms in their negotiation and execution of M&A and other corporate transactions and ongoing related governance work; and representing public companies in takeover defense campaigns and negotiations in the context of hedge fund shareholder activism. He also has extensive experience founding, operating, and advising small businesses prior to his legal career.

Ryan serves as Vice Chairman of Legacy Community Health, a nationally leading federally qualified health clinic operation and largest in the State of Texas, and as a board director for Houston First Corporation, where he chairs the Board’s long-range strategy development and governance. Ryan is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Surgical Innovation Task Force at United Methodist Hospital, the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations, and the board of directors for Houston Botanic Garden, where he chairs long-range planning. He is also a co-founder of Evolve Houston, a regional climate-focused public-private partnership, and is an interviewer for Harvard University.

Ryan is a graduate of Harvard Law School, Louisiana State University Honors College and the Beijing Language and Culture University. Ryan is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and a licensed attorney in the State of Texas. His passions include family, community impact, and travel.

Paul J. Puente is the executive secretary and a delegate of the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council representing construction local unions.

He began his career in the electrical industry in 1990 in chemical refineries along the Gulf Coast. He earned a degree in electrical technology from  San  Jacinto  Junior College.

Mr. Puente is also a delegate for the Harris County AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and the Houston Construction Industry Council and a member of the Houston Business Roundtable, the Greater Houston Partnership  and numerous other business organizations.

He has also served on committees for Pasadena Independent School District, San Jacinto Community College and was co-chair of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s executive transition team.

Being at the far end of a linen chute may not be everyone’s dream gig, but it sure worked for Tom Segesta, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Houston. “It was a great place to get to know the employees – all sorts of characters from all over the world,” he says of his first hotel job. “They’d tell me their stories, their dreams. I realized the beauty of hotels is they give people the opportunity to accomplish things they never thought possible.”

Duly hooked, Segesta headed to hotel studies at Michigan State University and then on to luxury properties across North America. His first Four Seasons job was Director of Housekeeping in Seattle; his latest is overseeing approximately 500 staffers with a decidedly supportive eye. Guests get the same treatment, of course. “Just because someone stays at Four Seasons doesn’t mean they don’t have worries,” he says. “Knowing they’ll see a smiling face at their door if they need something at 2:45 am takes a lot of the stress out of travel.”

A 28-year hospitality industry veteran, Segesta recently spent four years in Chicago, during which time he oversaw the opening of The Dec Rooftop Lounge & Bar, the city’s hottest nightspot. Under his leadership, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (formerly a Four Seasons property) continued to be recognized among the country’s premiere hotels. Segesta was the force behind revered programs including sunrise yoga high atop the Hotel’s 75th floor and a one-on-one basketball experience with former Chicago Bulls player Toni Kukoc, which included the construction of a half basketball court in the Hotel’s mechanical room for guests and NBA teams to use. Segesta’s emphasis on innovation transferred to the banquet program too, whose creative cuisine and concepts such as rolling carts earned a reputation as Chicago’s best of the best.

Prior to Chicago, Segesta spent time at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, where he directed the renovation of the spa and launched TRIO, the city’s hottest restaurant debut in recent years. Together with the restaurant’s designers, Segesta created an inviting space and a menu focused on delicious but simple food, with a twist. Says Segesta: “TRIO was a hit from the very first night.”

Outside of the Hotel, Segesta enjoys spending time with his wife of 30 years, Robin, and their two sons, Hunter, who works for the Houston Rockets, and Barrett, who just graduated from TCU in Fort Worth Texas. An avid runner and golfer, Segesta also prioritizes community involvement, serving on several boards and acting as an executive committee member for the Illinois Hotel & Lodging and the Magnificent Mile Associations, among others. In addition, Segesta is a founding member of Camp Kids are Kids Chicago (CKAKC), the first urban oncology camp for children ages 8-16.

Segesta’s other great passion is sports – from cheering on his Michigan State Spartans and the Texas Longhorns (hook’ em Horns!) to attending Houston Rockets and Astros games. Segesta enjoys being a spectator and draws inspiration from athletics that he brings to work each day. And with Houston being one of the nation’s major sports cities, he’ll surely find a lot of inspiration from game days indeed.

Happy to be back in the Lone Star State once more, Segesta uses his trademark mix of support, encouragement and ingenuity to build upon the culture of exceptional service that defines Four Seasons Hotel Houston.

Bobby Singh is a founding principal of Isani Consultants, a Houston-based firm that provides civil engineering design, construction management and inspection services for public- and private-sector projects.

Mr. Singh has served as a liaison between the Sikh and other Indian/Asian communities. He has worked with the Houston Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in outreach programs and was regional director of the Sikh American Legal Defense Fund. He is a founding board member of Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, a non-profit that provides non-governmental funding to Houston fire fighters.

Mr. Singh served on Mayor Sylvester Turner’s executive transition team and on Mayor Lee P. Brown’s advisory board for international affairs and development (1998-2004).

For over 30 years, Gerald Womack, President and Chief Executive Officer of Womack Development & Investment has served the Houston and surrounding communities through its full-service commercial and residential brokerage firm. The office located at 4212 Almeda Road, is in the heart of the redeveloped business district in the historic "Third Ward."  Mr. Womack, a native Houstonian who attended Texas Southern University, was one of the first investors in the legendary neighborhood.

He has an extensive record of community service and recognition for his commitment to Houston. Mr. Womack has served as the immediate past president of the Houston Black Real Estate Association; Harris County Housing Authority, board member; Mental Health and Mental Retardation, board member; Houston Association of Realtors, member; 2014 D-MARS Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs, honoree; 2013 Texas Southern University Legends & Leaders Business Trendsetter, honoree; and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., to name a few.

Mr. Womack has consistently worked with inner-city neighborhoods to improve the “quality of life” for its residents by focusing on community development, revitalization, and economic development.