HISD's Board of Managers names 13 people to bond oversight committee. Here's who made the list.

By Megan Menchaca, Staff writer Oct 11, 2024

Houston ISD’s state-appointed Board of Managers named 13 people and two alternates Friday to the committee that will oversee the district’s $4.4 billion school bond if voters approve the measure next month.

After more than three hours in closed session, the board named a group of people who represent “fields of law, finance, accounting, construction, engineering, government, education, edtech and energy” to the committee. All members are HISD residents, and six of them are past, current or future HISD parents, according to the district.

The Bond Oversight Committee will be responsible for monitoring progress of bond projects, providing regular updates to district leaders, communicating allegations of wrongdoing, potential waste or fraud to the superintendent and other oversight duties related to the bond.

Here’s the list of Houston residents selected to join the committee, listed alphabetically by first name:

Andy Canales

Canales is the principal and operating partner at Broadtree Partners, a private equity firm. He previously led the Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation for Children at Risk, a children’s advocacy group, and worked as the executive director of Latinos for Education Texas, which aims to develop Latino leaders in the state’s education sector.

Andy Chan

Chan is the first Asian American Mayor of Southside Place and a former member of the City of Southside Place City Council. In HISD, he has previously served as a PTO president and a member of more than 15 committees, including the District Advisory Committee, Resource Allocation Advisory Committee and Advanced Academics Committee.

Bob Eury

Eury is the retired president of Central Houston, the Houston Downtown Management District, and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority. He previously served as the vice president and director of research development for Rice Center and a member of the district’s 2012 Bond Oversight Committee.

HISD SCHOOL BOND: Here's everything you need to know about the district's $4.4B proposal

Chris Brown

Brown is an HISD parent and the former Houston City Controller, where he served as the city's chief financial officer for eight years. After championing “efforts to reform Houston’s unfunded pension liability” and “oversight and transparency efforts” as comptroller, he now works as the city’s senior advisor for financial integrity.

Christopher Cola

Cola, the father of two HISD graduates, is a certified public accountant and a former chief financial officer. He has served on the Shared Decision-Making Committees at three HISD campuses and as a board member for Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy and I Have A Dream Houston.

Daria Wenas

Wenas is an HISD parent who has worked as a consultant and manager at Ernst & Young, one of the world’s largest accounting networks, for more than 17 years. She currently works as managing director at EY’s National Tax Department, where she specializes in pass-through transactions.

Felix Chevalier

Chevalier, a Houston attorney who launched the Chevalier Law Firm, has represented several government agencies and corporations. He also leads strategic partnerships with Urban Capital Network, a venture capital firm, and is a senior consultant for Cornerstone Government Affairs, a consulting firm based in D.C.

Jarred Morgan (alternate)

Morgan works as principal consultant at AG Consulting Partners, a management consulting firm specializing in sales, marketing and project leadership. He is affiliated with several community groups, including 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, the Association of Change Management Professionals and the American Leadership Forum

Karen Duffy (alternate)

Duffy is an HISD parent with more 20 years of experience in education, nonprofit and volunteer leadership, including as PTA president at Travis Elementary. She currently serves as a member of HISD’s District Advisory Committee and on the leadership team of Oak Forest Foster Closet, which serves foster, kinship, and adoptive families.

VOTE YES OR NO? Houston coalitions hold dueling press conferences to express support, opposition to bond

Lauren Haller Fontaine

Haller Fontaine, an HISD parent, is the senior director and senior legal counsel at Pattern Energy, where she leads legal operations with a focus on compliance and intellectual property. She is also a member of several boards and community groups, including the Houston Area Urban League and Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy.

Marcos Rosales

Rosales is a trial lawyer and partner at Beck Redden LLP, who has previously served as general counsel of a multi-industry business enterprise and a commercial construction company. Rosales also was one of 28 people selected as members of the Community Advisory Committee for the district’s 2024 bond proposal.

Mark Mallette

Mallette is the former chief operating officer at Freeport LNG, a liquefied natural gas company, where he was “responsible for the successful execution of multibillion-dollar projects.” Along with 41 years of experience in the energy sector, he has served as a member of the University of Houston–Downtown President’s Leadership Council and other community organizations.

Michael Davis

Davis is a licensed real estate broker, business and life coach and the founder and chief executive officer of Brooks & Davis Real Estate Firm. He also is an HISD parent, active community member and a member of the district’s 2012 Bond Oversight Committee.

Taylor Chapman

Chapman is an investment principal at New Climate Ventures, where he leads venture investing efforts in decarbonization technologies. He also is associated with several community organizations, including the Texas Climate Tech Collective, Friends of Woodland Park and the the Teach For America New York City alumni board

Wendell Robbins III

Robbins is the president of W.A. Robbins Construction Co., Inc., a Houston construction company specializing in commercial construction. He has 25 years of experience in the construction industry, including as a former contractor for previous HISD bond construction projects.