Chamber Leadership
Tammi (she|her) is a Co-Founder and the President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for economic inclusion focused on the LGBTQ+ Business Community has been a driving force in the Chamber's growth since the launch of the organization in 2016.
In recognition of the progress made in advancing the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s strategic goals and the need to dedicate resources to achieve the longer-term vision for the organization, the Board of Directors named Tammi to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer to lead, manage, and execute day-to-day operations. This appointment recognized Tammi’s many years of volunteer work with the Chamber behind the scenes at the local, state, and national levels, where she has been dedicated to bringing visibility to the LGBTQ+ Business Community.
Previously, Tammi was the Chief Growth Officer at KIPP Houston Public Schools. Prior to her role at KIPP, Tammi served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to former Texas State Representative Ellen Cohen. She has also served as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Houston Equal Rights Alliance (HERA), a nonprofit focused on voter education, coalition building and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, Tammi has over twelve years of experience in the financial services industry where she worked as Vice President for Bank of America/NationsBank, Project Manager at CheckFree Corporation, and Assistant Vice President at Mellon Mortgage.
Tammi utilizes her cross-sector experience to make a difference through her community involvement with various organizations. Currently, Tammi serves on the board of the Hollyfield Foundation and Montrose Management District as well as on the National LGBT Chamber (NGLCC) Affiliate Chamber Leadership Council representing the Southern region. In 2016, she was appointed by Mayor Sylvester Turner to serve on the City of Houston’s first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and in 2021 to serve on the inaugural Houston Women’s Commission.
In 2022, she was appointed by Harris County Commissioner’s Court to serve on the inaugural Harris County Women’s Commission. Tammi is a past member of the Victory Fund Campaign Board and she co-chaired the 2015 and 2016 Victory Fund Houston Champagne Brunch resulting in record-breaking fundraising to help elect LGBTQ+ candidates across the country.
Tammi has been a leader in the LGBTQ+ community for over two decades. She has been recognized by the Houston Business Journal as a Diversity in Business Awards Honoree. In 2019, she was recognized by BEQ magazine as a Legacy Leader in the LGBTQ+ community. Tammi has been recognized as OutSmart Magazine’s Gayest & Greatest Award for Female Business Person, Most Prominent Female Activist and Favorite Female Community Hero and she was named Female Grand Marshal of the Houston Pride Parade in 2011 in recognition of her leadership and activism on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.
Jack (he|him) joined the Chamber as the Director of Programming & Events in 2023. He was recognized as the 2021 Chamber Volunteer of the Year and he previously served on the Board of Directors for a number of years, including as Vice Chair, before transitioning to the Chamber Leadership Team.
Jack's unique involvement in the LGBTQ+ community and experience include his role with OutSmart Magazine, Houston's LGBTQ voice. He has been on staff for 17 years and is the sales and marketing manager. Jack spent the first 25 years of his professional career in sports marketing. He also works as the Vice President of Investor Relations for Hawthorne Capital, an LGBTQ+-owned business.
He came to Houston in 1987 to be the Executive Director of the Greater Houston Sports Foundation and was involved in Houston’s bids for the Super Bowl, World Cup, and numerous national championships.
Jack is the current president of EPAH, the Executive and Professional Association of Houston. He was president of Bunnies on the Bayou for four years and has served on the boards of the Bayou City Performing Arts (Gay Men’s Chorus), OutReach United and the Lesbian Health Initiative.
He is a Syracuse University graduate and is the extremely proud father of two Aggie sons.
Check out our Volunteer of the Year Spotlight with Jack on the Chamber Blog at https://business.houstonlgbtchamber.com/blog/Details/jack-berger-2021-volunteer-of-the-year-99487
Celinda (she | her) is an innovative program management and communications professional with years of experience creating and managing successful mission-driven campaigns from the ground up. She has nearly 25 years of experience in political and communication consulting at the national, state, and local level, and she has worked for national media outlets, the Texas Legislature, the Texas Courts, and a broad array of political organizations and public interest groups.
Celinda’s national media experience includes positions at CNN and Cox Broadcasting. Her political consulting and staff experience includes direction of regional and statewide campaign programs for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and management of successful political campaigns for two Texas state representatives. In addition, she served as chief of staff in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.
In 2009, Celinda founded Net Victories, which was the first Texas consulting firm to specialize in politics and online media. She has developed outreach strategies and managed successful communication campaigns for a variety of clients who include businesses, professional trade associations, non-profits, governmental entities, and elected officials.
Celinda holds a B.A. from Auburn University and a masters degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in Washington, D.C.
T. Ray Purser (he/him) was actively involved in the cable TV and broadband industry for over 33 years, having held a number of senior level positions in advertising sales, public relations, government relations and community affairs. Purser retired as vice president, External Affairs from Comcast NBC Universal on April 30, 2021. He formed Purser Public Affairs in 2022 to help provide strategic counsel, policy expertise and advocacy to businesses and organizations.
Purser is actively involved in the Houston community and currently serves on the Boards of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Legacy Community Health. Purser also volunteers his time as a court appointed child advocate with Child Advocates Incorporated. He has held Chairmanship positions with Legacy Community Health Services and the Texas Cable Association. He is a graduate of Leadership Houston Class XXVIII.
In recognition for his work in the Community, Purser was awarded the Excellence in Diversity Award by the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and was selected as an Honoree for the Ivy Education and Charitable Foundation. Comcast’s West Division awarded Purser the Circle of Success Excellence in Inclusion Leadership Award in 2014 for the launch of the region’s Out at Comcast employee resource group. He has been a recipient of seven Cable Television Public Affairs Association Beacon Awards for outstanding work in Public Affairs.
Upon his retirement, and for his years of service to Comcast and the Houston Community, he was honored to receive a proclamation from City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner naming April 30, 2021, as Ray Purser Day in Houston.
Ryan Wilson began his LGBTQ+ advocacy as Co-President of Clemson University’s Gay-Straight Alliance and as Safe Zone Coordinator for the University of South Carolina. He served as president of the board of both the South Carolina Pride Movement and the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center. Ryan went on to become Executive Director of South Carolina Equality, fighting for marriage equality nationally as well as non-discrimination protections and hate crime laws at the state level. He later joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), working in the field for almost a decade advocating for LGBTQ+ people at the local, state, and Federal level. During his time as associate regional campaign director at HRC, Ryan focused on Southern states, including a stint as a member of the team fighting for HERO – the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Ryan C. Wilson began his LGBTQ+ advocacy as Co-President of Clemson University’s Gay-Straight Alliance and as Safe Zone Coordinator for the University of South Carolina. He served as president of the board of both the South Carolina Pride Movement and the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center. Ryan went on to become Executive Director of South Carolina Equality, fighting for marriage equality nationally as well as non-discrimination protections and hate crime laws at the state level. He later joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), working in the field for almost a decade advocating for LGBTQ+ people at the local, state, and Federal level. During his time as associate regional campaign director at HRC, Ryan focused on Southern states, including a stint as a member of the team fighting for HERO – the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Executive Administration Team
Maureen Maiuri (she/her)
Kristi Marchand (she/her)