Our Team
Tammi (she|her) is a Co-Founder and the President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for economic inclusion for the LGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ 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 as well as on the National LGBTQ+ & Allied 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.
Ryan C. Wilson began his 20-year LGBTQ+ nonprofit career 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, advancing the cause of marriage equality nationally as well as pushing for 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 working to protect HERO – the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Ryan joined the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber team in December 2023 as Director of Corporate Relations, engaging with the Chamber's large employer members known as Impact Partners. Ryan has a passion for helping advance LGBTQ+ inclusion work within large employers across the region to help employees feel a better sense of belonging and helping them reach their full potential so that our community can thrive. Ryan made Houston his home in 2017 where he currently lives with his fiancé Zach.
Maureen Maiuri is the Operations Manager for the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, where she supports organizational operations, membership services, events, partnerships, and strategic initiatives that strengthen and promote LGBTQ+ and allied businesses across the Houston region. She previously served as the Chamber’s Executive Administrator from 2018 to 2025 through her company Manifest Creative and joined the Chamber in 2026 in her current leadership role.
Maureen brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit administration, association management, and organizational operations. From 2012 through 2025, she co-owned Manifest Creative LLC, where she helped lead the firm’s association management services and operations. In that role, she oversaw client operations including board and committee coordination, membership and database management, financial administration, vendor relations, communications, and the planning and execution of conferences, meetings, and events.
Originally from Philadelphia, Maureen has called Houston home since 2005. She began her career as a meteorologist at Weather Research Center and museum coordinator at The John C. Freeman Weather Museum in Houston’s Museum District. She later became Chief Meteorologist and eventually Executive Director of the museum, where she oversaw daily operations, educational programming, events, volunteer management, and community partnerships while also serving as an on-camera spokesperson for the organization.
Outside of work, Maureen enjoys spending time with her son, family and friends, exploring Houston’s parks and trails, visiting national parks, practicing photography, discovering local breweries, and cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Koren Shumate is the Programming & Events Manager at the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the planning and execution of events that bring Houston’s LGBTQ+ business community together. She brings over a decade of experience in event production, venue operations, and community-centered programming, with a passion for creating spaces where people feel connected, seen, and empowered.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Koren served as the Event Production Coordinator at The Salt Shed in Chicago, IL, as well as General Manager of Berlin Nightclub - one of the city’s most historic LGBTQ+ venues. These roles deepened her commitment to building inclusive environments and reinforced her belief in the power of intentional programming to strengthen community and create opportunity.
A recent Houston transplant, Koren is excited to contribute her experience and energy to advancing the Chamber’s mission and supporting the growth of the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.
