Board unanimously votes to promote from within the organization
Houston (Aug. 29, 2018) – Genesys Works Houston has announced that after a career spanning 40 years, the last five as their Executive Director, Marian Davenport will be retiring at the end of 2018. The Genesys Works Houston Board of Directors has unanimously decided to promote from within, electing Katherine Taylor, current Genesys Works Houston Senior Program Director, to become the new Houston Executive Director.
“I will deeply miss contributing to Genesys Works Houston’s mission on a day-to-day basis but look forward to focusing more on my family and other nonprofit and for-profit work,” said Marian Davenport, Genesys Works Houston Executive Director. “I will proudly continue to serve on the Houston Board of Directors and will always remain a strong supporter of Genesys Work. I am confident in Genesys Works Houston’s direction, strong leadership team, growth potential, and bright future ahead.”
Since joining Genesys Works in 2013, Ms. Davenport has built a stronger organization that’s well-positioned to accelerate program growth and serve more students. Her positive impact includes holding the single most profitable campaign in Genesys Works history with the organization’s 15th anniversary campaign last year. During Ms. Davenport’s tenure, 1,384 students from 33 underserved public high schools in five Houston-area districts have been trained in technical and professional skills, resulting in the placement of 1,050 of these students in meaningful internships at more than 60 major companies, including AIG, CenterPoint Energy, Texas Children’s Hospital, Kinder Morgan, Halliburton, and Service Corporation International.
The Houston Board of Directors is confident in its internal choice for the new Executive Director thanks to Ms. Taylor’s four years’ experience as Senior Program Director, strong leadership background, and intimate knowledge of Genesys Works’s five-year strategic growth plan. Ms. Taylor will assume the role of Executive Director Sept. 1, 2018, with Ms. Davenport remaining in a supporting leadership position until the end of the year.
“Katherine is the first internal promotion to an Executive Director in the history of Genesys Works. The Board’s vote of confidence in Katherine speaks volumes about the strength of our leadership team and staff. We look forward to continuing our positive momentum with Katherine at the helm.” said Myrtle Jones, Genesys Works Houston Board Chair, Senior Vice President of Tax, Halliburton.
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About Genesys Works
Genesys Works is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Genesys Works was founded in Houston in 2002 and has expanded to the Twin Cities, Bay Area, Chicago and the National Capital Region.
