Three local corporate leaders join Houston chapter of National Non-Profit Organization

Houston (May 31, 2018) – Genesys Works Houston welcomes three corporate leaders to its Board of Directors. The addition of these new members comes at a pivotal time with the recent launch of the organization’s five-year strategic growth plan, which will triple the number of students served annually.

Mary Beth Gracy (elected Feb. 8) is Managing Director at Accenture and leads the Oilfield Equipment & Services practice globally. In this role, she focuses on bringing innovation to clients and shaping long-term strategies. Accenture has generously given more than $264,000 toward the Genesys Works mission and mentored 46 interns since 2011.

Elizabeth Sweigart (Liz) (elected Feb. 8) is a partner with PwC’s transfer pricing practice based in the Houston office. She has sixteen years of experience in tax, transfer pricing, finance operations and reporting, and project management. She serves clients across various sectors including energy, industrial products, chemicals, and aerospace. PwC has been a corporate donor since 2014, giving more than $210,000 to Genesys Works Bay Area. Liz was first introduced to Genesys Works at Mock Interviews 2017, where she and dozens of other Houston-area PwC employees volunteered their time to help Genesys Works interns improve their interview skills.

Shawn Duffy (elected May 3) serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for VALIC Financial Advisors. In this role, he is responsible for the VALIC Career Distribution organization, comprising an employee sales force of more than 1,300 financial advisors, as well as the Retirement Education Center. While Shawn is the newest member of the Houston Board of Directors, AIG has been a longtime supporter of the Genesys Works program as both a corporate donor and corporate partner, giving over $50,000 and hosting 57 interns since 2012.

“The energy and expertise that Mary Beth, Liz and Shawn will bring to the Houston Board of Directors is invaluable,” said Marian Davenport, Executive Director of Genesys Works Houston. “We are fortunate to have such strong board leadership for our organization.”

The election of these three new members increases the size of the Genesys Works Houston Board of Directors to 15, representing the accounting, banking, energy, engineering and healthcare industries.

“We are thrilled to welcome these three new board members,” said Myrtle Jones, Genesys Works Houston, Board Chair. “Working together with passionate individuals from diverse professional backgrounds allows us to connect more students to meaningful work opportunities to make a greater impact in Houston.”

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About Genesys Works

Genesys Works is a nonprofit social enterprise 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. The Genesys Works program consists of eight weeks of technical and professional skills training, a paid year-long corporate internship, college and career coaching, and alumni support to and through college. Genesys Works has trained over 2,500 underserved students, with 1,800 students being placed into internships at leading corporations. To learn more, visit genesysworks.org/Houston.

2018 Genesys Works Houston Board of Directors

Myrtle Jones – Senior VP Tax, Halliburton (Chair)

Linda Castaneda – Advisory Leader Oil & Gas Sector, EY

Marian Davenport – Executive Director, Genesys Works Houston

Myra Davis – Senior VP/CIO, Texas Children’s Hospital

Shawn Duffy – President and Chief Executive Officer, VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.

Mary Beth Gracy – Managing Director, Accenture

Robert Flexon – Former President and CEO, Dynegy Inc.

Matt Heath – Chief Operating Officer, Genesys Works

Richard Husseini – Department Chair – Tax, Baker Botts LLP

Gene Janiszewski – CEO, Paradigm Group

Evan Kirchen – VP of E&C Atlantic-Gulf, Williams Companies

Jerry Lasco – Founder, President and CEO, Lasco Enterprises, LLC

Raymond F. Messer, P.E., DBIA – Chairman Emeritus, Walter P Moore

Scott Silvas – Executive Director – Market Executive, JP Morgan Chase

Elizabeth (Liz) Sweigart – Partner, PwC