Energy Independence Summit
2025-10-21 00:00 - 2025-10-23 23:59 UTC
Center for Houston’s Future is proud to join as a supporting organization for this inaugural summit that brings together leaders from across energy, finance, and policy to explore the future of American energy independence.
The Energy Independence Summit is a premier forum uniting industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and technology providers to advance strategic energy solutions across America. The Summit will explore real-world strategies, market trends, and policy frameworks shaping the future of American energy. This inaugural event will examine America’s evolving energy landscape and how diverse energy sources must work together to achieve a secure, reliable, and sustainable energy system.
Register here to join this critical conversation about America’s energy future.

2025 Dinner and Conversation
2025-11-13 18:00 - 21:00 UTC
Center for Houston’s Future’s signature fall event, Dinner and Conversation, featured an engaging conversation, “Unleashing the Power of Our Brains,” led by Center President & CEO David Gow with three distinguished speakers: Dr. Jochen Reiser, President of UTMB; Prof. Christopher M. Johns-Krull, Interim Executive Vice President for Research at Rice University; and Dr. Jamie McCarthy, Executive Vice President and Chief Physician at Memorial Hermann Health System.
We were honored to present the Eugene H. Vaughan Civic Leadership Award to George A. DeMontrond, III, a Business/Civic Leadership Forum alumnus (Fall 2003) and former Board Chairman, for his outstanding leadership, service and contributions across our region and his instrumental role in ensuring the success of the Center’s mission.
Clare Sullivan Jackson, Founder and CEO of Sullivan Group, and Raye G. White, Executive Vice President of Fayez Sarofim & Co., co-chaired our annual community engagement and thought leadership event.
The evening also celebrated the Center’s 25th anniversary by recognizing the “Top 25” most impactful alumni of the Business/Civic Leadership Forum’s 1400+ graduates, including Ric Campo, Anne Chao, Y. Ping Sun, and Bobby Tudor.

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Click here for sponsorship information.

Have Questions?
For more information, please contact Mary Doughtie, Director of Development, at 713-844-9362 or mdoughtie@futurehouston.org.

Presenting Sponsor
Raye G. White

Legacy Underwriter
The Marek Family

VIP Reception Sponsor

Valet Sponsor

Parting Sweets Sponsor

Video Sponsor

Hors D’Oeuvres Sponsor

Benefactor
Eddie Allen, Anne Chao & Donna Cole
The Greg & Mari Marchbanks Family Foundation

Patron
Ally
Amegy Bank
The Baldwin Group
Bellows Construction
Beth Wolff Realtors
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
Board of Directors of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
Camden
CenterPoint Energy
Deloitte
Excargo
HCA
Houston First
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Mary Bass
Memorial Hermann Health System
Nabors
Nan & Co. Properties
Patti and Richard Everett
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor
Portfolio Reinsurance Co.
Port Houston
Regina Rogers & Y. Ping Sun
Reliant, an NRG Company
RoadVantage
The Vaughan and Cox Families
UTMB Health
Supporters
Amy and Jonathan Homeyer
Billy Burge
Boston Consulting Group
Bush & Ramirez
Catherine Clark Mosbacher
Carla and Cole Dawson Family
Catholic Charities
Cindy and Ignacio Pujol
Clare and Steve Jackson
Cullen Geiselman
David Baldwin
Debra Dunn
Diane and John Chaney
E3 Electric
Eileen and Richard Rau
Elizabeth and Peter Wareing
French- American Cultural Foundation
Ginger and Bob Smith
Heather and Jeff Firestone
The Hobby Family Foundation
Houston Area Urban League
Hunton Andrew Kurth
Jan Bres
Jeanne-Mey Sun
J. Michael Trevino
Jim Ajello
John L. Nau, III
Karen and Roland Garcia
Kathy and Brent Smolick
Kathy and Dick Vermillion
Kathy and Marty Goossen
Kerri and Downey Bridgwater
KPMG
Linda Ewing
Mark Barineau
Mary and John Eads
Melinda and Jeffrey Hildebrand
McKinsey Health Institute
Paula Sutton and Bill Gross
Sissie and Grady Roberts
St. Arnold Brewing Company
Susie Peake
Suzan Deison
Tellepsen Family Fund
Vicki and Bob Harvey
Willie J. Alexander
Host Committee Chair
Linda Ewing
Host Committee
Carol Sawyer

2026 Annual Meeting
2026-01-29 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Join us at the Center’s 2026 Annual Meeting as CEO David Gow presents the research and conclusions from Vision 2050, shares how Project Metis is taking shape, and unveils our strategic priorities for the year ahead. You’ll hear how we’re leveraging every initiative to drive transformative change across our region—from economic development to civic engagement.
This is your opportunity to see how your partnership is making a tangible impact. Together, we’re not just imagining Houston’s future—we’re actively shaping it through bold collaboration and strategic action.
Thursday, January 29 | 5:30-7:30 PM
Partnership Tower, 701 Avenida de las Americas, Suite 900, Houston, TX 77010
5:30-6:00 PM – Registration & Networking
6:00-7:00 PM – Program
7:00-7:30 PM – Networking Reception
Please register below to attend.

Texas Brain Economy Summit
2026-06-09 10:00 - 2026-06-10 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Texas Medical Center, 1885 Old Spanish Trl, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
The Texas Brain Economy Summit, hosted by the Center for Houston’s Future, convenes leaders from health care, research, business, philanthropy, and public policy to advance the brain economy — the recognition that brain health and brain skills are central to the region’s long-term prosperity.
Held June 9–10, 2026 at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, the two-day summit brings together partners including Rice University, UTMB, Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson, the McKinsey Health Institute, and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for keynotes, panels, and working sessions.
Registration and the full agenda are available on the summit website.

2026 Dinner and Conversation
2026-11-19 18:00 - 21:00 UTC
Join the Center for Houston’s Future for our signature fall event, Dinner and Conversation—an evening of civic leadership, community engagement, and thought-provoking dialogue.
We are proud to present the Eugene H. Vaughan Civic Leadership Award to Donna Cole, a distinguished business leader, civic champion, and Spring 2005 alum of the Center’s Business/Civic Leadership Forum. Named in honor of our founder, this award recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and vision have made a lasting impact on the Houston region.
Donna is the founder of Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc. and has built a nationally recognized company while dedicating decades of service to Houston through board leadership, international engagement, and philanthropy. Her work advancing economic development, strengthening global partnerships, and mentoring future leaders reflects the values at the heart of the Center’s mission.
Our annual Dinner and Conversation convene leaders from across business, government, and the nonprofit sector to engage in meaningful discussion on the issues shaping Houston’s future.
Additional details, including featured speakers, agenda, and ticket information, will be announced soon.

Sponsorship Opportunities?
For more information, please contact:
Miri Wilkins, Senior Director of Development, mwilkins@futurehouston.org
