New recruits bring wealth of faith, experience to Development Board

HOUSTON — The recent recruits to the Archdiocese’s Development Board represent the various economic drivers of the community and together bring a broad range of skills, expertise and experience to the table.

But perhaps more importantly, they come from all corners of the Archdiocese and bring a deep desire to serve in the best way they can. Amongst them are three women and four men with backgrounds in law, finance, energy, oil and gas, aerospace and business.

Jason Ryan, Karina Hernandez, David Preng, Peter Noto and Christine Reichert joined the 13-member board in June, while Lance Walters and Brenda Bazan started last December. In addition to having a deep well of professional experience, the new members are active volunteers and leaders in their own parishes, which has provided a springboard for service on the board.

Preng, founder of executive search firm Preng & Associates, said as a knight in the Order of Malta, he is compelled to defend the faith and help the sick and the poor. His wife of 55 years is a dame in the same order. A parishioner of St. Laurence Church in Sugar Land, he serves as a Eucharist minister, helps lead a Bible study group and participates in a men’s prayer group.

“I want to help the Cardinal and the board any way I can, think through issues and provide any guidance and insight to help the Archdiocese better serve the community,” Preng said.

Preng, 78, started his professional life in the financial department of Shell Oil and worked for three executive search firms before starting his own company 44 years ago. Having served on numerous public and private boards, Preng believes his professional, board and volunteer experiences will be useful. Having been part of both functional and dysfunctional boards, Ryan hopes to bring the good experiences forward and identify the bad ones before they manifest themselves.

In this new role, Ryan, an executive vice president at CenterPoint Energy, hopes to help grow the reach of the Church in the region and make a difference in the lives of all its members.

“Faith is the purpose that is foundational to my service,” said Ryan, who, along with his wife of 23 years, is a member of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Ryan was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy and served with a reserve unit for 10 years. He has a law degree from the University of Texas and has held leadership positions on the boards of various legal associations.

Hernandez, too, feels a duty to serve others and contribute to the well-being of her community.

“My Catholic faith is my life,” said Hernandez, who chairs Holy Rosary’s Pastoral Council in Midtown.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Hernandez, a manager for Citgo Petroleum Corporation, also held leadership roles at Catholic Charities and Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston.

She has had a leadership role in everything from creating and implementing strategic development programs to managing large-scale projects. She has experience in community engagement and volunteer services and understands the importance of building strong relationships with various stakeholders.

Bazan was president and chief executive officer of Houston First Corporation, the destination management organization for the city of Houston, before retiring four years ago.

“Had my children not attended Catholic schools, I would not be aware of the importance and impact of formation as part of a child’s education,” said Bazan, a convert to Catholicism.

A parishioner of Christ the Good Shepherd in Spring, she recently completed a three-year term on its finance council and serves as a lector and as chair of the annual fall festival. She also served on the Archdiocesan finance committee.

Reichert, who works in NASA’s International Space Station Program, said the timing was right for her family – she has two daughters ages 14 and 12 -- to help at the Archdiocesan level.

“I did have to lean on God and trust that he was going to qualify me,” said Reichert, who serves as a Eucharist minister of Holy Communion and a junior high Catechist at St. Clare of Assisi.

Reichert said she brings her organizational skills to the board. With a degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Reichert started out as a contractor on the International Space Station before moving to NASA, where she has worked in various roles in management and research.

“I have been gifted by God to take something in chaos and organize it,” Reichert said.

Reichert also hopes to represent the young families in the Archdiocese.

“For me, I know God has a plan for this Archdiocese to gather people closer to God and see Jesus in the sacraments,” she said. “I pray that we are able to achieve that and everything God has planned.”

Walters is a partner at the law firm Tracey Fox & Walters. Noto is an executive in the industrial energy sector.

What is the Archdiocesan Development Board?

The Archdiocese’s Development Board, a consulting body to Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, is responsible for fundraising, stewardship and business development. It is made up of 13 lay members of various backgrounds who provide advice and guidance on everything from schools and education to utilities and capital campaigns.

Board members act as bridges to the various communities, parishes and professional networks in the Galveston and Houston area. The board meets three to four times a year with Cardinal DiNardo and the development staff. Board members serve a three-year term, renewable in perpetuity.