DR. LAQUITA CARTER
Dr. LaQuita Carter is a passionate educator who has been touching the lives of children and families for more than 25 years. Influenced by her life-story; she is a servant leader with a giving heart – not only valuing community but working to create community as well. She takes great pride in receiving a public school education and is forever grateful for growing up in the inner city of Chicago. Recalling her past experiences of overcoming feelings of isolation, Dr. Carter is committed to equipping others to be great no matter their circumstances.
KENNETH EAKINS
Kenneth DeVon Eakins is a native Houstonian, who has had the privilege of traveling the world as an international missionary. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Berklee College and his master’s in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, Mr. Eakins has decided to return to school and work towards another master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He utilizes his educational and vocational experience to create a uniquely diversified approach to providing effective care to clients with mental health needs and substance abuse issues. He currently serves as the Outreach Case Manager at Star of Hope Mission in downtown Houston where he works to provide resources ranging from income and housing assistance to emergency shelters and treatment centers for the homeless community in the Greater Houston and surrounding areas. Mr. Eakins is currently on staff as a worship leader at Freedom Fellowship Church in Magnolia, Texas.
MARLIES LEDBETTER
Marlies Ledbetter is a national Ministry leader, Business strategist, activist, coach, writer, as well as a mom and wife. Mrs. Ledbetter has grown up in the North Houston area and was brought up in a serving family. Her mother, a hometown hero of the Woodlands and humanitarian award winner of Houston, she learned from the best by being at her side for over 35 years. With experience on many committees and boards, she is deeply rooted in the care of homelessness, domestic violence, and veterans support as she is both a survivor and a daughter of a Vietnam veteran.
Marlies has a big voice, and she will always stand up for others in any moment, but she will likely tell you about her love for God and the power of the Holy Spirit to help all people of all walks.
After her mother was tragically killed in 2021, she immediately went to work to pass a medical freedom bill into law and what way to make change than through legal matters! Mary-Lou’s law has been replicated throughout many states and she hopes it will become federal under the new administration.
Marlies is the Founder and President of Ledbetter Consulting, is a Presidential Founder of Green Compass Global, Studio Director at Living Holistic, and a member of Woodlands Methodist at the Loft. She spends her free time writing, reading, performing and in the ministry focused on deliverance and understanding Jesus’ message of Hope.
CHRIS CHARRON
Chris Charron has been a resident and business owner in our community going on 40 years. More recently, Chris and his wife Amie started Friends for Charity Foundation whose mission is to bring people together to raise awareness, encourage volunteer service and support organizations that make a difference. Personally, professionally and in the community Chris is about “Making a Difference.”
LESLIE SHEEHAN-WEEKS
Professional Bio
BBA – Finance, WWU, March 1988
Over 20 years in the Human Resources profession, Petrochemical Industry (1986 – 2009)
Expertise includes labor relations, employment, and talent management.
Major achievements include:
- Pioneered use of analytics to evaluate recruiting effectiveness and cost/benefits of current strategy, leading to a strategy shift that yielded a better success rate/recruitment dollar;
- Persuaded Hiring Managers to use a multidiscipline selection team to yield better selection results and reduce probationary period terminations.
- Gained union leadership’s participation in hiring processes as key stakeholders thereby reducing probationary period terminations, resignations, complaints and grievances.
- Developed and implemented an absentee management strategy to reduce absence rate from 6% to 4% in partnership with key stakeholders;
- Enabled a client’s strategy to develop and sell a service product by improving the organization’s effectiveness and use of analytical tools to submit bids, track costs, profits, and margins, which added over a $1 million to the firms top line growth.
- Viewed by executive leadership as an expert in employment, labor, and disability law, state and federal.
Over 10 years as a private wealth manager (2009 to present)
Major achievements include:
- Successfully preserved and grew AUM over 360%;
- Constructed a successful portfolio of growth, value, and dividend paying stocks;
- Grew dividend income and quality;
- Learned many, many lessons and applied those to effectively improve quality of decision-making and capital deployed.
Artist (1990 – to present)
Through a combination of classes and self-learning, I’ve pursued a passion for creating jewelry and other artwork.
Major achievements include:
- Designed a collage of Munsteiner gems and fancy colored diamonds in to a 14K gold pendant.
- Created lampwork glass and silver jewelry while learning lampworking techniques and silver working.
- Created a large format bead embroidery necklace featured by another artist/instructor on her Facebook page, which resulted in positive reviews for technique and unique design.
- Self-taught alcohol ink artist, makes own greeting cards and paintings.
