Dedicated Leaders
In Houston, the success of Genesys Works is driven by a dedicated board and committed staff.
Houston Board of Directors
Twila Day, Former Senior VP & CIO, Sysco Corporation (Chair)
Twila Day was named Senior Vice President, CIO for Sysco Corporation, the global leader in foodservice marketing and distribution, in November 2009, after serving as Vice President and CIO since December 2005. Twila directs Sysco Corporation's information technology organization including system operations, applications, strategy, planning, and data management of the enterprise. She received the 2003 Leadership in Technology Award from the Association of Women in Computing and in 2008 Techxans CIO Innovations Institute recognized Twila with their Leadership in the Technology Industry & Influence on Young People award. She is also actively engaged with the CIO Executive Council, as Governing Body Vice Chair for the CIO Executive Summit, Tuck School of Dartmouth Leadership Roundtable, IBM Power Systems Board of Advisors, SAP CIO Executive Council for Retail and Wholesale, Association for Women in Computing (AWC), Women in Technology Industries (WITI), and Women in Foodservice Forum (WFF).
Rafael Alvarez, Founder & CEO, Genesys Works (Secretary)
Rafael Alvarez is the founder and CEO of Genesys Works, a not-for-profit organization that provides internship opportunities as well as technical and professional skills for underserved high school students. Mr. Alvarez has been named by Forbes Magazine in their “Impact 30” list of the world’s top social entrepreneurs.
Prior to starting Genesys Works in 2002, Mr. Alvarez was a corporate strategist for a Fortune 50 company.
Mr. Alvarez is involved in education reform initiatives where he is viewed as an innovator. He currently serves on the boards of the Spring Branch Education Foundation, the Houston Education Research Consortium, and his church, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Mr. Alvarez obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Houston. A native of Mexico City, Alvarez resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, and their three daughters.
Brad Breau, Senior VP & Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase
Brad Breau is an Executive Director for JPMorgan Chase (a leading global financial services company) in Houston, Texas, where he has served since 2003 focusing on investment banking and information technology. Prior to that, Brad worked for Accenture (an international management consulting and technology services firm) from 1993 until 2003. He was with Accenture for 10 years where he held management positions focused on Accenture's Energy industry group serving upstream, downstream and oil service companies. Brad also resides as a Director of Father's Joy (a not-for-profit organization for families with children diagnosed with a disability).
Tracy Carmen-Jones, Former VP Alternative Channels, Reliant Energy
Tracy Carmen-Jones most recently served as Vice President of Alternative Channels at Reliant Energy. She was responsible for influencing residential and commercial sales with Builders, Multifamily Properties, Realtors and New Channel opportunities. In the Community Affairs area, she worked with organizations and community leaders to empower and enhance communities in Houston, DFW, Corpus Christi and other Texas areas served by Reliant Energy. She also managed programs and events that focus on improving human quality of life and care for communities where employees live and work. Prior to Reliant, Tracy was Director of Compaq Computer's Direct Business, responsible for generating awareness, demand and purchase of computers and related equipment.
Marian Davenport, Executive Director, Genesys Works - Houston
Joining Genesys Works in April 2013, Marian brings extensive experience from her work in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. She has held executive positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters, initially as President and CEO of the Greater Houston agency, then as Senior Vice President, Operations and Capacity Building at Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. Previously, her experience in the corporate sector included positions with Dynegy Inc., Destec Energy, Inc., PSE Inc. and Cameron Iron Works, Inc. Marian also serves on the Public Service Sector Committee for Neighborhood Centers Inc., on the Board of Directors of the Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority, as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership Executive Women’s Partnership Committee, and as a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum‘s Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter. A graduate of Colorado College with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences, she also holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver, College of Law and is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Dr. Zachary R. Hodges, President, Houston Community College - Northwest
Dr. Zachary R. Hodges currently serves as president of Houston Community College's Spring Branch Campus. In his 18 years as president, his strategic thinking and commitment to partner with diverse stakeholders has leveraged the college as a catalyst for economic and community development in West Houston.
Dr. Hodges holds a B.S. in History, and an M.S. and ED.D in Counseling from Texas A&M - Commerce. He has over 38 years service in the field of Higher Education. In 1992 he was named an American Council of Education Fellow and served as Chair of the Council of Fellows during 1999-2000. In 2005 he was selected as the Citizen of the Year 2005 by the Katy Chamber of Commerce and in 2006, he won the Pinnacle Award from the Houston West Chamber. Dr. Hodges is active on many and various community boards and organizations throughout in the Houston area.
R. Bruce Northcutt, Former Director, President & CEO, Copano Energy, L.L.C.
R. Bruce Northcutt, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, has served in his current capacity since November 2009 and was President and Chief Operating Officer from April 2003 until November 2009. Mr. Northcutt served as President of El Paso Global Networks Company (a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation) from November 2001 until April 2003; Managing Director of El Paso Global Networks Company from April 1999 until November 2001 and Vice President, Business Development, of El Paso Gas Services Company from January 1998 until April 1999. Mr. Northcutt began his career with Tenneco Oil Exploration and Production in 1982 working in the areas of drilling and production engineering. From 1988 until 1998, Mr. Northcutt held various levels of responsibility within several business units of El Paso Energy and its predecessor, Tenneco Energy, including supervision of pipeline supply and marketing as well as regulatory functions. Mr. Northcutt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas.
Michael D. Preston, Executive Partner, Accenture
Michael D. Preston has lived in Houston since 1991, residing in Kingwood. Michael attended the University of Nebraska and earned a BS in Industrial Engineering in 1990. He played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was an Academic All American and graduated number two within the Industrial Engineering College. Michael started his career with Price Waterhouse. He joined Dynegy in 1996 and became the CIO of Dynegy's Energy Trading Business. In 2003, Michael joined Accenture and is currently an Executive Partner in Accenture's Global Energy business. Michael has been in the Energy business for over 20 years focusing on Technology, Consulting and Outsourcing.
Dr. Scott Van Beck, Executive Director, Houston A+ Challenge
Dr. Scott Van Beck is a native Iowan and holds a B.A. in History from the University of Iowa, an M.A. in History from the University of Houston, and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Houston. He started his professional career as a teacher at Lanier Middle School in Houston ISD. Later, he taught and served as an assistant principal at Lamar High School, then principal of Paul Revere Middle School. During the 1996-97 school year, Scott was selected Region IV middle school principal of the year. In 1999, he was named principal of the new Westside High School.
Scott has served in numerous school leadership capacities, especially those focusing on high school transformation through small school development. In April 2005, he was named West Region Superintendent for Houston ISD, where he supervised 60+schools with a student population of over 54,000.
In December 2007, Scott was named Executive Director of Houston A+ Challenge, where he provides vision and direction for a portfolio of inter-related programs designed to increase student college and career readiness, by strengthening classroom instruction, school leadership, and district support for student post-secondary success.
He has been married 25 years to his wife Sarah and is father to four native Texans – Wesley, Helen, Sam and Neil. In his spare time, he referees high school basketball games.
Our Partners
