Role Models Walk the Runway for the Women Leaders of Tomorrow
The Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce honors women who excel in the city’s STEAM industries with its annual Luncheon, Style Show, and Shopping event
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Photo Credit: Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design.
The Celebration
The chic Hilton Americas provided the perfect setting for the Women in the Fast Lane of STEAM Luncheon, Style Show, and Shopping event hosted by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC). The annual affair honors and celebrates many of Houston’s leading executive women with careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A wide range of exhibitors was featured. Leading the event were GHWCC CEO, President, and Founder, Suzan Deison; chair of the board, Myrtle Jones; and event chair, Shawntell McWilliams.
The Story
Who doesn’t like a special occasion that begins with shopping? Attendees had the pick of some of Houston’s most unique retailers as they visited the booths of Maya Fasthoff Designs, Kendra Scott, Scout and Molly’s, and many more. When the shopping was over, the 600 guests were treated to an exquisite luncheon in the elegantly decorated ballroom reflecting the fast lane theme with red, black, and white colors. During lunch, this year’s class of STEAM Town, USA Girls, GHWCC’s after-school program that increases the exposure of STEAM subjects to third-grade girls, improves grades and graduation rates, and encourages girls to pursue STEAM careers, delighted the audience by performing “A Million Dreams” from the movie The Greatest Showman. The runway style show, featuring 40 accomplished role models with STEAM careers, styled by Elizabeth Anthony and Lucho, followed. Attendees applauded these remarkable women, including Farida Abjani, Christina Zhou, Tammie Johnson, Alice Mao, Anika Johnson, Yasmine Haddad, Pamela Ellis and many more, who represented what is possible, as they strode the runway.
Moments
Dr. Grenita Lathan, HISD’s Interim Superintendent, presented the 2018 STEAM ICON award to Paula Harris, Director of Global Stewardship/Educational Programming at Schlumberger. Harris has been with GHWCC from the beginning and helped design, deliver, and sponsor the STEAM Town, USA programs.
About the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) is a nonprofit business organization of influential and diverse women and men dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women through avenues of leadership, education, advocacy, and mentoring. It is the fastest growing women’s chamber of commerce in the United States. Designed to provide a comprehensive suite of services for business women, The GHWCC offers several programs, which support the advancement and empowerment of women and girls. Some of these include, Houston on Board; the Entrepreneur Accelerator Institute; and STEAM Town, USA.