ESCH Team
Meet the dedicated individuals working behind the scenes to make our mission a reality.
Burton Hering
Executive Director
Leivy Alvarado
Program Administrator
Venisa Guzman
Accountant
Paul Vallone
Project Coordinator
Board of Directors
Our board is composed of accomplished professionals who bring strategic insight and leadership to guide ESCH’s mission.
D. Carl Garrison
Chair
John Reed, Jr.
Treasurer
Burton Hering
Secretary
Ashley Moore
Carlos Rawls
James Rather
Joseph Ivison
Palak
Jalan
ESCH Consultants
The Executive Service Corps of Houston connects experienced business and nonprofit leaders with organizations seeking expert guidance. Our consultants include former executives, entrepreneurs, and seasoned professionals who bring decades of leadership experience in management, finance, strategy, and technology to help strengthen Houston’s nonprofit community.
D. Carl
Garrison, C.S.P.
Skill Focus
• IT
• UH Partnership
• Operational Management
D Carl Garrison is the Owner at Superior IS. In this capacity, Carl is responsible for Executive Management. Carl holds an MS degree.
Sarah
Carothers
Skill Focus
•Communications
Dr. Sarah Carothers became a comedian, motivational speaker, and holistic coach after retiring from General Motors Company.
Ivan
Zamarrpa
Skill Focus
• UH Partnership Project
Financial Professional who developed an automated corporate finance and valuation dashboard to track market and competitive metrics.
Michael
Urzillo
Skill Focus
• Consultant and Seminar Coordinator
• UH Partnership Project
Michael is an Implementation Consultant (Professional Scrum Master) with Connors Group, and does Workforce Management Software implementation for a variety of retail and distribution clients.
George
Saltsman
Skill Focus
• Creative Problem Solving
• Customer Service
• Strategic Planning
George retired from ExxonMobil after nearly 36 years. His career was heavily impacted by an assignment with Exxon’s Innovations Group.
James
Rather
Skill Focus
• UH Partnership Program
Jim retired from Keane, a consulting company based in Boston, where he at managed outsourcing engagements. He has an MBA from Tulane University.
Tom
Softa
Skill Focus
• UH Partnership Project
Founder of MACRO Enterprises, a full-service consulting company with an emphasis in Energy & Healthcare.
Michael
Craig
Skill Focus
• UH Partnership Project
Michael has extensive experience in project management in the oil and gas industry and is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston.
Larry
Renaud
Skill Focus
• Strategic Planning
• Board Governance
• Financial Management
• Start Up
Larry retired from Chatsworth Products as President and CEO, a 100% employee-owned designer and manufacture of IT infrastructure solutions.
Joe
Ivison
Skill Focus
• IT
• UH Partnership Project
Joe is the Co-Founder and Principal of Superior IS, an IT consulting firm.
Christine
Pallenik
Skill Focus
• UH Partnership Project
Christine retired from Spectra Energy (now Enbridge) after 22 years in commercial, regulatory, and legal leadership roles and now chairs the Endowment Fund Board at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Houston.
Doug
Gehrman
Skill Focus
• HR
• Leadership
Doug has spent his career in human resource management and as a managing director. Doug has an MBA from Stanford University.