How we got here! Overcoming Obstacles and Celebrating Success with Past WFE Presidents

Join Programs Director Elizabeth Kusmider and four past WFE presidents for an engaging conversation about how WFE has evolved, how its network has shaped their careers, and what they envision for the organization’s future.

Faith Allen

Faith is Director of Treasury Risk with Quanta Services Inc. (NYSE: PWR) applying her broad knowledge of debt structures, credit underwriting, investments, trade finance, foreign exchange, hedging, and treasury products.  Prior to joining Quanta Services, she was in Commercial/Corporate banking with several Houston banks including JPMorgan, Citibank, and Bank of Texas. She earned the FINRA Series 7 License while in Private Banking with JPM.  Faith lived in Houston for 40 years, after leaving an east Texas town and completing her BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. She earned an MBA from University of Houston shortly after the arrival of her first son. Blessed with another son and daughter, she volunteered and led many of their childhood organizations.  The University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, United Way of Greater Houston, and Houston Area Women’s Center are her passionate causes.  Two new passions recently emerged and prompted a move to the Texas Hill country with the arrival of two grandchildren!  Faith served as WFE President in 2018, after serving as Treasurer for several years.

Laurie-Leigh White

Laurie-Leigh is a nationally recognized valuation expert with extensive experience leading valuation projects for a wide range of purposes, including ESOPs, financial reporting, tax planning, transaction advisory, and fairness opinions. She co-leads BVA’s valuation practice, leads the firm’s ESOP and transaction opinion practices, and serves as the head of BVA’s Houston office. An active leader in the profession, Laurie-Leigh is the Vice Chair of the American Society of Appraisers Business Valuation Committee and serves as Vice President of Programming for the Texas/Oklahoma Chapter of The ESOP Association. Outside of work, she is a devoted sports fan who proudly cheers on the SMU Mustangs, Sam Houston Bearkats, and Houston Astros. She has been married for nearly 18 years to a high school history teacher and shares her home with their very spoiled three-year-old Ragdoll cat, Bess.

Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth Pringle Johnson is a partner with the law firm of Hanszen Laporte. Elizabeth specializes in commercial real estate secured lending, commercial real estate development and general business transactions. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Elizabeth has resided in Houston since 1982. She was a partner at the Winstead PC (formerly Winstead, Sechrest and Minick) prior to becoming the General Counsel and Senior Vice-President at Camden Property Trust.

Elizabeth graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated in the top 5% of her law school class from the University of Alabama and was selected for the Alabama Law Review. She has served on the boards of West University Elementary School, Lanier Middle School and St. Agnes Academy. She was President of the Heart of Texas Chapter on the National Charity League and has volunteer extensively at Medical Bridges, Christian Community Service Center and Memorial Hermann Hospital through that organization. Elizabeth served as President of Women’s Finance Exchange in 2019.  Elizabeth is the proud parent of Margaret and Caroline Johnson.

Kim Marek

Kim is a partner at Melton & Melton, a local CPA firm, where she specializes in employee benefit plan audits.  She also provides attest services to clients in the professional services, manufacturing/distribution, construction, and non-profit industries. Kim earned her MBA in 2002 from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) and joined Melton & Melton in 2003 (you do the math lol). She stays actively involved in various firm initiatives; and is also in charge of recruiting for the audit department. Kim was introduced to WFE in 2013 and later deepened her involvement through the Special Events Committee. She was a member of the WFE Board from 2019 through 2023 and had the honor of serving as WFE President in 2023.  Outside of work, the majority of Kim’s free time involves spoiling her dog Junior and helping co-manage the family farm.