🔥 Fire. Finance. F1.

Something big is coming to Houston — and you're going to want a seat at the table.

Houston Women's Finance Exchange is hosting an exclusive luxury networking evening at The Brittmoore on June 10.

This is what networking looks like when you're done playing small.

🔥 Thank you to our sponsors! 🔥

Melody Denise Torno

Melody Torno is a nonprofit leader and arts advocate serving as Development Director for the American Heart Association, where she leads major fundraising initiatives, including Houston Go Red for Women, building partnerships that advance the organization’s life-saving mission.

She holds a BFA in RTV Mass Communications from Sam Houston State University, a Master’s in Theatre from the University of Houston, and a Master’s in Education Administration from Lamar University, along with EC–12 Texas Theatre Teaching Certification. Melody brings more than 18 years of experience in education, the performing arts, and nonprofit leadership.

An active community advocate, serves on the Special Attractions Committee for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, is a member of the Houston Symphony League, is a proud registered Daughter of the Republic of Texas, and serves as a Board Member of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston.

Outside of work, she enjoys faith, travel, coffee, and time with her family/friends, and with her two dogs, Charlie and Stella.

Julie Jones:

Julie Jones is a Dallas-based business protocol and etiquette expert, sought-after public speaker, corporate trainer, and educator. She is certified by the Protocol School of Washington®, a nationally accredited institution. Julie is a 15-year veteran in the field of education as well as an entrepreneur, building a plumbing company from the ground floor to selling it in 2021.

Throughout her years in education and business, she realized the crucial need for developing soft skills, which are not the primary focus of our educational system. She believes that in today’s competitive world, success requires more than education and determination; it necessitates understanding the importance of developing strong personal and professional relationships.

This event is sold out!

For our February meeting we have invited Haley Dunn with Culture Index to present.  Culture Index is a tool used to better understand organizational culture, training needs and how people prefer to be managed and communicated with. This assessment will give you insight on your natural strengths, communication styles, and motivators, all key to improving collaboration and performance across our organizations. In order to get value from this interactive presentation we ask that you set aside 7-10 minutes, during which you will have no interruptions or distractions, and simply follow the instructions to complete the brief two question word survey.  This is not a test: no passing or failing.

Please complete the survey by Monday, February 16th

https://surveys.cultureindex.com/s/6CM5KtF2mG/59753

Haley Dunn:

My journey is a testament to ambition, extraordinary talent, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. Rising to the US Olympic Shooting Team transcended mere athletic achievement; it reflected a deeper philosophy marked by relentless ambition and determination. Yet, my aspirations extend beyond Olympic success. Motivated by a belief in the unique talents inherent in individuals, I embarked on a new professional journey.

With an MBA in hand, I found my calling with the Culture Index—a platform that aligns with my fundamental belief in identifying and nurturing natural talent for personal and corporate advancement. Within Culture Index, I exemplify how a blend of competitive drive and visionary thinking leads to extraordinary results. I guide organizations in unlocking their teams' potential for unparalleled performance.

My narrative is a demonstration of how competitive prowess, coupled with dedication to uplifting others, can have a profound impact. Transitioning from Olympic shooting to a leader in business and personal development, I deliver a resonant message: resilience, passion, and belief in each person's potential are crucial. In my role at Culture Index, I am at the forefront of creating a future where unique talents are recognized, celebrated, and fully utilized for excellence, inspiring others to strive for their best.

Working with owner/operators and C-level managers, I address challenges in employee performance by understanding what drives their people—motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. As a Culture Index Licensee and Professional Speaker, I help manage talent to align with company goals, implementing consistent benchmarks for all positions, employees, and prospective candidates. Ultimately, I assist in increasing the ROI of the payroll expense.

Pia Orrenius, Vice President and Labor Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, will present on macroeconomic trends across regional industries and discuss what local economic data tell us about prospects for 2026.

Pia Orrenius:

Pia Orrenius is a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, working on regional economic growth and demographic change. She manages the regional and microeconomics group in the Dallas Fed Research Department, is executive editor of the publication Southwest Economy and co-edited Ten Gallon Economy: Sizing up Economic Growth in Texas (2015, Palgrave MacMillan).

Her academic research focuses on the labor market impacts of immigration, unauthorized immigration and U.S. immigration policy. She is coauthor of the book Beside the Golden Door: U.S. Immigration Reform in a New Era of Globalization (2010, AEI Press).

Orrenius is affiliated with several academic institutions. She is research fellow at the Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs and the Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center at Southern Methodist University and at the IZA Institute of Labor in Bonn, Germany, as well as adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Orrenius was senior economist on the Council of Economic Advisers in the Executive Office of the President, Washington D.C., in 2004–05, where she advised the Bush administration on labor, health and immigration issues.

She holds a PhD in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and bachelor degrees in economics and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign.

Online registration is closed. Limited in person registration is available.

Registration is now closed.

Join us for an engaging and relaxed afternoon at the Briar Club, where we’ll be hosting a special Happy Hour Panel Discussion featuring three of Houston’s top CFOs. Enjoy delicious light bites and a curated selection of wines as our distinguished panelists share candid insights into their experiences accessing and working with various finance service providers.

This event is designed to foster open conversation in a welcoming atmosphere, offering attendees the unique opportunity to hear firsthand how leading CFOs approach partnerships, make decisions, and what they look for in financial service relationships. Whether you’re a finance professional, service provider, or simply interested in the evolving role of CFOs, you’ll leave with valuable perspectives to help shape your future interactions and strategies.

Event Highlights:

• Panel discussion with three top Houston female CFOs
• Honest Q&A on working with finance service providers
• Networking in a relaxed, upscale setting
• Complimentary light bites and wine

Come ready to connect, learn, and enjoy an afternoon of meaningful conversation!

Event Timing:

3:30 – 4:00 PM | Welcome Mix & Mingle
Kick off the event with a friendly check-in, a refreshing cocktail, and some light networking.

4:00 – 5:00 PM | The Main Stage: Panel & Perspectives
Settle in for an engaging panel discussion featuring our distinguished CFOs. Hear fresh insights, ask your burning questions, and get inspired by dynamic conversation.

5:00 – 5:30 PM | Cheers & Chats Encore
The conversation doesn’t stop here! Continue to networking and take this opportunity to chat one-on-one with our speakers or fellow attendees.

Laura Thompson

Laura E. Thompson is a Certified Public Accountant and the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Platform Partners LLC, a Houston-based Private Equity Fund. Laura began her career at Ernst and Young in the Houston audit practice where she spent 10 years prior to moving in house to Platform Partners. She graduated magna cum laude from The University of Texas at Austin Red McCombs School of Business with her BBA in Accounting and Finance and an MPA in Accounting. Laura has been an active member of The Junior League of Houston since 2010, serving in various leadership roles, including serving as the Financial Vice President and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors in 2023 – 2024, the Board of Directors in 2023-2024 and 2022-2023 and the Junior League of Houston Foundation Board for 2022-2023. Laura has served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 2022 and is currently serving as the Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Laura is a native Houstonian, an involved Aunt to six nieces and nephews and Mom to her toy poodle, Jacques.

Jennifer Whalen

Jennifer Whalen is serving as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for the Bristow Group Inc. beginning in June 2020. The CFO role is responsible for overseeing our Information Technology department, company accounting, decision support, financial reporting, internal audit, investor relations, strategy and M&A, tax, and other financial functions of the Company.

Previously, she served as the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, for Era Group Inc. since February 2018. Jennifer served as the Company's Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since August 2013 until her appointment as Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer in June 2017. Jennifer joined the company as Controller in April 2012. From August 2007 to March 2012, Jennifer served in several capacities at nLIGHT Photonics Corporation, a supplier of high-performance lasers, including as Director of Accounting. Prior to these roles, Jennifer served as the Manager of Accounting at InFocus Corporation for over two years. After serving in the U.S. military, Jennifer started her career in public accounting in the assurance practice group at PricewaterhouseCoopers for approximately five years. She received a B.S. in Accounting from Alabama A&M University and a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California.

Rebekah Le

Rebekah Le is a people and strategy-focused executive with over twenty-five years of diverse experience spanning financial, strategic, administrative, and operational leadership across organizational scales and complexities, including publicly traded, private equity (PE), nonprofit, client-service, and global environments. She has a demonstrated ability to lead in a range of commercial environments and service models, from EPC/Construction to Power Delivery to Industrial Services to Healthcare. Rebekah’s expertise lies in developing and executing strategic plans, driving talent and culture-focused initiatives, fostering high-performing teams, optimizing business operations, and forging cross-functional partnerships. She is adept at crafting change management strategies and communications tailored to various business environments, from distressed to high-growth scenarios, and has successfully overseen high-profile special projects, including technology implementations. Her leadership extends to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, underscoring her commitment to social responsibility. As a Certified Public Accountant and a CoachRice Certified Coach, Rebekah is agile in her ability to lead teams, both technical and nontechnical, leading from a place of genuine curiosity and empowerment.

Currently serving as Chief Strategy & Financial Officer for Legacy Community Health, Rebekah oversees various functions, including Finance, Revenue Cycle Management, Supply Chain, Project Management, and Strategy. Her strategic and collaborative approach is instrumental as she works to develop roadmaps for financial sustainability, fostering growth, optimizing returns and cash flow, and transitioning to data-centric tools. Rebekah has partnered across the organization to expand financial acumen and ownership to drive year-over year improvements, including a net positive budget with significant cost improvements and operating model efficiencies embedded. Her focus on process enhancement, scalability, sustainability, and adoption of innovative technologies reflects her dedication to driving operational, financial, and strategic excellence.

Registration now closed.

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How Cyber Criminals are Targeting Executive Women and What You Can Do to Stop It

This presentation includes details on how threat actors are currently targeting women executives along with tips for personal and corporate cybersecurity.  AI Deep Fakes, Wire Fraud and Ransomware attacks are discussed as well as personal home and phone security recommendations.

Heather Hughes, J.D. is a Vice President for Stroz Friedberg's Houston office where she leads a wide variety of engagements, including data breach, ransomware and other incident response matters, complex digital forensics investigations, proactive security risk assessments, and cyber due diligence investigations.  Heather has over 25 years’ experience in privacy and data security and she has led and managed some of the firm's most complex incident response engagements, including the largest healthcare ransomware event in U.S. history which was perpetrated by threat actors during the COVID pandemic.

Heather regularly works with outside counsel to assist clients with regulatory inquiries as a result of the theft of data by both departed employees and organized cyber criminals.