Amanda Pierson, Founder of Heights Law Group, PLLC:

In June of 2014, Amanda was studying for the bar when her dad unexpectedly passed away. Amanda was confronted with grief, shock and death in a way she had never experienced before. She felt entirely overwhelmed, with little capacity to handle the administrative headache that accompanied her father’s death and the probate process. Amanda didn’t know where to begin, and worse, she realized there was so much she didn’t know about her dad and his wishes. Now it was too late to ask him where he held his accounts. Too late to have him jot down the pin numbers, passwords, and other information that would make administering his estate so much more manageable. Too late to talk to him about what he would have wanted at his funeral and for his family as they moved forward.

Once the initial fog of losing her dad had passed, Amanda decided to use her personal experience with loss to help others going through the same thing. On the probate side, Amanda understands that grieving families need more than legal services. These families need someone who can take as much stress off their plate as possible and give them the relief in knowing their loved one’s wishes have been respected and their estate has been handled correctly.

On the estate planning side, Amanda realizes that a well-planned estate can mitigate a lot of the burdens families face when they lose someone they love. Amanda believes her clients deserve a plan that goes beyond the legal documents and ties up both legal and non-legal loose ends in order to give her clients’ families a path forward through their grief. Amanda wishes she could have done things differently before her dad died, and wants to be sure her clients do not leave their family members feeling the same way. With a husband and young kids of her own, Amanda helps her clients create estate plans that do not just transfer assets- the wills and trusts Amanda creates take a load off the survivors, prevent familial conflict, and protect future generations. Whether you need a will, a trust, or a vehicle to protect your assets, Amanda can prepare a customized plan that will help you achieve your goals. Amanda enjoys counseling her clients on how to use their estate plan to protect their legacy and provide for loved ones in the event of death or incapacity.

Amanda graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 2014. During law school, Amanda served as an associate editor of the Texas Law Review and graduated with honors.

Amanda is committed to her husband Gene (a great Intellectual Property lawyer) and raising her two young boys.

Kaki Perdue, CPA, CFP® Founder of Look Both Ways Financial:

I am Kaki Perdue, an advice-only financial planner. I help individuals and families chart their path to financial independence (FI) as DIY investors. As a CPA and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, I specialize in comprehensive financial plan development, year-round tax planning, and personalized financial education. My Dad taught me drivers ed. He would say “when the light turns green, you still need to look both ways”. That sound advice applies to our financial lives as well! Let’s work together to build clarity and confidence in financial decisions as we Look Both Ways.

I didn’t start in financial planning, so I think about things differently. I spent 12 years as a CPA in audit and worked with business owners daily. I led the Mentoring Program at the CPA firm and discovered that I loved coaching people. I also worked 6 years as a Chief Financial Officer for a technology company where I honed cash flow and strategic planning skills. I am a Magna Cum Laude graduate in accounting from Colorado State University.

I have collaborated with individuals and families to develop detailed strategies and provide clarity when making major financial decisions. I have been fortunate to work with families of various ages, levels of wealth, educational backgrounds, and personal lifestyles. Each financial plan is unique - just as you are unique and have individual goals.

I love to garden, so I skip the nail salon! I like to hike, ski, golf, play pickleball, and generally be outside. I have two children and I’m married to my college sweetheart.

Patty Zesut:

Founder of Exemplary Travel Advisors, a premier luxury travel agency, and The Woodlands Travel Club, a vibrant community for upscale group travel experiences.

I help busy professionals escape the overwhelm of vacation planning with highly personalized, stress-free luxury journeys—think European river cruises, boutique ocean voyages, and custom global itineraries—crafted with care, insight, and five-star service.

💼 Former attorney & Naval officer | 🎨 Creative spirit | 🧭 Strategic planner with a heart for hospitality

🔥 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.