Dr. Esmaeil Porsa serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Harris Health System,

which is a community-focused, academic and safety-net healthcare system dedicated to

improving the health of those most in need in Harris County, Texas, through quality care

delivery, coordination of care and education.

Harris Health operates 40 health centers, clinics, homeless shelter clinics, specialty locations

and two trauma hospitals: Ben Taub Hospital (Level 1) and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (Level 3).

The system provides high-quality care and treatment for more than 2 million outpatient and

primary care visits, 147,000 emergency and trauma cases and more than 40,000 hospital cases

each year with an operating budget of $2.2 billion.

Prior to his return to Harris Health in 2020, Dr. Porsa served as the Executive Vice President and

Chief Strategy and Integration Officer at Parkland Health and Hospital System where he had

worked since 2007 in different capacities including the Medical Director of the Dallas County Jail

Health program, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Professional and

Academic Affairs and Interim Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Porsa completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry at Our Lady of the

Lake University in San Antonio before earning his medical degree from the University of Texas

Health Science Center Medical School in San Antonio. He completed his training in internal

medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston where he did his residency

at Harris Health serving as Chief Medical Resident at Harris Health LBJ Hospital. Dr. Porsa

completed a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology at the University of Texas Health

Science Center at Houston School of Public Health as well as a fellowship program in primary

care at the UTHSC-Houston medical school in 2005. Dr. Porsa obtained his MBA degree in Health

Care Leadership from University of Texas in Dallas in 2017.

Dr. Porsa has a special interest in improving community health through addressing social

determinants of health (SDOH) and healthcare delivery in the correctional setting. He currently

serves as the Vice Chair for the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and is a member of the

Certified Correctional Health Care Professional Board of Trustees for the National Commission

on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).

Stephen Glazier is a hospital administrator with over 40 years of senior level administrative experience

and is currently the Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations for the

UTHealth Behavioral Sciences Campus. A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, he

has held the position of CEO or COO in a number of hospital settings including freestanding psychiatric,

general acute care and long term acute care hospitals. He has been responsible for 3 new hospital

construction/development projects and one major hospital renovation. He has held leadership

positions in several large academic medical centers. In his various positions he has been responsible for

overseeing all of the clinical and quality programs for the hospitals he has led. In addition to oversight

of hospital operations, Mr. Glazier’s responsibilities have included the integration of private physician

practices into a hospital based multi-specialty clinic.

Mr. Glazier is the current past Chair of the Joint Committee on Access and Forensic Services and serves

as a member of the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council, the Mental Health Needs

Council and the Network of Behavioral Health Professionals.

Lisa Bovermann specializes in providing healthcare and life sciences real estate solutions to healthcare institutions, CRO’s, clinical investors, developers, and healthcare providers. As Senior Vice President within the Gulf Coast region, Lisa brings 17 years of commercial real estate experience dedicated to healthcare and life sciences. Specializing in both tenant and landlord advisory services, she provides a diverse and complete spectrum of transaction management services offering real estate transaction management, analytics and consulting for life sciences companies, healthcare institutions, physician groups, specialty groups, behavioral health operators, and public & private healthcare real estate investors. For her corporate life science clients, Lisa implements real estate and facilities strategies centered around growth planning, facility compliance and controls. Her vast expertise allows her to apply a complete understanding to any opportunity, resulting in optimal outcomes for clients she represents in the marketplace.

Lauren Amber Prestenbach, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, EDAC, IIDA, is an award-winning commercial & healthcare interior design whose sharply honed skills stem from her experience on the vendor/client side and her extensive training and continuing education as registered interior designer over the past 20 years. Her innate design talent is complemented by her professional leadership as a highly committed and driven advocate for professional certification for her discipline. Lauren Amber’s impressive skill set, businesslike approach and leadership foster a client-centric working style. She is fully engaged with clients from the initial meeting, to research/information gathering, code compliancy, design, materials selection, and finally to installation. Lauren Amber creates designs that are functional, aesthetic, sustainable and sensitive to clients’ bottom lines. As a Registered Interior Designer, LEED Accredited Professional and a Center for Healthcare Design’s Evidence Based Interior Designer (EDAC), Lauren Amber has worked with Healthcare clients such as Kelsey-Seybold, Memorial Hermann, and UTMB. She was named to ENR’s 2021 National Top 20 Under 40 and she also is affiliated with CoreNet, IIDA, NAIOP, and the National Council for Interior Design Certification.

With two decades of experience in the construction industry, Preston Cope has established himself as a leader in delivering complex, large-scale healthcare projects. For the past 18 years, Preston has been an integral part of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., dedicating his expertise to the construction of over three million square feet of healthcare facilities. These projects, which encompass more than 900 beds, have a combined value exceeding $1.6 billion.

Currently serving as a Vice President of Operations in McCarthy's Houston Business Unit, Preston oversees staffing, project costs, schedules, quality, and safety. His commitment to excellence ensures that every project meets the highest standards of performance and client satisfaction.

Peter de la Mora is a development professional specializing in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Based in Houston, Peter carries more than 20 years of strategic client development experience for large-scale clients.

As National Accounts Director for Health, Peter coordinates and leads a consistent effort across the U.S. for healthcare systems that operate on a national scale. With this approach, large-system clients are able to connect with HDR at all levels from the national leadership to regional development.

Mark Strickland is a dedicated healthcare executive and local Houstonian with a proven track record of building and scaling primary care medical groups across Texas over the past decade. As one of the first employees of VillageMD, Mark played a pivotal role in constructing the physician network and leading the company's M&A activity throughout Texas. He remained with VillageMD until the initial $250 million funding and partnership with Walgreens.

Following his tenure at VillageMD, Mark became the CEO of the joint venture between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Sanitas. This venture focused on establishing primary care clinics in Houston and Dallas aimed at serving the uninsured and underinsured populations. It was during this time that Mark developed a deep passion for creating clinical models for underserved communities.

Currently, as the Texas Market President of Suvida Healthcare, Mark's passion for supporting underserved populations and improving access to healthcare has become his daily focus. Suvida Healthcare, founded with the support of Town Hall Ventures and funded by General Atlantic, is committed to providing the highest quality access to care for Hispanic seniors across America.

Since its inception in 2022, Suvida Healthcare has established 11 facilities across Houston, Dallas, Austin, Tucson, and Phoenix, grown to over 300 employees, and currently cares for more than 5,000 patients. The company also has additional clinics under construction, with plans for continued expansion across Texas and Arizona.

Mark holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University.

Caryn Guajardo has over 13 years of experience exploring the relationship between people, work environment solutions, and business performance. She is passionate about comprehending the objectives, strengths, challenges, and internal processes of organizations and using that information to create human-centered design strategies that produce transformative change. In her previous role at a Houston-based design firm, she worked with companies such as ExxonMobil, Dominion Energy, and Wells Fargo to program and plan their real estate portfolios. Currently, as the Associate Vice President of Facilities Portfolio Management, Caryn utilizes her expertise to lead teams specializing in campus master planning, space planning, space data management and reporting, real estate, interior design, and wayfinding.

From Summer Intern to Partner, Kenneth has grown within PhiloWilke for more than a decade, learning at every step along the way. Kenneth’s passion for creating healthy and healing environments, paired with his collaborative and proactive approach to the design process, allows him to deliver efficient and responsive projects that surpass the client’s expectations. With experience ranging from one-room renovations to ground-up projects, Kenneth has acquired a vast array of knowledge that helps him deliver consistently successful projects. Kenneth’s positive outlook and steadfast resilience are brought to each project team. Paired with his holistic approach to architecture, he helps lead teams to successful outcomes on a daily basis. Away from the office, you can find him traveling, watching sports, or enjoying time with his wife and two young girls.

Evan Alford serves as Vice President and leads the Healthcare Division at O'Donnell/Snider Construction. With more than 20 years of experience in commercial construction, he brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of healthcare environments. Evan has successfully managed over $800 million in projects across the country, including hospitals, surgery centers, medical office buildings, and specialty care facilities. His leadership is defined by a collaborative approach, technical expertise, and a strong commitment to client success. Evan holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University.

Kurt’s professional engineering career spans over 40 years. His expertise includes structural engineering design for Mission Critical Facilities such as Data Centers, Health Care Facilities such as Hospitals and Clinics and Life Sciences Facilities such as Biopharmaceutical Pilot Plants and Production Facilities around the United States and the World. His area of expertise is in designing buildings to be occupable after natural disasters including Tornados, Hurricanes and Earthquakes. He has been the structural engineer of record for conventional “fixed Base Buildings” ranging from 1-23 stories, “Base Isolated Buildings” ranging from 1-5 stories, and the retrofit and new construction of buildings incorporating Fluid Viscous Dampers ranging from 1-22 stories. He has published numerous papers on passive energy dissipation and presented the findings at various conventions in Boston, San Francisco and Milan.

For over 23 years as the Founding Principal at PARADIGM Structural Engineers, Kurt spends most of his time developing new leaders at PARADIGM and mentoring staff in Chicago and San Francisco.

Gaurav Khadse (GK) is a Registered Architect with 18 years’ experience in design and construction of healthcare facilities. Gaurav holds the position of Vice President, Facilities Planning & Development and Real Estate at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH). In his position, he leads the facilities project management, program management and planning team responsible for expansion of strategic facilities expansion projects, capital projects and renovations at Texas Children’s. His team is currently handling projects in various stages of design and construction with project costs over a billion dollars including the expansion of Texas Children’s new campus in Austin.

Gaurav has an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Architecture from Texas A&M University with a specialization in Health Systems and Design. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in India. He is licensed in Texas and also a LEED accredited professional.

Pam has thirty years of experience in construction and facilities project management, with the majority of her career spent in the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Elmhurst College.

Pam has recently joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as the Director, Capital Projects and is responsible for major capital clinical projects. She provides the leadership to ensure projects have the operational strategies and systems in place to achieve the desired expectations, promote a continuous improvement culture, identify ways to manage risk to achieve project goals and motivate a high performing team.

Leadership positions previously held include:

· Area Manager for Austin Commercial for a Design Build healthcare project in Houston.

· Project Executive for The Boldt Company for healthcare projects in the Greater Sacramento area.

· Assistant Director for Universal Health Services for behavioral health in the Western United States.

· Various advancing positions with Sutter Health for their Master Plan for the Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento campus.

John Martin, DBIA, serves Austin Commercial and employee-owners as Senior Vice President and Houston’s Business Unit Leader. John brings over 38 years of industry experience and is known for his proactive approach to unifying a team to ensure successful project collaboration. Through John’s leadership, our Houston division has worked on six healthcare campuses across the area, and John is currently serving as the executive on the $850M MD Anderson Clinical Services Building. He has also served on the local and national DBIA board, maintains strong relationships across the subcontractor community in Houston, and was recognized with the Marvin Black Partnering Award from the national AGC.

Will Chmylak is the Healthcare Practice Leader in the Houston office of HOK with more than 28 years of experience in the healthcare, science and technology, and sports and recreation markets. A registered architect and senior project manager, his natural strength in understanding clients’ challenges and exceeding expectations through commitment to excellence have given him the opportunity to manage an extensive list of complex projects throughout his career.

Born in Galveston and raised in Houston, Will graduated from Texas Tech University and returned to his hometown to begin his architectural career. He relocated to Kansas City in 2014, where he served on the board of AIA Kansas for six years, and as AIA Kansas President in 2022. Now with 15 years at HOK in total, Will has returned to Houston to become the studio’s Healthcare Practice Leader, where he will oversee the operations and growth of the market. Will’s notable projects include the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Zayed Building for Personalized Cancer Care and the University of Kansas Health Obstetric Tower.

Just 3 weeks into her courses at The University of Oklahoman (OU), Lynnsee realized that a degree in Architecture wasn’t for her - she switched to Construction Science and never looked back.

After graduating, Lynnsee started working for JE Dunn and is now in her 12th year, currently a Senior Project Manager. She has been instrumental in the success of many different types of projects including, the highly publicized Oklahoma State Capitol Building, a major design-build historical exterior renovation, commercial office buildings, aviation projects, and currently the MD Anderson Gimbel Restack project.

Lynnsee holds a national leadership position with one of the ERG’s at JE Dunn - (BUiLD) Blacks United in Learning and Development, helping to oversee the engagement, development, recruitment and advancement of the ERG’s members and allies. She has sat on the JE Dunn Talent Advisory Board, as a Campus Recruiting Lead at her alma mater The University of Oklahoma and actively participates in recruiting from Prairie View A&M University. She is also a Process Owner on JE Dunn’s Knowledge Management team which promotes an integrates approaches to identifying, capturing, evaluating, retrieving, and sharing information to enhance company performance through its People, Processes and Technology.

Lynnsee is the great great-niece of Ernest Boyd McGowen, the first African American District Council Member elected in Houston and her great great-aunt by marriage, is Barbara Jordan, the first African woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. As proud as Lynnsee is of her prestigious family ties, she and husband, Kyle, consider their daughters Nora and Noél the real stars of the family.

More than 25 years of experience working in healthcare operations and maintenance

management, building operation technologies, utility management, planning, design, construction, and

consulting engineering. He leads the management of all Engineering, Building Systems, Utility and

Energy Management including project Engineering and Commissioning, Building Automation, Emergency

Power Supply System (EPSS) and Electrical service utilities, Vertical Conveyance and Two-Way Radio

Systems, space inventory and Building Information Management, Utility Outage Coordination, in

support of MD Anderson facilities, which are comprised of more than 16 million square feet. Expert in

building technology systems, Internet of Things (IoT), cyber and network security, power supply

systems, utility management, energy conservation, sustainable and smart buildings. Experienced in

construction management, master planning, facility renewal program, financial forecasting, institutional

growth, and capital budgeting.

A registered professional engineer (PE) in Texas, he has a Master of Business and Administration degree

(MBA), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He is also an Accredited Professional

in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP®).

A purpose-driven engineer and the driving force behind our Houston Structural Practice, Robert’s

expertise spans a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, higher education and

commercial sectors. He has considerable expertise in the design of new facilities and multi-

phased renovations in the healthcare industry, where he has provided structural design for the

MD Anderson Cancer Center’s South Campus Bioresearch Facility, numerous projects within the

TexasHealth system and other prominent projects nationwide.

At the core of Robert’s philosophy is the belief that every project is more than a series of technical

challenges; it is an opportunity to make a significant impact on people’s lives. This belief drives his

commitment to delivering not only high-quality work but also real value to the communities he serves.

Kathleen Perley is the CEO and Founder of DemystifAI, a leading authority in integrating artificial intelligence with business strategy. She empowers executives to harness AI for transformative business growth. Before founding DemystifAI, Kathleen was the CEO and Founder of DECODE, a healthcare-focused digital transformation agency. Under her leadership, DECODE achieved over $17 million in annual revenue and expanded to over 70 professionals, leading to a high-profile acquisition by two major private equity firms.

Post-acquisition, DECODE became Unlock Health, a single-source growth platform for the healthcare industry, where Kathleen served as Managing Director of Innovation. In this role, she spearheaded the implementation of AI across a team of 350 employees.

Kathleen is also a Lecturer of AI at Rice University's Jones School of Business, where she helps advertising executives integrate advanced technology into their operations. This academic role allows her to blend cutting-edge AI theory with real-world business applications.

Outside of her professional life, Kathleen is a dedicated mother to Charlotte and Everett and enjoys refurbishing her 1972 International Scout. Recognized as one of MM+M's Women to Watch 2024, with her agency listed on the Inc 5000 for three years, Kathleen also serves on MD Anderson's advisory committee and supports Ncourage, an investment fund for women-owned businesses. Her commitment to innovation and community engagement makes her a dynamic force in both her industry and personal life.

Ayana Nathan is responsible for developing and implementing the Healthcare solutions and service strategy for

Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI), including the Regional Solutions & Services (RSS) Americas business unit

(which includes the building automation, fire life safety, security portfolio) as well as the Electrical Products,

Electrification & Automation, Digital Grid and eMobility businesses. She leads a team of Business Developers,

Marketing & Communications Managers and Portfolio Management to develop and grow the Siemens’ Smart

Healthcare strategy. Ayana also most recently served as the founder for the DEI Program currently running in

Siemens Smart Infrastructure US.

Ayana’s professional background spans a broad range of topics, leading projects and initiatives in the areas of

digital transformation, business model innovation, sales and go-to-market strategies, sales technology, partner

management, channel development and training. She joined Siemens in 2001 as a sales trainee in the Sales

Development Program, and was promoted into roles centered around Business Technology and Sales

Excellence. Subsequently, she worked as a Senior Consultant in the Digital Consulting discipline of Siemens

Advanta. In her years as a consultant, she led project teams across various Siemens businesses and industries,

and was responsible for conducting strategic and operational business reviews across all business functions.

She has managed and led complex business projects across Siemens in the U.S. and internationally, specifically

North and South America, AMEA and Europe.

Ayana currently resides in Atlanta, but was born and raised in Sanford, FL. She holds a Bachelor's degree in

Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida where she was an active member of NSBE and served in

Vice President and President roles before graduating. She is currently a Professional Member of NSBE Region 3

(at Large). Additionally, she has a Masters Degree in General Management from DeVry University's Keller

Graduate School of Management, with a focus in Entrepreneurship.

Kristen Kupperman, Vice President of Design, Construction, and Facilities at Texas Medical Center (TMC).

With a 15-year track record in construction, Kristen has worked in major cities such as New York City,

Chicago, Iowa City, San Diego, and Houston.

As VP of design, construction, and facilities for TMC, Kristen recently completed TMC Helix Park—a

groundbreaking 37-acre campus that redefines collaborative research spaces. This innovative project

features shared and proprietary research centers, multidisciplinary labs, and a distinctive double-helix

green space accessible to the public.

Drawing upon a wealth of experience, Kristen has honed their skills in project management by directly

engaging with employees, clients, subcontractors, vendors, and the medical community. Kristen’s

approach involves creating synergies among diverse stakeholders, ensuring that projects not only meet

the highest standards but also contribute positively to the surrounding community.

Kristen’s expertise extends beyond the realms of traditional construction, as they bring a unique blend

of creativity and practicality to every project. Their commitment to sustainable and inclusive design is

evident in the transformative impact of TMC Helix Park, reflecting Kristen's dedication to creating spaces

that harmonize with both the scientific and social aspects of the medical community.

As Vice President of Design, Construction, and Facilities, Kristen continues to drive TMC towards new

horizons, combining a rich background in construction with a passion for pushing boundaries in

healthcare facility development. Their journey from major metropolises to the heart of Texas

exemplifies a career devoted to shaping the future of healthcare infrastructure.

Liz Schmitz is the Director of Facilities Planning Services at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Her team is responsible for patient care and support projects ranging from small complex renovations to greenfield projects. Her teams’ portfolio currently includes over 6 million square feet of active projects in the TMC and regional locations. Prior to working on the owners’ side, she was a project manager and senior medical planner on national healthcare projects. With 18 years’ experience, Liz is a registered architect in Texas, EDAC certified, and holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture with a Certification in Health Systems and Design from Texas A&M University.

Audra brings over 15 years of project management experience within the AEC Industry. Her experience as a former construction manager for a 2Million sq ft healthcare complex and an international GC allows her to bring a unique perspective to her projects. While her specialization is in healthcare project management, her portfolio contains a diverse range of project types including, research, commercial, heavy civil, higher education, and government. Her newest endeavor with Shah Smith & Associates, Inc. is the new MD Anderson Cancer Center/UT Austin Joint Medical Center.

Reggie’s passion for design came early in life. From long road trips in the back seat of his parent’s car, Reggie watched as concrete beams shifted into place during freeway construction. Already gifted in sketching and drawing, it was between the yellow lines of the highway, watching crews’ piece together the intricacies of the thoroughfare, that he first realized his intrigue for design and construction.

Now with more than 20 years of healthcare project experience, Reggie can be considered a bridge-builder of a different sort: he believes that healthcare design provides a unique opportunity to build community and create spaces that inspire beyond their functional requirements. He’s fueled by the opportunity to contribute to the wellbeing of humanity by providing design solutions that delight, connect, and stimulate. “Regardless of scale, every project has a story to tell,” he says, “I am passionate about the collaborative process that uncovers what works for each project’s climate, culture, and context.”

Dana Harrison, has over 17 years of expertise in healthcare construction management

and is a driving force in the industry. With a strong passion for her work, she has led

multiple teams in the successful completion of hundreds of projects. Managing a

substantial portfolio, she sets the project pace and consistently exceeds expectations.

Dana's leadership fosters collaborative endeavors with diverse user groups, skillfully

navigating competing interests while aligning with project owners' goals.

With a proven track record, Mrs. Harrison’s extensive experience spans multiple large

healthcare systems in Houston, and the surrounding areas. As Vice President of

Milestone Project Management, she empowers an innovative culture, steering

innovation, and delivering exceptional results, establishing herself as trusted leader in

the Houston healthcare construction landscape. Dana is a certified Project management

Professional (PMP) and is on the board of the Texas Chapter of Women in Healthcare.

Amy Lopez is an Executive Vice President for McCoy Rockford Commercial Interiors with responsibilities

in the Houston and Austin markets. In her 10 years with the company, she has focused on growing the

business by leading in several areas including Brand Experience Team, Furniture Design Team,

Healthcare/Life Science Market Sector and most recently the founder of the Idea Collider.

Amy has 30 years of experience in architecture/design and is a licensed interior designer in the state of

Texas. Prior to joining McCoy Rockford, she was a designer and principal at WHR Architects for 17 years

and then spent 3 years with SSR (MEP Engineers) as a Studio Leader and principal. She is very active in

professional organizations and has held national leadership positions with IIDA, AAHID and Women in

Healthcare as well as serving in the local community as a Board Member and Board President for Fort

Bent Women’s Center. Amy has a passion for inspiring new ideas and building strategies that provide a

strong foundation for growth and inspiration.

James Bretting is currently Associate Vice President, Real Estate for Memorial Hermann Health

System, the largest not-for-profit health system in Southeast Texas with 17 hospitals and

numerous specialty programs and services. James has been in this role since July, 2015 when he

was promoted from his previous role of Director of Real Estate. He currently oversees all real

estate transactions for the system including acquisitions, dispositions and office and retail

leasing. He also has a prominent role in real estate development for the system which at the

current time exceeds $1 billion. Prior to his employment with Memorial Hermann, James served

as Senior Asset Manager of Weingarten Realty Investors and oversaw all aspects and day to day

operations of an 8.5 million square foot industrial portfolio located outside the state of Texas.

His responsibilities included acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and overall portfolio

performance. James began his career as a commercial real estate appraiser after earning a

Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University with a concentration in real

estate and finance.

Marissa is a Director of Facilities and Construction Projects at Houston Methodist Hospital since 2016. In

this role, she oversees master planning efforts as well as design, construction and activation of large and

small capital improvement projects for Houston Methodist’s Sugar Land, Clear Lake and Cypress

Campuses. Focused on the healthcare sector for essentially her entire career, Marissa consistently

pursuits her mission to build innovative environments that nurture healing for patients, visitors and staff

alike. Her capability to bridge the various clinical programs, institutional levels and geographic settings

reflect her ability to uniquely respond to the needs of each community. Marissa obtained her Bachelor’s

degree in Architecture from the University of Panama, and her Master’s Degree in Construction

Management from Texas A&M University, College Station. She is a licensed Architect in the State of

Texas, a Certified Construction Manager, a Certified Energy Manager, and a LEED Accredited

Professional. Prior to joining Houston Methodist Hospital, Marissa’s career included assignments with

ExxonMobil in the Woodlands Campus, and Jacobs in the Metropolitan Houston area. In her spare time,

Marissa enjoys watching her kids play sports, home improvement projects, long walks, and the

occasional round of golf.

Stephen Cheatham serves as the Executive Vice President at m Strategic Partners,

Inc., a Houston based Program Management firm that specializes in Healthcare Design

& Construction.

Mr. Cheatham began his career at mSP in 2016 as the lead Project Manager on a major

healthcare assignment and over the past 8 years progressed his role in the firm to his

current role and Partner in the firm. Cheatham’s responsibilities as Partner and

Executive Vice President include serving as the Project Executive on several major

capital programs, managing the firm’s daily business operations, with a focus on project

resources planning and management, and growing existing and new client

relationships.

Prior to joining mSP, Cheatham was a Project Manager with a major General Contractor

in the Houston Market specializing in Healthcare Construction. Cheatham is a well

known content expert in the Healthcare Design & Construction market and leverages

that expertise to the benefit of mSP and their Clients.  Cheatham resides in Houston

with his wife Lori and daughter Olivia, enjoying his family and golf time.

Joan is a very experienced designer who has led the planning and design of many complex projects, including academic, corporate, healthcare, multi-family and government facilities. She is highly skilled in developing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for complicated building programs using comprehensive understanding of the client’s goals and objectives. Joan believes in a holistic approach to building design, paying close attention to the interior building program components while balancing the regional and contextual issues of the building architecture.

Dr. Kim Keller’s passion for surgery was sparked during his first surgical rotation at the University of Arkansas medical school. He then completed his general surgery residency at The University of Florida at Jacksonville. Dr. Keller is Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Over the past 30 plus years, Dr. Keller has developed a reputation as a compassionate and innovative surgeon. He performs both general and advanced laparoscopic surgeries including use of robotic assisted surgery using the DaVinci robot.

Dr. Keller specializes in breast disease but also performs surgeries for gallbladders, hernias, and other gastrointestinal conditions as well as hemorrhoids.

Dr. Keller is one of 6 physicians who had the vision for a new hospital in the northwest Cypress corridor. North Cypress Medical Center opened its doors in January 2007 to meet the needs of the blossoming Cypress area. Dr. Keller was not only one of North Cypress Medical Center’s General Partners but the hospital’s Chief of Surgery as well as the founder of the High-Risk Breast Clinic. HCA purchased NCMC in 2018 and renamed the hospital HCA Healthcare Houston - North Cypress. Dr. Keller is a member of HCA-North Cypress Board of Directors.

Dr. Keller has continued his quest to bring the latest medical advancements and technology to the Cypress community. Recently, Dr. Keller led a group of physicians along with HCA- North Cypress to build the Doctors’ Pavilion located at 10425 Huffmeister Rd. This medical office building includes a 6 operating room outpatient surgery center. He has additional projects currently in development.

Dr. Keller was awarded HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress Hometown Hero Award. He has been recognized as one of America’s Top Surgeons several times as well as a Texas Super Doctor from Texas Monthly Magazine. He has been chosen by readers’ choice for Living Magazine for General Surgery.

Dr. Keller also performs surgery at Methodist-Willowbrook, Memorial Hermann-Cypress, HCA North Cypress, HCA North Cypress Surgery Center, and Cy-Fair Surgery Center.

Rachel Calafell is a Principal and Senior Project Manager at Walter P Moore, where she has worked on a diverse array of projects including new facilities, adaptive reuse, and significant renovations since joining the firm in 2008. She has served as Structural Project Manager/Engineer of Record for award-winning projects at Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Memorial Hermann, TMC, UT Health, UTMB, and Legacy Community Health. Rachel’s passion for tackling unique challenges, understanding and responding to client needs, and fostering collaboration resulted in her projects winning consecutive gold medals in Engineering Excellence ("Structural Systems") for 2023 and 2024, along with the esteemed Eminent Conceptor Award (2023) by ACEC Texas. Rachel is invested in nurturing the next generation of engineers through mentorship, leading educational sessions, and authoring industry publications.

Trent Smith is the Director of Business Development for Zonda Demographics, one of the leading demographic firm in Texas, working with more than 200 public schools, municipalities and architecture firms. The parent company, Zonda, is the largest provider of single family housing data in North America,

covering more than 90% of the US market. Trent has been doing demographic research and consulting for the last 11 years with clients across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

As Gensler’s South Central healthcare practice area leader, Alanna is focused on

expanding the region’s portfolio of work by tapping into her 30 years of design

experience spanning projects that include hospitals, specialty clinics, senior living, and

surgery centers. A hands-on visionary known for delivering innovative solutions to

complex challenges, Alanna frequently spends time with global healthcare pioneers to

stay abreast of current thinking and strategies for providing high-quality care that

exceeds patients’ expectations. Alanna’s design philosophy centers on improving

experiences and outcomes for people, a belief that she strives to impart to the next

generation of leaders.

Kyle Pfeiffer leads SALTO Systems’ healthcare solutions business practice. His focus is on aligning SALTO’s innovative access control technology and hardware with the ever-evolving needs of the healthcare industry.

Kyle is an access control expert and hands-on problem solver, he is passionate about security and safety at hospitals, MOBs and medical campuses, and within senior and assisted living environments. Together with SALTO, he is on a mission to bring new technologies and products to market that keep patients, staff, visitors, data and property safe and enhance the provider’s ability to deliver the highest levels of care and user experience.