Board of Directors

Gary Wood
Co-Founder & Board Chair

Gary is the Founder & President of Integrus Solutions, a national recruiting and consulting firm specializing placing professionals in Data Analytics, Information Technology and Engineering & Energy Services. Additionally, Integrus Solutions also provides business consulting services to companies to help improve their recruiting capabilities and professional development services for individual candidates. Integrus Solutions is an LGBTBE^®  certified firm.

For the last 20 years, Gary has dedicated his energy and efforts working with many local nonprofit and charitable LGBT organizations.  He currently serves on the board of the Montrose Center and is president of Outreach United, a nonprofit organization that he founded and is dedicated to bringing a more positive awareness and understanding as well as fundraising to the Houston LGBT community.  In 2010, Gary was named Grand Marshal of the Houston Pride Parade, in recognition of his volunteerism, fundraising, and activism.

Gary is a Co-Founder of the Chamber, former Steering Committee Co-Chair and is recognized as part of the Chamber’s Founding Leadership Council.  He currently serves as the Committee Chair of the Programming & Events committee.

Tammi Wallace
Co-Founder & Chair-Elect

Tammi is the Founder & Principal Consultant of EnFocus Strategies, which supports clients through high quality training and consulting services focused on public affairs and LGBTQ diversity & inclusion.  EnFocus Strategies is one of the first LGBTBE^® certified firms in Houston and is also is certified as a WBE, HUB and Hire Houston First firm.

Tammi utilizes her cross-sector experience to make a difference through her community involvement with various organizations.  In 2016, she was appointed by Mayor Sylvester Turner to serve on the City of Houston’s first LGBTQ Advisory Board.  Tammi also serves on several other boards including the Hollyfield Foundation and the Montrose Management District.  She is a member of the Victory Fund Campaign Board and she co-chaired the 2015 and 2016 Victory Fund Houston Champagne Brunch. In 2017, she was recognized as OutSmart Magazine’s Gayest & Greatest Award for Female Business Person.  Tammi was named Female Grand Marshal of the Houston Pride Parade in 2011 in recognition of her leadership and activism in the LGBTQ community. 

Tammi is a Co-Founder of the Chamber, former Steering Committee Co-Chair and is recognized as part of the Chamber’s Founding Leadership Council.  She currently chairs the Legislative Affairs committee and the Strategic Partnerships & Collaborations committee.

deborah lawson
Secretary

deborah is a non-traditional, collaborative attorney who focuses on helping middle-class individuals with their legal needs without litigation.    She graduated from Texas A&M in 1992, with a BBA in Management, determined to open a Disney-themed flower shop in Russia.  In 2003, she graduated from SMU’s Dedman School of Law, passed the Texas Bar, and moved to Houston to pursue a career in transportation law (railroad and admiralty/maritime).  She’s represented a major railroad and several major shipping lines, but her true passion is helping individuals, especially entrepreneurs, amicably resolve their day-to-day legal issues. 

deborah also works with numerous non-profit organizations to secure tax-exempt recognition and facilitate best practices in corporate governance. In 2008, deborah opened her own boutique practice where she helps people live their legacies: mostly LGBTQ+ family law, with a bit of small business and non-profit work thrown in for balance. 

In addition to serving on the Boards of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston, deborah is the Official Attorney of Lambda NextGen.  She serves as chair of the Governance Committee for the Chamber.

Corey Allen
Treasurer

Corey is the Co-Founder and Financial Consultant for Ecotone LLC.  Ecotone LLC is a technology company offering website development, applications and financial consulting.  Ecotone LLC is committed to creating profit driven technology based possibilities for businesses.  Corey is a Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) in the state of Texas and has more than 17 years of experience in accounting and auditing.  He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Sam Houston State University. 

Corey currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Trustees of the Montrose Softball League Association (“MSLA”).  The MSLA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the promotion of amateur softball for all persons, with special emphasis on the participation of members of the LGBT community of Greater Houston.  In 2013, Corey was the recipient of the Jerry Award acknowledging his commitment to service in the MSLA and the LGBT community. 

A.J. Mistretta

A.J. is a Vice President of LBPR managing restaurant and hospitality public relations in the Houston region. He previously served as director of public relations for Visit Houston and prior to that was an award-winning journalist for newspapers and magazines in Texas and Louisiana. 

A.J. is on the Chamber’s Founding Leadership Council as he was key in helping to launch the Chamber in 2016.  He currently serves as the Committee Chair for Marketing & Communications.  A.J. is a member of the Mayor Sylvester Turner’s LGBT Advisory Board and is a former board member of Lambda NextGen Houston and Outreach United. He is also a contributing editor for MyGayHouston.com.