HBA Ambassadors

A group shot of the 20 ambassadors standing on a staircase

About the Ambassador Program

The HBA selects 20 members to serve as “HBA Ambassadors” for a two-year term. The first class was appointed in July 2013 for the 2013-2015 term. Ambassador class two served the 2015-2017 term. Ambassador class three is serving the 2019-2021 term.

HBA Ambassadors conduct presentations to law firms, legal departments, HBA sections, HBA committees, law students, and other legal groups of both HBA members and non-members as needed. The 2019-2021 Ambassadors will teach Leadership classes.

Ambassadors attend HBA programs and events as representatives of the HBA to interact with attendees in an effort to increase knowledge of the HBA.

The purpose of the program is to increase knowledge and understanding in the legal community about the benefits of HBA membership, increase volunteerism and participation in the HBA, and increase volunteers for pro bono service.

The HBA projects and communications departments, as well as the membership and professionalism committees, work with the HBA Ambassadors to prepare their presentations and to schedule opportunities for presentations.

2019-2021 Ambassador Class

Headshots of Aana, Ali, Brown, Cantu and Castro Headshots of Coleman, Das, Goodfellow, Hsu and Kamel

Mariame Aana

Lone Star Legal Aid

Jackie Coleman

Locke Lord LLP

Fatima Hassan Ali

Jones Day

Pia Das

Spurlock & Associates, P.C.

Ashley Brown

Schlumberger

Maine Goodfellow

Phillips 66 Company

Ryan Cantu

Johnson DeLuca Kurisky & Gould, P.C.

David Hsu

Givens & Johnston, PLLC

Alicia Castro

Locke Lord LLP

Alex Kamel

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Headshots of Langham, McAnelly, Mendoza, Miller and Oehl Headshots of Ogbonda, Smith, Tumati, Yeh and Zahid

Chanler Langham

Susman Godfrey L.L.P.

Agape Ogbonda

Spencer Ogden Inc

Jacquelyn McAnelly

Cersonsky, Rosen & Garcia, P.C.

Quentin Smith

Vinson & Elkins LLP

E. Derick Mendoza

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Neeharika Tumati

Harris County Clerk’s Office

David Miller

Amaro Law Firm

Andrew Yeh

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Susan Oehl

Jenkins & Kamin LLP

Zeinab Kachmar Zahid

Matías J. Adrogué, PLLC

10 male and 10 female ambassadors are appointed to two-year terms.

Ambassadors reflect the diversity of the HBA membership, including age, ethnic diversity, firm size, career and education background, and practice area.

Click here for profiles on this class of ambassadors.

Previous Ambassador Classes

Class 1 – 2013-2015
Brian Albrecht, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Anna Archer, U.S. District Court
Mickey Baden, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Chevazz Brown, Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Helene Dang, Foster LLP
Sammy Ford IV, Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing, P.C.
Diana Perez Gomez, Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom, L.L.P.
Angelica Hernandez, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Yvonne Ho, Bracewell LLP

Alex Macias, Law Office of Alejandro Macias, PC
Ashish Mahendru, Attorney at Law
Danielle Maya, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP
Knox Nunnally, McGuireWoods LLP
Danielle Ramirez, Monty & Ramirez LLP
Tamara Stiner Toomer, McGuireWoods LLP
Travis Torrence, Shell Oil Company
Genetha Turner, Academy Sports & Outdoors
Nicole Voyles, Tindall England PC
Clinton Yu, Givens & Johnston PLLC

Class 2 – 2015-2017
Rick Anderson, Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC
Jamila Brinson, Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Janet Brown, CEVA Logistics
Jesús Castillón, Perkins Coie LLP
Bradford Crocker, Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Chris Domingo, Jones Day
Robert Ford, Fogler, Brar, Ford, O’Neil & Gray LLP
Hillary Holmes, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Scott Kendall, Locke Lord LLP
Farrah Martinez, Farrah Martinez, PLLC

Jenny Nguyen, City of Houston Legal Department
Marni Otjen, Attorney at Law
Precious Owodunni, Mountaintop Consulting
Tracy Penn, TransCanada USA Services, Inc.
Chris Porter, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Neal Sarkar, Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing, P.C.
Simin Sun, Haynes and Boone, LLP
Margot Trevino, Williams Kherkher Hart Boundas, LLP
Ryan Wooten, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Activities & Social Outreach

See the Ambassadors' WFH tips in the HBA at Home video series!

See Ambassador Alex Kamel on Univision 45, discussing the HBA's Virtual LegalLine program in response to COVID-19. A panel of four adults sitting at a table

A panel of four adults sitting at a table

Zeinab Zahid was featured on the Professionalism Committee's CLE Panel for its January 2020 Mentor-Mentee Breakfast.

Three adults stand together in front of a background board

Alex Kamel (right) was co-chair of the planning committee for the 35th Annual HBA John J. Eikenburg Law Week Fun Run, February 15.

Several adults and children standing and sitting

As Lawyers for Literacy Committee Co-chair, Chanler Langham attended the unveiling ceremony for the new library at Shearn Elementary School, February 14.

Mariame Aana and Derick Mendoza show the ambassador class photo on the cover of the September-October 2019 issue of The Houston Lawyer.

A group of adults in cocktail attire standing together

The ambassadors enjoyed attending the 70th Harvest Celebration on November 11.

Ryan Cantu volunteered at the Lawyers for a Beautiful Houston event at the Houston Botanic Garden on November 9.

Agape Ogbonda was featured in the HBA Diversity and Inclusion 1L Summer Internship Program informational panel at the University of Houston Law Center in early November.

Two men, a woman and three children posing together

Derick Mendoza was one of many attorney volunteers at the HBA’s IDEA program in October.

Thank you for the opportunity, @thehba! Happy to serve as an Ambassador this year. pic.twitter.com/Q2Z2q2OHRB
— phatimah (@phatimah) June 19, 2019