Events

Meredith Wheeler brings a passion for community-building, inclusive leadership, and placemaking to her role as Executive Director of the Nature Discovery Center. A lifelong champion of safe, welcoming spaces where people and nature can thrive together, Meredith’s career has spanned nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship, and grassroots advocacy.

Prior to joining the Nature Discovery Center, Meredith co-founded and led Sesh Coworking, Houston’s first inclusive-minded coworking space. She grew Sesh from a grassroots gathering into a well-recognized community hub, earning accolades such as the StartHER Grant from Texas Women’s University, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce’s Allied Business of the Year award and the Houston Business Journal’s Outstanding Diverse Business award. Meredith also serves on the Executive Committee of the Houston ToolBank board, where she supports nonprofits across the region through equitable access to tools and resources. Her leadership is grounded in reciprocity, curiosity and integrity – values shaped by her deep personal connection to the natural world and her belief that belonging should be built into every space we create.

When she’s not nurturing inclusive, nature-rooted communities, Meredith is on her back patio at home with her husband Drew and their three spirited daughters – Vivian, Faye, and Juniper – listening to the birds and reflecting on her place in the greater ecosystem. To her, nature isn’t just a destination; it’s a guide, a teacher, and one of the most sacred spaces we share.

John will be talking about his upcoming move to Israel as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar, as well as the graduate work he will be pursuing in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.  He has lived in Israel on and off for the past two years and has served in medical and food assistance efforts across several areas in the Middle East.

Lee Cisneros has served as Director of Operations for the Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority since 2017, overseeing the design, construction, and operation of utility, street, roadway, and public infrastructure improvements, as well as district investment properties.  Prior to joining Upper Kirby, he was a Development Manager with Midway Companies and spent more than 20 years as a Project Architect with Gensler. He is a graduate of the University of Houston College of Architecture.  Lee resides in the Clear Lake area with his wife and two sons and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

Early detection of cancer is critical to the success of most treatments. There are many laboratory tests intended to detect cancer, but how reliable are the results? In this talk, we will explore the world of “tumor markers,” or blood tests that are used to detect cancer before it causes physical symptoms.

Roger L. Bertholf, Ph.D. is currently the Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine; the Professor of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute and the Medical Director of Clinical Chemistry at Houston Methodist Hospital.  He earned his B.S. (Chemistry) from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA in 1977; his 
M.S. (Chemistry) from University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA in August, 1981 and his Ph.D. (Biochemistry) from University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA in January, 1985.  

CAM RAHMN-SPENCER

Director of Government Relations

Cam Rahmn-Spencer was named Director of Government Relations for the Port of Houston in March of 2021. Cam brings a diverse background to the Port working across the public, non-profit, and private sectors. He currently serves as the Legislative Vice Chair for the National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) as well. Prior to his role at Port Houston, Cam served as the Manager of Government and Public Relations for the Port of Hueneme in Southern California. With a background in legislative analysis, political strategy, communications, marketing, grant writing, and solution-based negotiations, Cam is a strong advocate for Port Houston and our nation’s supply chains.

Cam earned his Masters of Public Policy with a dual specialization in Economics and State/Local Government and a Masters of Dispute Resolution, both from Pepperdine University. He also completed Yale University’s School of Executive Management Certificate in Global Business and Politics. In 2010, Cam earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Biola University.

Ellen Israel Goldberg has a broad background in business, healthcare, education, photojournalism, and creative endeavors--a good foundation for global projects in both professional and volunteer capacities.  She is passionate about building mutual understanding among cultures, with more than 40 years of experience in citizen diplomacy through a variety of local, national, and international activities.

By education, Ellen was a dental hygienist in private practice. Along the way, she was a lecturer and clinical instructor at the University of Texas Dental Branch, then joined her late husband manufacturing office furniture, with stores in five locations. Among her clients were five major consulates in Houston.

Her first trip out of the country was in 1982 when she was 41.  It changed her life. As a result of the visit, she became an author, writing “Finding A Bride and Other Adventures of a Jewish Mother In India.” She also became a photojournalist whose far-reaching articles and pictures have appeared in publications here and abroad.  

Ellen has served on committees and boards, with special interests in the Middle East, India, and Africa.  She has been associated with the sister cities movement since 1993 and was the Founding President of the Houston-Abu Dhabi Sister City Association before serving eight years as the President of Sister Cities of Houston. In 2019, Ellen was appointed as Co-Vice Chair of the Sister Cities International Conference and Co-Chair of the Africa Forum held in Houston. In addition, she was a 2023 plenary speaker in South Africa and was selected as one of the Elders.

She has been acknowledged for her public service. HoustonWoman magazine named Ellen one of Houston's Most Influential Women of 2014.  Her honors include being  named a Global Leader of Influence by the World Affairs Council-Houston, a Global Citizen Award given by the United Nations Association-Houston, and a Lifetime Achievement Award celebrating last year’s International Women's Day.

Ellen’s husband of 60 years passed away in 2022. She has two married children and three grandchildren.  Family is very important to her, and she’s proud that strong values have been passed to the next generations.

Ashley McPhail is the Chief External Affairs and Administration Officer at Texas Medical
Center, where she provides internal leadership to drive the strategic development and support of
policies and regulations for domestic, state-wide, and national legislation. As the leader for
external initiatives, Ms. McPhail is responsible for facilitating engagement with TMC business
partners and governments, both domestic and foreign, across the healthcare and life science
industries. She leads strategic programs such as the Clinical Research Institute and the TMC
international BioBridges to advance innovation and research in the life sciences. In addition to
her external affair responsibilities, Ms. McPhail oversees human resources, and spearheads
operational and organizational initiatives across TMC.
 
Prior to joining TMC in 2015, Ms. McPhail worked for GMMB, Inc. in Washington, D.C. as a
senior account executive providing campaign and communication strategy for global health and
domestic health care clients, including The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the United
Nations Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Ms. McPhail earned her MBA
from Duke University and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Millsaps College.
Ms. McPhail serves on the Millsaps College Board and is actively involved with the Junior
League of Houston and Wesley Community Center.