Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
Eric Botts	Jan 30, 2020 8:00 AM	The Challenge of Artificial Intelligence and the Question of Human Agency Eric C. Botts, Adjunct Professor of International Studies at the University of St.Thomas and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Houston Downtown, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. Mary’s University and Master of Security Management from the University of Houston Downtown. After service for 31 years in the U. S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer (Santa Domingo, Seoul, Dublin, and Nassau), Assistant Director of Houston Passport Agency and an Information Systems Security Officer, Mr. Botts retired to work in the private sector. During his federal career, he served as Program Chairman of the Gulf Coast Federal Safety Council and as a member of the Federal Executive Board. He is a founding board member of the Foreign Policy Alliance and has spoken on foreign policy issues to civic groups, colleges, and the media. He works as a Security Project Manager Consultant for Swailes & Co. Inc. specializing in cyber security, risk management, business continuity, due diligence, travel security, and investigations. In the cyber security community, he is on the Secure World Advisory Council and served on the Executive Board of the IT Summit.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol	Feb 06, 2020	CBD and Hemp Product Craze - What is the real truth TOPIC: What’s all this buzz about CBD and Hemp? Please join us to learn about the current legal landscape surrounding hemp and CBD, what CBD is, and why it has become so popular. BIO: Kimberly Phipps-Nichol opened Houston Hemporium with her family in 2019 after the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill at the federal level and Texas’ House Bill 1325 legalizing the growth and production of hemp and hemp-based products here in Texas. Kimberly is a descendant of several US founding families who were hemp farmers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and of sailors and whalers who used hemp fiber for sails and ropes from the 17th century until growth and production were outlawed in the 1930’s. She is honored to be back with her West U Rotary family after a brief leave of absence to get this and another company, RoKi Design, started last year.
Chris Tomlinson	Feb 13, 2020	Thew Houston Chronicle - Business Columnist About this Author Chris Tomlinson has written a commentary on business, energy, and economics for the Houston Chronicle since 2014. Before joining the Chronicle, he spent 20 years with The Associated Press reporting on politics, conflicts, and economics from more than 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He’s also the author of the New York Times bestseller Tomlinson Hill, and he produced the award-winning documentary film by the same name. Both examine the history and consequences of race, politics, and economics in Texas
Patricia King-Ritter	Feb 20, 2020	Shade, Paly and Water - Evelyn's Park Executive Director of Evelyn's Park - Bellaire Nestled on five acres of green space in Bellaire, Texas, Evelyn’s Park offers our community a place to relax, reset, and rekindle connections with the outdoors and each other. https://www.evelynspark.org/about-park
TBA - HCC Vocational Training	Feb 27, 2020	TBA David Redford to confirm
Carrin Patman	Mar 05, 2020	Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Carrin Patman is chair of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. She is METRO’s first woman chair, appointed in 2016 by Mayor Sylvester Turner. She previously served on the board from 2010 to 2013.
Emma and Sebastian - RYE	May 14, 2020	My year in Houston Our exchange students, Emma and Sebastian, will give us a presentation of their experience living in Houston and going to school from August 2019 to now.

About this Author