Mitch Cohen - Advisory Board Member
Mitch Cohen is an unremitting behind the scenes guy in the Heights. First a volunteer placing artists in retail shops for the Heights 1st Saturday events (over 400 at last count) then starting and running the First Saturday Arts Market, Houston's only and longest running monthly outdoor fine arts event - now five years old. Mitch helped form the White Linen Night in the Heights event and remains on the steering committee. Always in the arts, Mitch earned a living as a professional artist from 1987 through 2007 as a professional sign painter and for fourteen years as a decorative artist and muralist. Mitch now spends his spare time coordinating outdoor events, writing and making a general nuisance of himself.
Elaine Dillard - Board Vice President
A native Houstonian committed to promoting and supporting Houston’s amazing art scene, Elaine combines her experience in event production, catering and the restaurant industry, with a flair for creative design. Elaine has produced such stellar events as: “A Kinky Valentine”, a fundraiser for Kinky Friedman for governor; the “Houston Are You Board?” fundraiser with P.U.S.H. and Aerosol Warfare, for the Lee and Joe Jamail Skate Park (which featured over 150 local and international artists); and the “Bandana” art show with Bomit (again featuring local and national artists). Her numerous non-profit events have included: the “Walt Disney Children’s Charity Event”; “The Super Hero Gala” and “The Wedding” for Infernal Bridegroom Productions; The University of Houston’s “Women’s Studies Annual Gala”; and galas for The Houston Food Bank, the School of the Woods Montessori, The March of Dimes, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. In the past, she has worked with Armando's, of Houston; San Francisco's Aqua; Beaulieu Vineyard; Word of Mouth Catering, in Austin; Houston's Tony’s; the Bella Restaurants Group; and with Chef Philippe Schmit at bistro moderne. She is also on the Board of Directors of Catastrophic Theater, on the Advisory Board for the Lee and Joe Jamail’s Skate Park, and has co-chaired Lawndale’s “Day of the Dead Gala” (2007). Elaine is currently the special events director for Planned Parenthood of Houston and the Southeast Texas (most notably coordinating their young leaders "Party Like A Rock Star" and the annual Roe vs. Wade Luncheon) and received The Houston Grand Opera’s 2008 Ovation Award, which honors Houston’s next generation of dynamic young leaders who pave the way for young professionals in the realm of philanthropic, charitable, and civic endeavors. Elaine never sleeps.
Adam Gibson - Advisory Board Member
Adam Gibson is vice president of International Business and heads the Greater Houston Partnership's World Trade Department. Comprised of the historic Houston Chamber of Commerce, Houston World Trade Association and Houston Economic Development Council, the Partnership is the primary advocate of Houston's business community, dedicated to building regional economic prosperity. The Partnership develops and implements integrated programs to enhance the business climate, business activity, job creation, economic development and quality of life throughout the Houston region.
Adam serves on the Texas Medical Center International Affairs Advisory Committee and the Greater Houston Coffee Association. He is active in the University of St. Thomas International Studies Alumni Association and serves on the Houston Grand Opera's Opening Night Advisory Committee.
Adam holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of St. Thomas, as well as a juris doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law, and is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Peter Glynn - Advisory Board Member
Mr. Glynn joined Agennix, Inc., a Houston biotechnology company in November of 2001 as Director of Business Development. Before joining Agennix, Mr. Glynn was a Senior Associate with McKinsey & Company in Houston, Texas. His principal areas of focus at McKinsey involved work in business building, energy and chemicals practices and included projects as diverse as the creation of a new e-commerce start-up in petroleum shipping and an assessment of the 2001 electric power crisis for the government of California. Prior to joining McKinsey, Mr. Glynn served as a commercial developer in London with Amoco Oil Corporation where he worked principally on the negotiation and commercial development of major gas transportation projects in Egypt, Turkey and the Caspian region. In 1995 Mr. Glynn received his Masters of International Business Studies (MIBS) from the University of South Carolina. He also holds a B.S. in Geology from Duke University.
