Events

We watched Venezuela in amazement, while news broadcasted overwhelming happiness by some and dismay by others. Professor Francisco Monaldi will be providing a timely analysis of Venezuela's oil and US policy: What to expect?             and reponding to your questions on Thursday, January 22, 2026. 

Francisco J. Monaldi, Ph.D., is the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy and director of the Latin America Energy Program at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

He is also a fellow at the Claudio X. González Center for the United States and Mexico, a lecturer in energy economics at Rice University’s Department of Economics, and a lecturer in energy management at the Jones Graduate School of Business. He is a member of the International Faculty at IESA School of Management in Venezuela and Panama, where he was a professor and the founding director of the Center for Energy and the Environment. He is a nonresident fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

He is a member of the International Advisory Council of Global Americans, the Venezuela Solutions Group of the Atlantic Council, and the Education Advisory Board of the Association of International Energy Negotiators. 

Monaldi was previously a visiting professor at the School of Government at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in México; an adjunct senior research scholar at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University; a visiting professor of energy policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; an associate of the Geopolitics of Energy Project and the Roy Family Fellow of the Environment and Natural Resources Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; the Robert F. Kennedy Visiting Professor in Latin American Studies at Harvard University; an adjunct professor of international energy policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; a visiting professor of political economy at Stanford University; a national fellow at the Hoover Institution; and a researcher and lecturer in political economy at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas. He has also been a visiting lecturer at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, and the Universidad ESAN in Lima.

Monaldi is a leading scholar on the politics and economics of energy and resource policy in Latin America. He also studies institutions and resource wealth management in developing countries. He has consulted with numerous international institutions, governments and companies — including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, CAF Development Bank of Latin America, Saudi Aramco, Ecopetrol, PDVSA, PEMEX, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Total Energies, Equinor, JP Morgan, Barclays, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Harvard Center for International Development, S&P, Rystad, Wood Mackenzie, Eurasia Group, Medley Advisors, and the governments of Norway, the U.K., the U.S., Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan.

Monaldi has authored and coauthored numerous academic publications, including “Shale Renders the Obsolescing Bargain Obsolete: Political Risk and Foreign Investment in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta” (Resources Policy, 2021); “The Cyclical Phenomenon of Resource Nationalism in Latin America” in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia (Oxford University Press, 2020); “The Political Economy of Oil Taxation in Latin America” in “The Political Economy of Taxation in Latin America,” G. Flores-Macias, ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2019); “Institutional Collapse” in “Venezuela Before Chavez: Anatomy of an Economic Collapse,” R. Hausmann and F. Rodriguez, eds. (Penn State University Press, 2014); “Oil Fueled Centralism,” in “Oil and Gas in Federal Systems,” G. Anderson, ed. (Oxford University Press, 2012); and “The Political Economy of Oil Contract Renegotiation in Venezuela,” in “The Natural Resources Trap: Private Investment without Public Commitment,” W. Hogan and F. Struzenegger, eds. (MIT Press, 2010).

He holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in political science (political economy) from Stanford University, an M.A. in international and development economics from Yale University, and a B.A. in economics from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello.

LAST CHANCE:  Join the Rotary Club of Houston for an intimate evening fundraiser in support of Rotary Camp Enterprise and Youth Programs.

Enjoy a welcoming reception with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine, hosted by Terry and Dr. Joe Agris at their Bellaire home. The evening will include a special safari tour beginning at 4:30 PM, followed by time to connect with fellow supporters who share a commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders.  Guests coming to the reception and program only should arrive at 5:30 PM. You will be entertained on the Grand Piano by Kathleen Fenninger and on the harp by Kate Gabriele.  Light Italian cuisine will be offered.  

You will also meet and be briefed by students who participated in previous Camp Enterprise programs.  It's a great celebration of how Rotary of Houston supports and encourages both social and business entrepreneurship.  Come learn about this 21st century youth leadership program for area high school students.  Please RSVP now.  Interested guests are welcome.  

Proceeds from this event support Rotary’s signature project, Camp Enterprise, an immersive business and leadership experience for Houston-area high school students, and other youth development programs of the Rotary Club of Houston.  We hope you will join us for this fun and festive friendraiser.  As a guest at this event, we request a donation of your choice by clicking on the "Donate" link below.  

Donate to Camp Enterprise 2026

January 29, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Safari Tour begins at 4:30 PM

400 Mulberry Lane
Bellaire, TX 77401

Kindly RSVP by January 26.

Phil Hampton

Phil Hampton, a Houston native and Milby High School graduate, earned a BBA in marketing before building a 40‑year career as owner and operator of American Gear & Supply Co., Inc., serving the oil industry. A dedicated Rotarian since 1973, Phil served as President of the Rotary Club of Houston (2000–2001), completed four years as District Governor, and spent two decades on the Rotary Club of Houston Foundation board, holding every officer position. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and Major Donor Level 2.

Phil and his wife Deborah have been married for 56 years and share a daughter, Meghan. They are active members of University Baptist Church, where Deborah teaches a women’s Bible study class and Phil serves as Department Director of his Bible study group.

Shahla Mohammad‑Hosseini, MBA

Shahla Mohammad‑Hosseini was born and raised in Iran and later moved to the United States to pursue her education at the University of Utah, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and completed her MBA while working full time. She built a successful management career across the public sector and the oil and gas industry, including leadership roles at Conoco, ConocoPhillips, and BP, before retiring in 2022.

An avid traveler who has explored 34 countries, Shahla has lived in Iran, Switzerland, the U.S., and Mexico. She enjoys modern and contemporary art, volunteers at BARC Animal Shelter, and loves spending time with her two cats. A committed Rotarian since 2024, she serves on the board as Treasurer‑Elect and recently attended the Rotary International Conference in Canada.

Karen Sotallaro, CFP®, CRPS®

Karen Sotallaro is a Managing Director and Wealth Advisor at Cresset with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.  Born in New York, Exxon transferred her family to Maryland then Houston when she was 5 and has called Houston home most of her life.  Karen has a B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.  Those that know her know she is passionate about her Aggies and bleeds maroon. 

Karen has been a member of the Rotary Club of Houston since 2013, is two-time club Treasurer and Immediate Past President.  She is currently serving as Chair of the Lombardi Award which the Rotary Club of Houston established in 1970 to honor coach Lombardi’s legacy, recognize the nation’s Outstanding College Lineman and raise funds for cancer research.  Karen also actively volunteers with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Stephen L. Williams, MEd, MPA

Stephen Williams is an accomplished public health executive with more than 30 years of experience leading large, complex health and human services organizations. He has secured over $117 million in funding, launched nationally recognized initiatives in HIV prevention, children’s health, and emergency preparedness, and built broad partnerships centered on health equity and community well‑being.

He previously served as Director of the Houston Health Department, where he guided major public health programs and emergency responses, and as Programs Director in the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Precinct 1. Williams is widely recognized for his expertise in public health policy, organizational transformation, and strategic program development.

Join the Rotary Club of Houston the 2nd Tuesday evening of each month for food, fun and fellowship.  There is no charrge to attend.  Participants are responsible for purchasing their own drinks and food.  

SPEAKER: LISA FALKENBERG, INTRODUCTION BY DUNCAN KLUSSMANN

Lisa Falkenberg is a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the Houston Chronicle’s senior columnist.

Falkenberg formerly led the Chronicle’s editorial board as vice president and editor of opinion. In May, Falkenberg shared a Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for a series on the dangers of stopped trains in Houston. In 2022, she led the editorial board to their first Pulitzer Prize for a series debunking the “Big Lie” of voter fraud and examining Texas’ long history of voter suppression. 

Falkenberg wrote a metro column at the Chronicle for more than a decade and in 2015 was awarded the Pulitzer for commentary, as well as the American Society of News Editors’ Mike Royko Award for Commentary/Column Writing for a series that exposed a wrongful conviction in a death penalty case and led Texas lawmakers to reform a grand jury system ripe for abuse. She was a Pulitzer finalist in 2014 and 2023.

Raised in Seguin, Texas, Falkenberg is the daughter of a truck driver and a homemaker, and the first in her family to go to college. She earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000. She started her career at The Associated Press, first as a college student in Austin, helping cover the Legislature, and later in Dallas, covering everything from politics to capital murder trials. She joined the Chronicle’s Austin bureau in 2007 as a roving state correspondent.

Falkenberg lives in Houston and is the mother of two teen daughters and a 5-year-old son.

Join Virtually ---> February 16, 2026

The Rotary Club of Houston is partnering with KIPP Academy for the Dictionary Project.  Ten Rotarians are needed to volunteer. The Dictionary Project is a literacy initiative that provides age-appropriate dictionaries to third grade students, helping strengthen reading, writing, and vocabulary skills at a critical stage of learning.  Rotarians meet with the students, talk about the importance of reading and learning new words, and explain how to use a dictionary as a helpful tool at school and at home. The visit creates excitement around reading, gives students a sense of pride in owning a book of their own, and leaves a lasting impression of community members investing in their education and success.

John Whitmire, the 63rd Mayor of Houston was sworn in on January 1, 2024, bringing decades of public service experience to the role. Before becoming mayor, he served as the longest-tenured member of the Texas State Senate, representing Houstonians for 40 years in the Texas Senate and 10 years in the Texas House. Throughout his career, Whitmire has been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform, public safety, and economic development. As mayor, Whitmire is focused on strengthening public safety, fixing the city’s finances and infrastructure, and improving Houstonians' quality of life. His leadership is shaped by his love for people, his vast understanding of government and his commitment to public service.

Join us for our monthly RCoH After Hours Social for fun and fellowship.  Get to know other RCoH members and guests in a relaxed atmosphere.  

No charge to attend and food and beverages are availalbe for purchase at the Restaurant.  

Jeffrey Rosenberg

President and CEO Tristar Productions

Jeffrey Rosenberg, our speaker today founded and has served as President and CEO of TRISTAR Productions, Inc. since its inception in 1987 which has grown into one of the leaders of the sports memorabilia industry. He was born here in Houston, Texas, attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergraduate and South Texas College of Law for his law degree. Rosenberg, decided to forego the practice of law and focus on his sports memorabilia business and is now in his 40' year of doing so. He developed and has put into practice a concept called the MegaShow, which brings together hundreds of the leading dealers of sports collectibles, the most famous athletes and thousands of avid collectors to a particular location on a given weekend. Under his direction, TRISTAR has grown to become one of the nation's largest producer of authenticated autographed sports memorabilia. Under his leadership, TRISTAR conducts more than 300 in-person autograph signings annually with the top sports and entertainment stars of yesterday and the brightest stars of today. He has forged close, personal working relationships with many of the best and brightest stars in sports, including Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Wilt Chamberlain, Sandy Koufax, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Joe Namath, Tom Brady, Barry Bonds, Bart Starr, Ken Griffey, Jr and many, many more.

Rotary Night at the Rodeo | Rotary District 5890

The Rotary Club of Houston will have an off-site event Thursday March 19, 2026

You are invited to a tour and conversation at the University of Houston-Downtown.  It is a separate University from the UH central campus with its own president, curriculum and facilities at the northern edge of downtown Houston in the old M&M building and many new facilities.  You’ll meet some of the leading administrators, faculty and students and tour the campus and its beautiful views of our City.  A box lunch will be provided.

The University of Houston-Downtown is a comprehensive four-year university offering bachelor's and master's degree programs aimed at career preparation.  Growing Strong Since 1974.  UHD has expanded to serve the educational needs of America’s fourth-largest city. Now, UHD offers bachelor's degrees in 45 areas of study and 12 master's degrees with over 13,000 students.  UHD creates an environment that welcomes and embraces students from all backgrounds.

With an 18-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, UHD provides a unique hands-on learning environment for each student. They can choose from face-to-face instruction downtown or on our satellite locations, degrees and classes offered completely online and even a combination of the two.  Some of our Camp Enterprise students have enrolled there with great success. 

Best of all, UHD offers everything for one of the lowest tuition rates among state colleges and universities. Please join us to learn more about this dynamic University in the heart of Downtown Houston.  Parking and lunch are included in your reservation.  Carpools are encouraged.  Contact Martin Cominsky for more information, 713-705-4829.

The University of Houston-Downtown is located at One Main Street. Detailed parking instructions will be sent to all who register to attend.  Here’s a link to the area.  University of Houston - Downtown.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about higher education in Houston and tour this ever-growing campus.

Click, Send, Gone: The Global Fraud Machine TargetIng Americans

Daily, hourly---too often we receive calls, texts, emails, and solicitations from what may appear to be trusted sources. How can you be sure? The voice sounds like a family member so we respond quickly! How do you really know? What should you do? Who do you contact? Our FBI speaker will provide enlightening, frightening, and important information for you, your family, your company.

Connor Hagan

FBI Public Affairs Officer

As an FBI spokesman, Connor Hagan manages daily press inquiries, coordinates media

matters during critical incidents, and amplifies major FBI investigations for public awareness. In

this role, Connor enjoys building lasting relationships with law enforcement partners, journalists,

and community leaders across Texas while maintaining a dynamic FBI presence on social media.

In addition to his public affairs duties, he also serves on FBI Houston’s lifesaving Crisis

Negotiation Team.

Over a decade ago, Connor began his FBI career as a covert member of FBI Milwaukee’s

Special Surveillance Group. As part of that team, he conducted clandestine surveillance

operations targeting foreign intelligence agents, suspected terrorists, and corrupt elected officials.

He later transitioned into an investigative support role where he assisted counterterrorism,

counterintelligence, and violent crime squads with complex investigations.

In 2018, Connor accepted an FBI public affairs position in Houston. Two years later, he

transferred to serve as the sole FBI spokesman for Arkansas. During this time, he was selected

for the FBI’s elite Media Fly Team where he deployed to numerous mass casualty incidents and

special security events across the country. Following this assignment, he moved back to Houston

in his current role as an FBI spokesman.

In his free time, Connor and his beautiful wife love cheering on their Ole Miss Rebels,

discovering underrated Houston restaurants, and spending time with their dopey dog, Morty.

They are also thrilled to welcome their first child in just a few weeks. Originally from his

beloved hometown of St. Louis, Connor is a proud graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole

Miss), where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history.

Michael brings over four decades of active participation in business and civic engagements in Houston. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University and his Juris Doctorate from Emory University. Beginning in his career in law, Michael served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives before assuming the role of General Counsel at Sysco Corporation in 1981. Following his retirement from Sysco in 2010, he assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer at Grocer’s Supply Company.

Following the sale of Grocers Supply, Michael transitioned into the non-profit sector by taking on the role of interim CEO at the Houston Parks Board, a significant public-private partnership pivotal in the development of over 150 miles of bikeway parks along Houston’s bayous. In 2019, he joined the Coalition for the Homeless, another impactful public-private partnership. During his tenure as President and CEO of Coalition for The Homeless (CFTH), he significantly improved its governance structures, promoted diversity within the organization, established new funding avenues for the homeless response system, nurtured strong collaborations, and showcased the positive impact of governmental involvement in societal welfare. Under his guidance, the Coalition and its collaborators successfully transitioned more than 10,000 individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent supportive housing.

Michael retired from his role on January 31, 2024. On March 4, 2024, he accepted Mayor John Whitmire’s Appointment as the Director of the Housing and Community Development Department for the City of Houston. In this capacity, Director Nichols is tasked with spearheading efforts to ensure all Houstonians have access to safe, affordable housing in communities where they can thrive. This appointment aligns with the Administration’s commitment to position Houston as the most affordable housing city in the nation.

Michael has shared a loving bond with Marcia Couch Nichols for more than 40 years, and together they have raised four wonderful children. His joy extends to embracing the role of a doting grandfather to five cherished grandchildren, a role that brings him immense happiness and fulfillment.

Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Houston has proudly sponsored Camp Enterprise, an immersive business training experience for 80 Greater Houston high school juniors.

Every year, 60 students are provided with all-expenses-paid transportation to the beautiful Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, along with accommodation, meals, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will never forget! Additionally, thousands of dollars in college scholarships are awarded each year.

The 2026 District 5890 Club Leadership Training will take place at the Beckendorf Center - Lone Star College in Tomball. 

The Leadership Traoining presents a great opportiunity to learn about taking on  leadership roles within our Rotary Club or to deepen your Rotary knowelkdge while connecting and networking with Rotarians from across District 5890.  

Attendance is highly encouraged for all Club members.

Please click on the link below for more information and to register.  

2026 Club Leadership | Rotary District 5890

Rotary District 5890 is co-sponsoring the Houston Airports' Human Trafficking Awareness Symposium at the Wortham Center.  As part of a recently apporved Anti- Child Trafficking Global Grant, Rotary District 5890 will be debuting a new Social Media video citing the signs, signals, and threats to our children by Cartel-Driven Sex Traffickers in Harris and Surrounding Counites. 

 The Symposium is free of charge and a light lunch will be provided.  

Please click on the link pasted below to register.

Rotarians Unite Against Child Sex Trafficking | Rotary District 5890

join us for our monthly RCoH after -hours social. Enjoy good conversation and fellowship with your fellow Rotarians and guests.  Food and drinks available for order. 

Rhonda Kuykendall is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in social work, human trafficking advocacy, and legislative policy. In her current role as Task Force Director for the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective (Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office and United Against Human Trafficking), Rhonda leads efforts to combat human trafficking. Rhonda's most recent role was as the Anti-Child Trafficking Consultant at Texas CASA, where she collaborated with key stakeholders to develop best practices and protocols for the 75 CASA programs statewide. In this capacity, she worked closely with the Office of the Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and care coordination teams to enhance statewide efforts in combating child trafficking.

She is an active member of several key organizations, including the Texas Human Trafficking Survivor Leader Council and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault's Survivor Advisory Board. Additionally, Rhonda chairs the Legislative Advocacy Team on the Board of Directors for Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

As a TEDx speaker, Rhonda shared her insights on Familial Sex Trafficking: Healing Through Helping, discussing the importance of community-driven approaches to recovery and prevention. Her advocacy work continues to inspire change, drawing from her expertise and personal experience.

Details coming soon...

The Rotary District 5890 Conference will be held on April 30-May 3 at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

Please click on the link pasted below for Registration and Hotel Information.

Look forward to seeing you in Galveston

2026 District Conference | Rotary District 5890

Brandon Rottinghaus
Professor

Department of Political Science

University of Houston

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