Save the Date
Houston
Gateway to the World
The Greater Houston Business Ethics Roundtable Annual Fundraiser & Awards Gala
The Evening
Event Details
GHBER's Annual Fundraiser & Awards Gala brings together Houston, national and global business leaders committed to advancing trust, integrity and ethical leadership in the organizations and communities they serve. Together, we celebrate leaders setting the standard today while investing in the next generation through scholarships, education and community programs.
Date
December 8, 2026
Time
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location
1811 Briar Oaks Ln, Houston, TX 77027
Dress Code
Semi-formal evening attire
About the Theme
Houston: Gateway to the World — Trust & Leadership Open the Gates celebrates Houston's extraordinary role as a global crossroads of commerce, culture and innovation—and the essential role trust and principled leadership play in sustaining that influence. As Houston connects people, industries and ideas across the world, GHBER brings leaders together to strengthen cultures of integrity, celebrate those setting the standard today, and invest in the next generation of ethical leaders who will carry that legacy forward.
Featured Voice
Keynote Speaker
Senior Legal Operations & AI Transformation Executive
Donovan Bell is a senior legal operations and AI transformation executive with more than 20 years of Fortune 500 experience across Intel, Microsoft, Walmart, Las Vegas Sands, and Doosan Bobcat. He most recently served as Head of Global Operations for Intel's Legal organization, building an integrated framework spanning firm management, AI and automation, analytics, and change management. Donovan serves on the Board of Directors of CLOC (Corporate Legal Operations Consortium), the professional association advancing the legal operations discipline worldwide. He is a founding member of its Inclusion & Social Impact Council and co-creator of the CLOC Cares Foundation. Donovan blends innovation and service to advance CLOC's mission of community-driven impact. He is a frequent presenter and facilitator across CLOC and industry events and uses his platform to amplify diverse voices and inspire collaboration across the profession. Donovan often points to an unlikely proving ground for his leadership philosophy: more than two decades homeschooling his large family alongside his wife Janel, building systems tailored to the individual rather than forcing everyone through the same process, the same discipline that drives good legal operations work.
Master of Ceremonies
Featured Emcee
Shern-Min Chow
Veteran Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
Shern-Min Chow is a veteran A.P. and Emmy award-winning journalist. She has spent more than three decades in television news in Texas and traveled from Asia to North America covering world events. She has filed nearly 10,000 news reports over her career and, most recently, also anchored the midday and 4pm broadcasts. She recently pivoted from daily news to launch a new venture, Smart Media Content, and to promote her debut novel, If Not You…, based on a remarkable MD Anderson Cancer Scientist's life, available on Amazon.
Over the years, she has made close to 1,000 community appearances. She currently serves on the advisory boards of the Asia Society and the Chinese Community Center.
A history graduate from Yale University, Shern-Min speaks conversational Mandarin and Shanghai dialects of Chinese. She has also studied Spanish, French and German. Shern-Min and her college sweetheart have two adult sons.
Featured Performance
The Musician
Dominique Hammons
Violinist · I am Stradivari
Dominique Hammons is a genre-defying violinist whose electrifying performances bridge classical mastery with modern soul. Known as "I am Stradivari," he transforms the violin into a voice that resonates across genres — from orchestral stages to contemporary arenas. His artistry brings a singular, unforgettable energy to the evening, setting the tone for a night of celebration and integrity.
Visit dominiquehammons.comThe Evening's Flow
Program
Honoring Integrity
GHBER Leadership Legacy Awards
The GHBER Leadership Legacy Awards honor exceptional leaders whose commitment to integrity, trust and ethical leadership creates lasting impact. From C-Suite executives who set the tone at the top to Ethics, Compliance, Governance and Risk leaders who bring those values to life, our honorees demonstrate that how we lead today shapes the cultures—and leaders—of tomorrow.
Trust & Leadership Excellence Award
The GHBER Trust & Leadership Excellence Award honors an inaugural cohort of 10 distinguished Ethics, Compliance, Governance and Risk leaders who are setting the standard for principled leadership. Through their commitment to integrity, accountability and trust, these leaders strengthen organizational cultures, influence responsible business practices and create a legacy of ethical leadership for those who follow.
Integrity Beacon – Tone at the Top Leadership Award
The GHBER Integrity Beacon – Tone at the Top Leadership Award honors exceptional CEOs, corporate board members, C-Suite executives, and local, national, and global community leaders whose leadership demonstrates that integrity begins at the top. Through their actions, decisions and visible commitment to ethical leadership, these honorees set the standard for accountability and trust—shaping organizational cultures and inspiring others to lead with integrity.
Partner With Us
Tickets & Sponsorships
Partner with GHBER to celebrate ethical leadership and invest in the next generation. Gala sponsorships support scholarships, education and community programs while connecting your organization with a growing community of Ethics, Compliance, Governance and Risk leaders across Houston and beyond.
Individual Ticket (Limited Availability)
$175
- One (1) Individual Ticket
Friend Sponsor
$2,000
- 5 event tickets
- Logo/Name recognition in the souvenir program
Supporting Sponsor
$5,000
Tax-deductible: $3,000
- One table of 10
- Logo recognition in the souvenir program
- Recognition in the GHBER Annual Report
Bronze Sponsor
$8,000
Tax-deductible: $7,500
- One table of 10
- Logo recognition in the souvenir program and GHBER website
- Red carpet interview
- Recognition in the GHBER Annual Report
- Quarter-page ad in the souvenir program
- Tier 1 Corporate Membership for 2027
Silver Sponsor
$10,000
Tax-deductible: $9,500
- One VIP table of 10
- Logo recognition in the souvenir program and GHBER website
- Red carpet interview
- Recognition in the GHBER Annual Report
- Half-page ad in the souvenir program
- Corporate Logo recognition
- Tier 2 Corporate Membership for 2027
Gold Sponsor
$15,000
Tax-deductible: $11,500
- One VIP table of 10
- Logo recognition in the souvenir program and GHBER website
- Red carpet interview
- Recognition in the GHBER Annual Report
- Full-page ad in the souvenir program
- Women of Integrity Conference table of eight
- Tier 3 Corporate Membership for 2027
Platinum Sponsor
$25,000
Tax-deductible: $21,500
- Two VIP tables of 10
- Logo recognition across electronic media, print materials, and GHBER website
- Red carpet interview
- Recognition in the GHBER Annual Report
- Full-page ad in the souvenir program
- Women of Integrity Conference table of eight
- Special GHBER branded gift
- Tier 4 Corporate Membership for 2027
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