Gala Committee 

Welcome to our Gala Committee

The IHCH is excited to present 2023’s Gala Theme: ‘Viva!’ This year’s theme celebrates the institute’s appreciation for life and all things with it. The IHCH will welcome all aspects within this year’s theme, Viva la Comida! Viva la Cultura! Viva la Educación! Viva la Vida! This Gala is only possible thanks to the help of our community, sponsors, and members as they strive to reach an ambitious goal of raising funds for scholarships to empower future generations.

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Leslie Warren - Chair

Leslie is a Director in the Accounting & SEC Services Group (ASEC) within PwC's National Office where she focuses on technical accounting issues related to business combinations, variable interest entities, consolidations and equity method investments, PP&E and intangibles / goodwill and related impairment assessments, asset retirement obligations, and accounting and reporting under ASC 932.

Prior to joining ASEC, she served as the editor-in-chief of the 8th edition of PwC's oil and gas textbook, Petroleum Accounting: Principles, Procedures and Issues, released in July 2020. She was previously in the PwC Deals practice where she worked on IPOs and M&A transactions, including the preparation and review of Article 11 pro forma financial statements, SEC pre-clearance letters, changes in the method of accounting for oil and gas properties, and other complex accounting matters.

A proud Houston native, Leslie started her career in external audit and also worked for one of the largest public minerals companies before joining PwC. She has over 11 years of experience in the energy industry working with both public and private companies as they navigate transformational events, which more recently has expanded to also include the energy transition.

Leslie graduated from Texas A&M with her bachelor and masters in accounting. She is a CPA licensed in Texas and a member of the AICPA. She is a previous volunteer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and currently serves on the advisory board for the Texas A&M Energy Accounting Certification program as well as the board of the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston.

Mónica Amariz - Co Chair

Mónica is a proud Colombian born woman, calling Houston home since 2011. An Industrial Engineer by training, Mónica began her career in the coal mining industry in Colombia. Upon relocating to Puerto Rico, she was recruited by Eli Lilly & Co. and started a career in the pharmaceutical industry that took her to be a project manager for Boston Scientific, with which she thrived for five years.

A natural entrepreneur, she moved to Houston to start her own business where she met her husband and after becoming an investor and partner at his company, FlexiPlus Services, together they started ROWL Trucking as a specialized transportation company in the bulk liquid arena. For over 10 years, she excelled as the director and head of finance at both companies and helped grow them over 1,000%, to eight figures in sales and 75+ employees; today their group of companies, ROWL United, is dedicated to Global Logistics Solutions with emphasis in Central and South America. One of her proudest accomplishments is to bring work opportunities back to her small town in Colombia, by establishing a logistics office there and employing over 20 people.

In her current role as Chief Heart Officer, Mónica oversees the well-being of all personnel and the improvement of the workplace environment for an overall pleasant employee experience; she cultivates a culture of diversity and accountability and mentors her employees according to their values: Be ahead, Be Positive, Be the Guide.

Aside from her primary vocational pursuits, she is a member of Houston’s Briar Club and an avid volunteer of Saint John’s School parents’ guild, where she co-chaired the Wassail Party and Holiday Decorations Committee during the 2021-2022 academic year. She is a proud mother of 2 boys, 7-year-old Luka and 19 months old Milan.

Her passion for Interior Design has been always part of her life and finally in 2019 made her take the decision of opening Your Elevated Space, to help others elevate their spaces so they could live and work in a space they love, which she firmly believes everyone deserves.

Carmen Muñoz - Co Chair

Carmen was born in Leon, Mexico. Carmen's passion for design comes from a childhood surrounded by books, history, and the arts. In 1997 Carmen moved to Florence, Italy to study jewelry design studies at Fuji Art School. Her inspiration emanates from a myriad of Italian and other architectural works from the Gothic to the most contemporary. Two years later, she returned to Mexico where she opened her own shop creating custom-made unique pieces for the luxury Mexican market.

In 2000 she moved to Houston, and in 2002 launched "Contemporary Stones" as part of Carmen Ibarra LLC. In 2003, Carmen was named "Best Jewelry Designer" by Houston Press and Houston Chronicle, each dedicating an article featuring her jewelry. In 2011 Carmen opened her studio at the Jewelry Center. Her custom-made designs are unique and she works with clients in both Mexico and the US.

In 2017 Carmen obtained her real estate license, and while jewelry design remains her first love, she is also working with Keller Williams Metropolitan with Uptown Real Estate Group. She works with local and Latin American clients. Carmen is a citizen of both Mexico and the US and is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Italian.

Join us for a festive evening to celebrate Hispanic culture, support educational opportunities for Houston youth, and dine and dance the night away!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES - VIVA! THE GALA! 2023

Presenting Sponsor

$ 50,000
  • (2) Premium Tables for 12 or (1) Royal Table for 24
  • Dedicated cocktail and wine service throughout dinner and program
  • (2) Reserved Hi-Top Tables during cocktail reception and after-party with Presenting Sponsor name / logo
  • Special name recognition in welcome remarks at Gala (option to address attendees in welcome remarks)
  • (6) posts on IHCH LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook pages highlighting you and / or your company as the Presenting Sponsor
  • Commemorative sponsor gift
  • (24) tickets to Miller Outdoor Theater Performance
  • Option to be interviewed for an exclusive profile to showcase contribution and support of the IHCH and Gala

Platinum Sponsor

$ 25,000
  • (1) Premium Table for 12
  • (1) Reserved Hi-Top Table during cocktail reception and after-party with Platinum Sponsor name / logo
  • Special name recognition in welcome remarks at Gala
  • (4) posts on IHCH LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook pages highlighting you and / or your company as a Platinum Sponsor
  • (12) tickets to Miller Outdoor Theater Performance
  • Option to be interviewed for an exclusive profile that will showcase your contribution and support of the IHCH and Gala

Gold
Sponsor

$ 15,000
  • (1) Premium Table for 10
  • (3) posts on IHCH LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook pages highlighting you and / or your company as a Gold Sponsor

Silver
Sponsor

$ 10,000
  • (1) Reserved Table for 10
  • (2) posts on IHCH LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook pages highlighting you and / or your company as a Silver Sponsor

Bronze
Sponsor

$ 8,000
  • (1) Reserved Table for 10
  • (1) post on IHCH LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook pages highlighting you and / or your company as a Bronze Sponsor

Table
Sponsor

$ 5,000
  • (1) Reserved Table for 10

ALL SPONSOR LEVELS

Includes the following which will include level of sponsorship:
Name recognition in event program Name recognition in sponsorship highlight reel Name recognition on IHCH website

UNDERWRITING OPPORTUNITIES - VIVA! THE GALA! 2023

Live Entertainment

$ 25,000
  • (1) Gala Table for 10
  • Name recognition on event stage as exclusive live entertainment sponsor
  • Company logo / name recognition in sponsorship highlight reel

Wine And Whiskey

$ 15,000
  • (1) Gala Table for 10
  • Name recognition on event stage as exclusive live entertainment sponsor
  • Company logo / name recognition in sponsorship highlight reel

Valet Parking

$ 10,000
  • (1) Gala Table for 10
  • Name recognition on event stage as exclusive live entertainment sponsor
  • Company logo / name recognition in sponsorship highlight reel

Individual Ticket

$ 500
  • (1) Individual ticket

SPONSORS - VIVA! THE GALA! 2023

PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Underwriter “Dancing Shoes”

Underwriter “Program Materials”

Underwriter
“Signature Cocktail”

Underwriter
“Dessert & Coffee bar”

Underwriter
“Cigar bar”

Underwriter
“Wine & Whiskey”

Underwriter “Table Sponsor”

Veronica
Foley

Craig
Friou

Peter
Staartjes

Dr. Micheline
Newall

Carmen
Munoz

For any questions about Viva The Gala! 2023, please contact gala@ihch.org