Houston Responds
Executive Leadership Transition

December 12, 2023 - Houston Responds is announcing a change in executive leadership as founding executive director Tommy Rosson will be stepping down as executive director and transitioning to a board role. Concurrently, the organization welcomes Thomasina Burns and Jeff Schulz as the new co-executive directors, effective January 1, 2024.

In his new board capacity, Tommy will help guide the organization’s advisory board and its involvement in city movements, while pursuing his strategy and communications consulting business for churches and ministries. “We are so grateful for Tommy’s catalyzing vision and leadership since 2018 in helping Houston Responds fulfill our mission to unite and mobilize churches to serve our communities,” said board president Brandon Lackey. “Under Tommy’s leadership, the organization has engaged more than 600 churches to work together to rebuild thousands of disaster-affected homes, respond to the Covid pandemic, and invest thousands of service hours into our communities for a more flourishing city. Tommy’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing and expanding the mission of Houston Responds.

"It has been an honor to serve as the executive director of Houston Responds and witness the incredible impact of our work firsthand. I am immensely proud of what we've achieved together," said Rosson. "I have full confidence in Thomasina and Jeff and their ability to lead Houston Responds into even greater impact. Their complementary skills, experiences, and vision will undoubtedly steer the organization towards a great future."

Thomasina Burns brings a wealth of non-profit experience and a deep-rooted commitment to Houston Respond’s mission. She joined the organization soon after its founding and has directed programs and operations for the organization. Thomasina holds a bachelor's degree in Community Health from Lamar University and nearly twenty years of non-profit and church ministry experience. As Co-Executive Director, she will continue to focus on providing programs that equip churches to multiply their collective impact, with an emphasis on the Houston Flourish initiative, as well as developing organization and operational effectiveness.

Jeff Schulz brings more than thirty years of church and non-profit ministry experience to the mission of Houston Responds. Before joining Houston Responds in 2018, Jeff served as lead pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Seattle. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Classics from Yale University, and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Since joining Houston Responds, Jeff has led the effort to form regional coalitions of churches in every area of greater Houston. As Co-Executive Director, he will continue to equip church leaders to form collaborative relationships that build one another up, multiply collective community impact, and witness to the oneness of the body of Christ.

The Board of Directors expresses its profound gratitude to Tommy for his catalyzing leadership, and dedication to Houston Responds since its founding. We also look forward to this new season under the leadership of Thomasina and Jeff as they continue mobilizing churches throughout the city to multiply our collective impact

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