Jill Yutzy Coen has joined Lisinski Law as the newly created Vice President of Legal Operations.
Ms. Coen is an experienced operational leader with a core skill set that includes regulatory expertise, compliance, risk management, litigation, and reporting.
Learn more about Ms. Coen here>>>https://t.e2ma.net/webview/5u3orq/8350358cf84379b945d155c1fe9904fb
This search was conducted and completed by Managing Directors John Mann and Jonathan Verlander.
We’re excited to continue “Five Questions With Outstanding Leaders,” our new series in which we interview change-makers, visionaries, and thought leaders across all industries and sectors to examine how they achieve professional success that benefits their communities.
Houston is a foodie city.
Full stop.
Houston offers every global cuisine, and diners are only too happy to explore and experience what the city is serving.
However, Houston’s hospitality and tourism are more than its vibrant dining scene.
Just ask Jonathan Horowitz, president of the Houston Hospitality Alliance.
Managing Director John Mann sat down with Horowitz to discuss the business of Houston’s hospitality and tourism industries–struggles, successes, and the future.
Horowitz’s deep experience within the hospitality industry and his background as an attorney and real estate agent made him the ideal hire for the high-profile president position. The HHA is an organization that strives to promote, connect, and energize Houston’s hospitality and tourism business and create industry success in Houston.
For more than 17 years, Horowitz developed, operated and led multiple marketing restaurant/bar concepts, including Legacy Restaurants (Original Ninfa’s on Navigation Tex-Mex restaurant and the Antone’s Famous Po’ Boy sandwich concept) Lasco Enterprises, LLC (The Tasting Room Wine Cafe, MAX’s Wine Dive, Boiler House Texas Grill) Midway Hospitality Development and Convive Hospitality Consulting, a full-service hospitality consulting service. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University and JD from South Texas College of Law.
Since being named HHA president in October 2023, Mr. Horowitz has addressed Houston City Council members at City Hall, discussed the Houston Hospitality Alliance and its mission to promote, represent, and advocate for the entire hospitality industry in Houston, and led the HHA Business Forum.
Horowitz is an ardent community supporter of many organizations, eager to illuminate the city while growing the HHA.
“I am thrilled that Jonathan joined the Houston Hospitality Alliance as the new President, bringing with him over two decades of leadership and innovation in the hospitality industry, as well as a deep-rooted commitment to the Houston community,” said Mann.
Read on to learn Horowitz’s thoughts on how the city can grow its convention business and how his time as an attorney complements his role as HHA president.
JM: Let’s discuss opportunities and challenges concerning hospitality development within the Houston landscape.
JH: We currently are in the most challenging environment ever for the entire hospitality industry. Prior to the pandemic, things were in a pretty good place; however, the pandemic changed everything for the industry. There are a few areas where hospitality continues to struggle:
1. The overall cost of doing business – everything is considerably more expensive than it’s ever been. The cost of goods, labor, rent, insurance, and just about everything else has increased dramatically and shows little sign of slowing down anytime soon.
2. Labor shortages – the industry lost millions of workers during the pandemic, and many have not returned. It’s been difficult and will take a long time to organically replace them in the labor cycle.
3. Changing consumer habits—Consumers now demand more efficiency and value when considering hospitality purchases. Technology advanced considerably during the pandemic, making it easier to obtain things quickly and cheaply, and consumers are demanding more for less. This stresses an already stretched system.
4. Overall competition… while many operations have closed, a slew of new companies have opened here in Houston. New restaurants and hotels appear every day and create a more competitive environment for all involved. Notwithstanding the fact that our population continues to grow, there are only so many customers to go around.
JM: Houston is a destination for new businesses and conventions. How do you take advantage of that momentum moving forward?
JH: It’s all about providing a complete and memorable experience. Consumers expect more and more now, so they have to be “wowed” once they’re here. Many people have preconceived notions of Houston and don’t realize how diverse, cosmopolitan, and exciting the city really is. Once they get here – for whatever reason (business, pleasure, a convention, the Med Center, etc.), they come away with a great appreciation for what Houston offers. The overall hospitality industry in Houston is extremely strong, and once people get here and experience it, there’s a good chance they’ll come back.
JM: The Greater Houston Partnership’s latest data reports that almost 11% of Houston’s employment is in the Leisure and Hospitality sectors. How do you grow that industry?
JH: It’s happening – see above. New places are opening every day, and companies from all over the country are coming here because they recognize the great opportunities here.
JM: How does your background as a hospitality business professional and an attorney support your role as HHA president?
JH: I am fortunate in that I’ve seen both sides of the industry – having been an owner and operator, I can understand and empathize with those who are running hospitality businesses in the city, and I’ve been involved in a restaurant trade association for nearly two decades. These perspectives help me on a daily basis to help guide the HHA. As for being an attorney, that helps me all the time – not only with work, but with general life issues. It’s a great education and experience to have, and it gives me a better understanding of how to deal with people, contracts, and potential disputes.
JM: What are the next steps of growth for the HHA?
JH: We are focused on growing membership every day. Just this year, we’ve doubled the number of members and are not slowing down. We recognize that, in order to keep members engaged and to attract new ones, we need to provide great value. We have four primary value propositions as an association:
1. Promotion of the Houston hospitality industry locally
2. Advocacy on behalf of the industry in Houston
3. Connection – providing the members of the industry the opportunity to connect with each other, share best practices, engage in business together, and find community with each other
4. Education—We provide educational opportunities for industry members to learn more about issues and topics key to their businesses’ success.
Leslie Diorio has joined Ice Miller LLP as Director of Legal Recruitment. Ms. Diorio is a dedicated recruiting executive skilled in management, strategy, talent assessment, training, and data analytics. Previously, Ms. Diorio was Vice President, Talent Recruiting at Axiom where she acquired more than 20 years of legal recruitment experience.
Learn more about Ms. Diorio here.
This search was conducted and completed by Managing Director John M. Mann and Associate Jonathan Daniels.
Patrick O’Connor has been named Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer for Holland & Knight LLP. Mr. O’Connor joins Holland & Knight from Big Four public accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young LLP. He has more than 25 years of strategic and operational business development, marketing, and commercial leadership experience.
Learn more about Mr. O’Connor here.
Managing Directors John Lamar, Jean Lenzner, and William Lepiesza conducted and completed this search.
We’re excited to introduce “Five Questions With Outstanding Leaders,” our new series in which we interview change-makers, visionaries, and thought leaders across all industries and sectors to examine how they achieve professional success that benefits their communities.
Earlier this year, I was privileged to join the National Advisory Board for Life Science Cares.
Life Science Cares provides a platform for life science companies and their employees to make a difference in eradicating poverty. It raises money to award grants to community nonprofits that implement research-based survival, education, and economic sustainability solutions, supercharging these grants with volunteer hours, donated goods, strategic support, and advocacy.
To date, Life Science Cares has awarded more than $9.5 million in grants and donated 30,000 volunteer hours to the communities of Boston, San Diego, New York, Philadelphia, and the Bay Area.
Within the Life Science Cares community, many heroes raise money and donate their time in a myriad of ways. Because there is magic in the telling and some who are waiting for philanthropic inspiration, I am delighted to highlight Luke Timmerman, an extremely inspirational member of the Life Science Cares community and fellow national advisory board member.
Luke is a biotech journalist, author, entrepreneur, founder of Timmerman Report, a leading biotech industry newsletter, and author of “Hood: Trailblazer of the Genomics Age,” a biography of automated DNA sequencing pioneer Leroy Hood. Luke was named one of the 100 most influential people in biotech in 2015 by Scientific American.
Since 2017, Luke’s Timmerman Traverse Mountain Climbing Campaigns have catalyzed the biotech community to give back more than $10 million to fight cancer, poverty, and sickle cell disease. During his most recent climb in the North Cascades of Washington State, he and a team of biotech executives and investors gained between 6,000 and 8,000 feet of elevation, covering 20 miles of land. The Timmerman Traverse team hit its goal of raising $1 million for Life Science Cares!
Luke graciously answered my five questions below:
1. When and how did the idea of climbing for charity come to you?
I started thinking about climbing for charity in the summer of 2017. I was at a point in my career where I had established the Timmerman Report as a successful subscription-based publication for biotech industry professionals. Around the same time, I had gotten to a point in 15 years of mountaineering where I could seriously consider climbing Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. I thought that if I could push myself to climb Everest, that act would inspire the biotech community to give back to a charity that I care about.
2. How did you pick your first beneficiary?
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center had a pre-existing partnership with Alpine Ascents International. That was the guide service I knew I would climb Everest with. The partnership made perfect sense. As a journalist, I knew Fred Hutch scientists and their excellent work. Cancer research was at a moment of great possibility. I thought the biotech community could rally behind the climb of Everest and this excellent beneficiary organization.
3. You have climbed Mount Everest, which is known to be extremely difficult and demanding, and imagine it requires significant training to be in proper shape to take this on. Are there long-term physical effects from the effort?
I had some cold sensitivity in my feet for a while afterwards, but no long-term physical effects. The experience was more important mentally. I came away believing I was capable of much more than I had ever previously thought possible. The sky was the limit.
4. What are the most important qualities to have in team members when making such challenging climbs?
Missionary drive. The people who are most successful on these campaigns are willing to put in the hard work it takes to be successful. That comes from a passionate belief in the cause, the feeling that what they are doing is worthwhile service for others.
5. For others reading this who want to make a difference, what advice would you give them?
Find something you care about passionately in your bones. And think about what it is you have to offer in skills and attributes that might contribute toward that cause. With so much instability in our world, it is important to reflect on the goodness of those trying to have impact.
Luke, thank you for your time, inspiring leadership, and contagious efforts to support Life Science Cares!
