MD Anderson welcomes 15 new board members

MD Anderson News Release September 25, 2014

Business and community leaders support institution’s efforts to end cancer

MD Anderson News Release 09/25/14

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors (BOV), an appointed board of volunteers charged with advancing MD Anderson’s mission to eradicate cancer, welcomes incoming chair Mel Klein and 15 new members:

  • Nita Ambani, Mumbai, India: Ambani is a businesswoman, philanthropist and president of H.N. Hospital and Research Centre. She’s actively involved in various philanthropic activities in the fields of education, human resources and disaster relief.
  • David Beck, Houston: Beck is a founding partner of Beck Redden LLP. Named by the National Law Journal as one of the top 10 trial lawyers in the United States and one of the top in the Southwest, Beck has been active in litigation throughout his career.
  • I. Jon Brumley, Ft. Worth: Brumley is a private investor and a 45-year veteran of the oil and gas industry. He founded six oil and gas companies, all of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Currently, Brumley operates his own investment firm, Bounty Investments LLC.
  • Ted Collins Jr., Midland: Collins is chairman and CEO of Patriot Resource Partners LLC., an independent oil and gas producer.
  • William J. Doré Sr., Lake Charles, La.: Doré is CEO of Doré Energy Corporation, an oil royalty trader, and the founder of Global Industries Ltd., an offshore oil and gas industry services provider.
  • Gregg H. Falgout, Houston: Falgout is the chairman, CEO and president of Island Operating Company, Inc., a company he founded in 1984.
  • Gilbert Garcia, Houston: Gilbert is managing partner of Garcia Hamilton & Associates, an institutional asset management company.
  • Jimmy I. Gibbs, Spartanburg, S.C.: Gibbs, a businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, is founder of Gibbs International, a privately owned, diversified company engaged primarily in five business segments: textiles, energy, real estate, mining and demolition.
  • George Y. Gonzalez, Spring, Texas: Gonzalez is a partner in the energy, mergers and acquisitions and international practice groups in the Houston office of the law firm Haynes and Boone LLP. In 2010, Gonzalez was named one of the Top 100 Influential Hispanics in the U.S. in Hispanic Business magazine. He and his wife, Kimberly, have three children.
  • Michael J. Medrano, Houston: Medrano is president and CEO of privately owned Equivalent DATA, which provides electronic delivery services to attorneys, investigators, corporations and legal professionals worldwide. He and his wife, Stacy, have three children.
  • Laura Murillo, Ph.D., Houston: Murillo is president and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
  • Reynaldo Reza, Houston: Reza is a vice president and portfolio manager at Fayez Sarofim & Co. where he’s responsible for the research of the international pharmaceuticals industry and serves as a sector leader for the health care industry.
  • Alexander Rovt, Ph.D., New York: Rovt is a businessman and real estate investor who built his business trading and manufacturing fertilizer in the former Soviet Union. He’s the president of IBE Trade Corporation, a leader in agricultural fertilizer production, sales and marketing.
  • Joseph Tortorice Jr., Beaumont: Tortorice, a retired Air Force officer, is founder, president and CEO of privately owned Deli Management Inc., parent company of Jason’s Deli, a fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Beaumont.
  • Mark White Jr., Houston: White served as the governor of Texas from 1983 to 1987. He is a business executive, attorney and chairman of Geovox Security Inc., a private security systems company that manufactures the AVIAN Heartbeat Detector used primarily by border patrol agents to detect concealed passengers in vehicles.

“It is a great privilege to warmly welcome each new member to the Board of Visitors,” said Klein, of Corpus Christi. “BOV members sustain and advance a more-than-half-century-long heritage of providing vital assistance to the world’s leading cancer treatment and research center. New members now become part of the history of this wonderful place of hope that is dedicated to Making Cancer History®. I have full confidence each will appreciate the honor, act on the opportunity and fulfill the responsibility of joining this extraordinary board.” 

Klein is the founder of Melvyn N. Klein Interests and the president of JAKK Holding Corp. He has played a leadership role in the BOV since joining in 1990, serving on the board’s Executive Committee and the Executive Committee of MD Anderson’s $1.2 billion Making Cancer History®: The Campaign to Transform Cancer Care. For 10 years, he chaired the Research Advisory Committee, originally established by President George H. W. Bush during his 2001-2003 term as BOV chair. Klein and his wife, Annette, are also members of the Anderson Assembly, an organization honoring donors who have made lifetime commitments of $1 million or more to MD Anderson.

Joining Klein as BOV officers for Fiscal Year 2015 (Sept. 1, 2014-Aug. 31, 2015) are:

  • Chair-Elect — James J. Mulva, Austin
  • Vice Chair — Nancy Loeffler, San Antonio
  • Immediate Past Chair — Harry J. Longwell, Dallas
  • MD Anderson President — Ronald A. DePinho, M.D.

Since the board’s inception in 1957, the BOV has played a crucial role in advancing the initiatives of MD Anderson by helping to raise funds, awareness and support for the institution.

“Our exceptional BOV members are distinguished by their compassion to our patients and their commitment to MD Anderson’s mission,” DePinho said. “The impact of their pivotal involvement and their gifts of time, talents, influence and resources has been immeasurable.”