The Role of a Board in Private Company Culture

Overview

Culture and Talent Drive Performance. What’s the Board’s Role? Because of its interdependencies with strategy, risk and performance, active monitoring of corporate culture is a full-board responsibility. Join us as our experts share their thoughts on how the Board fulfills that role.

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Panelists

Lee Jourdan Independent Corporate Board Director & Special Advisor Speaker, Author. Retired CDIO, Chevron

Lee Jourdan is an author and keynote speaker on leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is a contributor to Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, and several energy industry publications. He has been featured on the front page of The Washington Post for his DEI insights. While serving as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Chevron, his work led to recognition by Business Insider as one of 100 People Transforming Business in North America in 2020. Prior to his work in the diversity space, Lee led teams in Southeast Asia negotiating with ministries of industry to acquire concessions to drill for hydrocarbons. Retired from full time work in mid 2021, Jourdan is an Independent Director on public, private equity, and non- profit boards and is currently a Senior Advisor to FTI Consulting. Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in National Security and Foreign Affairs with a concentration in General Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point.

Tammira Philippe CEO, Board Member, Strategy and Risk Management Bridgeway Capital Management

Tammira Philippe is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Bridgeway Capital Management, an investment management firm that stewards over $4 billion in quantitative public equity strategies for clients. She served on the firm’s Board of Directors, President of Bridgeway Funds, and the Portfolio Innovation and Risk, Responsible Investing, and Enterprise Risk Committees. Bridgeway is a leader in relational investing, a statistical, evidence-based approach that unites results for investors and returns for humanity by innovating in asset management and donating 50% of the firm’s earnings to organizations making a positive impact. Prior to becoming President in 2016, Tammira led strategy and operations projects at Bridgeway for five years and headed Client Service and Marketing for another six years. She is also a CFA charterholder. Prior to Bridgeway, Tammira worked in strategy consulting with McKinsey & Company and business development and marketing for ICO Global Communications, a satellite communications start-up, in London and Miami. She earned an M.B.A. from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University.

Beyond Bridgeway, Tammira has board experience on the Stanford GSB Advisory Council, Texas A&M University Computer Science & Engineering Advisory Council, CFA Houston Strategic Advisory Board, and the Investment Committee of the Terry Foundation, a scholarship provider that supported her undergraduate education. Tammira previously served as the Chair of the Community Advisory Board and Director of the Education Foundation of Harris County. She is committed to combining purpose, profit, and social justice, areas that are fulfilled through her professional work and volunteer service.

Tammira lives in her hometown of Houston with her husband and two teenagers. She enjoys learning, running, snow skiing, volleyball, travel, cooking and time with family and friends.

Tom Amonett  Board Member

Tom Amonett has been a director of Orion Group Holdings, Inc., a leading specialty construction company, since 2007 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Nominating & Governance Committee and is on the Audit Committee. Mr. Amonett was President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Athlon Solutions, LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of specialty chemicals and related services primarily to the refining and petrochemical industries, from 2013 to 2018. From 1999 to 2013, he was President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Champion Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of specialty chemical and related services primarily to the oil and gas industry. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Amonett was a director of Hercules Offshore, Inc., a provider of contract oil and gas drilling services and liftboat services, where he served as Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Amonett was a director of Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), a global provider of helicopter services, from 2006 to 2019, where he served as Executive Vice Chairman of the Board and on the Audit Committee and Executive Compensation Committee. Mr. Amonett also serves as Chairman of the Board of Ergon, Inc., a private company engaged in a number of industries related to the refining and marketing of specialty oils, asphalt, thermoplastic resins, petrochemicals, propane, and the necessary infrastructure to support those businesses. The National Association of Corporate Directors has designated Mr. Amonett a Board Leadership Fellow. Mr. Amonett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School.

Moderator

Chris Hanslik  Chairman at BoyarMiller BoyarMiller

Chris Hanslik leads BoyarMiller, a mid-size law firm in Houston, Texas. As Firm Chairman for over 10 years, he drives growth while prioritizing company culture to contribute to the ultimate success of the firm. Chris is devoted to directing overall firm strategy in ways to advance the firm and continues to be an industry leader both in and outside of the courtroom. He is passionate about impacting the Houston community in many ways, including having served as Chairman of the Board of SEARCH Homeless Services, and currently sitting Board Member for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County; as well as Chairman and Board of Directors of The Texas Bowl. Chris was also recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of Houston’s Most Admired CEOs of 2021.

With over two decades of experience as a litigator, Chris's practice has spanned the full spectrum of commercial and business litigation, including contracts, business torts, securities and corporate governance, oil and gas, lender liability, trade secrets, non-compete agreements, and other employment-related disputes.

Recognizing that the last place most business clients want to be is in the courtroom, Chris strives to develop creative, practical, and value-driven solutions to complex problems and disputes from the outset. However, as a trial lawyer, he provides the skills necessary for success in the courtroom. In the relentless pursuit of his client's best interest, Chris keeps one important value in mind — integrity.

Chris recently launched a podcast with BoyarMiller called Building Texas Business, which can be found on all podcast streaming platforms.

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