Houston Energy & Climate Week: The & Awards + Reception
Houston went to the moon. Mapped the deep. Powered the world. Now we're building what's next — and this is where that story begins.
This evening we host the & Awards — honoring the Builders, Backers, and Believers shaping Houston's future. Congratulations to:
The City of Firsts Award: Jay Zeidman — Chairman, Houston First; Managing Partner, Altitude Ventures
The Energy Innovator Award: Dr. Renu Khator & Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti — University of Houston
The Believer Award: Maryanne Maldonado, CEO — World Affairs Council
The Breakthrough Award: The Fervo Energy Team — Tim Latimer, CEO & Co-Founder; Dr. Jack Norbeck, CTO & Co-Founder
The Lifetime &Bassador (inaugural, posthumous): Former Congressman & Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
We'll also grant eight Houston organizations funds to support Allies in Energy mission: energy and climate literacy, civic dialogue & united action. This year's inaugural grants go to:
Black Girls Do Engineer Corporation & BGDE STEM Career Pathways Program
Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation: Civic Science: Inquiry to Action
The Loop Institute - Energy & Climate Literacy HTX
ODIS3A, Inc - Go UPSTREAM Program
KP Labs / Konscious Planet Technologies LLC - Waste-to-Wealth
Civil Dialogues - Energy & Climate Town Hall
The Energy Project: Future Ready Academy: AI for Energy & Sustainability
East Harris County Empowerment Council - Career Launch Program
Join us at ARTECHOUSE. Praised by The Washington Post, The New York Times, and National Geographic, Houston's immersive art space brings the beauty and mystery of energy and climate into focus — the ultimate setting for celebrating the power of &.
The Agenda
The Agenda: Cocktail attire — we suggest purple, the color of the HECW mark and the Power of &.
6:00 PM — Doors & Bars Open with passed hors d'oeuvres and a live set from AY Young & The Battery Tour. Mix with energy and climate executives, investors, founders, consuls, and civic leaders.
6:45 PM — The Exhibition Opens. With a drink in hand, take a guided walk through the HECW × ARTECHOUSE immersive gallery and meet the people building Houston's energy future.
7:30 PM — Champagne Toast, The & Awards & Grants. Join Erthos CEO Jim Tyler for a toast, followed by the Awards Program in the Main Immersion Gallery — the 2026 honorees and this year's Allies in Energy grant recipients.
The reception is the official VIP kickoff to the 3rd Houston Energy & Climate Week. It benefits the Allies in Energy Legacy Fund — a neutral platform for united action funding energy and climate literacy programs across Houston.
By registering, you agree to share your registration information with HECW organizers and the Climate Week Network, and you consent to being photographed, filmed, and/or quoted for promotional use.
Can't attend? Consider giving to the Legacy Fund (available as a ticket option).
Host Committee
Jim Tyler, Chief Executive Officer, ERTHOS
Monica Krishnan - Fellow, Breakthrough Energy
Lindsay Roe - President, Allies in Energy
Kelli Fereday - Secretary, Allies in Energy
Katie O'Shea - Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week, Director, Allies in Energy
Liz Franzen - Treasurer, Allies in Energy
Natalie Fabe Ubias - Co-Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week
Sonia Verhagen - VIP Reception Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week, Director, Allies in Energy
Katie Mehnert - Chief Executive Officer, The Bee Suite & Co-Founder, Houston Energy & Climate Week, Director, Allies in Energy
Juiliana Garaizar - VC & General Partner, Portfolia & Co-Founder, Houston Energy & Climate Week
Jonathan Beitler - Director, Artechouse