Category Archives: Events

July Luncheon – Jonathon Glus

Black Labrador
4100 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77006
Google Map )

Thursday, July 10, 2014
11:30 – Registration
12:00 – Networking Lunch & Presentation
1:00 – Event Concludes


Featuring Jonathon Glus, CEO, Houston Arts Alliance 
As the first chief executive officer of the Houston Arts Alliance, Mr. Glus provides strategic leadership to Houston’s municipal arts agency. On behalf of the city of Houston, HAA (a 501c3 non-profit) annually distributes grants to over 250 non-profit arts organizations and individual artists. Under Glus’ direction, HAA is also responsible for long-term cultural planning and development of the sector. HAA provides programs and initiatives such as Business Volunteers for the Arts, the Management & Organizational Development Enterprise (MODE) program, the events website Artshound.com, and a folklife and traditional arts program. HAA also manages the city’s civic art and design program, including a collection of more than 450 artworks and temporary outdoor exhibitions throughout the city. Mr. Glus works with a board of 31 and a staff of approximately 20.

Prior to his post in Houston, Mr. Glus was executive director of the arts and culture for the City of Pasadena, CA. since 1999, where he was responsible for the division of the city that supports, expands and promotes the cultural sector in Pasadena. Cultural Affairs manages an extensive private development public art program and curates a city-owned public art collection. The division also manages an annual arts & culture grants program and provides on-going technical assistance to arts and culture organizations and artists. The division manages a cultural tourism program which includes the bi-annual ArtNight, bi-annual ArtsWeekend, and the triennial 16-venue multi-disciplinary Arts & Ideas Festival. As cultural advisor to the mayor, Glus conceptualized and developed international projects such as the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition & Festival. Under Mr. Glus’ direction, in 2005 the city developed Cultural Nexus, the city’s 10-year cultural plan.

Prior to working in Pasadena, Mr. Glus was executive director of the Evanston Arts Council, in metropolitan Chicago. At that position, Mr. Glus managed a staff of more than 50 and directed a visual and performing arts complex that included galleries, two theatres, studios and gardens. He was responsible for three regional festivals, an arts camp and apprentice program for more than 500 youth, an extensive city art collection, and was heavily involved in cultural tourism.

Prior to Chicago, Mr. Glus was an associate curator and exhibitions coordinator at the International Sculpture Center in Washington, D.C., and prior to that was on the editorial staff of SCULPTURE magazine, also in Washington D.C.

Mr. Glus’ master’s work was in art history at the University of Illinois, and undergraduate work in urban economics and public policy at Indiana University and the University of Kent, Canterbury England.

The Museum District Business Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of business and the arts in the greater Montrose/Museum District area. 

May Luncheon – Sheryl Kolasinski

Bistro Menil
1513 West Alabama
Houston, Texas 77006
Google Map )

Thursday, May 28, 2015
11:30 – Registration
12:00 – Networking Lunch & Presentation
1:00 – Event Concludes


Featuring Sheryl Kolasinski – COO – The Menil Collection
Sheryl joined The Menil Collection in 2012, arriving from Washington, DC where she served as the Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations. Since 1995, Sheryl occupied a series of positions at the Smithsonian, managing the capital design and construction program, overseeing planning and preservation, operations and maintenance, and safety and security for 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoo, and 9 research centers across the country and abroad.

Sheryl received her bachelor’s in art history from Brown University and a master’s in architecture from Columbia University. She began her career as a private sector architect working on residential and institutional projects before moving to the public sector. She headed the capital program of many New York institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

US News ranked The Menil Collection as the #2 top thing to do in Houston, which is no surprise to any of us. Come hear Sheryl talk about the latest and greatest expansion plans at The Menil, and have lunch at Bistro Menil, the cool new restaurant on The Menil campus featuring dishes from Chef Greg Martin (formally of Cafe Annie). Seating is limited to 30 guests, so be sure to register early.

The Museum District Business Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of business and the arts in the greater Montrose/Museum District area. 

Fall Reception and Awards Luncheon Kickoff Party

Join is for a special evening of drinks and holiday horderves in the lovely Hermann Park Golf Clubhouse! Plus, you can meet our 2014 Community Improvement Award Honorees and mingle with MDBA members. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014
6:30-8:30pm
Hermann Park Golf Clubhouse

MDBA Members: Free
MDBA Member Guests: $25
MDBA Non-Members: $35

You can join or renew your membership online or at the door!

September Luncheon – Dr. Dominic Aquila

University of St. Thomas
(Carol Takton Boardroom)
3800 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77006
Google Map )

Thursday, September 17, 2015
11:30 – Registration
12:00 – Networking Lunch & Presentation
1:00 – Event Concludes


Featuring Dr. Dominic Aquila – Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs – University of St. Thomas
The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, led by Dr. Dominic A. Aquila, is responsible for maintaining the quality education for which the University of St. Thomas is known. UST offers a wide range of majors and minors and an important core curriculum provided by various schools and programs. The University’s curriculum is one of the most substantial cores in the country, embodying the dialogue of faith and reason and anchored by philosophy and theology. The University of St. Thomas education is rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and open to continual exploration, dialogue and improvement.

The University of St. Thomas is one of the cornerstone institutions of the Montrose/Museum District. Come hear Provost Aquila bring us up to to date on the University’s current and future plans for improvements and expansion in our area.

The Museum District Business Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of business and the arts in the greater Montrose/Museum District area. 

Please join us as we strive to make our area a better place to work and live!

February Luncheon – Texas Congressman Ted Poe

 

Tony Mandola’s – Gulf Coast Kitchen
1212 Waugh Dr.
Houston, Texas 77019
Google Map )

Friday, February 5, 2016
11:30 – Registration
12:00 – Networking Lunch & Presentation
1:00 – Event Concludes


Congressman Ted Poe is serving his 4th term representing the 2nd Congressional District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Poe has taken leadership roles in Washington,DC to advocate on behalf of victims and children and is recognized nationally for his efforts to secure our borders and establish a plan for energy independence.

Before serving the 2nd Congressional District, Congressman Poe was a prosecutor and judge for 30 years in Houston, Texas.Judge Poe was known for his creative sentencing of criminals and hard nosed approach to enforcing the law. Judge Poe garnered national media attention for his “Poetic Justice” punishments – he ordered thieves to carry signs in front of stores from which they stole, commanded sex offenders to place warning signs on their home after serving jail time, and directed murderers to securely place a photo of their victims on the wall of their prison cells reminding them of their crime.

Congressman Poe is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and also serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Come hear your Congressman give you the latest updates on issues of local and national interest. We’ll have lots of time for Q&A; as well.

The Museum District Business Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of business and the arts in the greater Montrose/Museum District area. 

Please join us as we strive to make our area a better place to work and live!