DR. LAURA G. MURILLO, HHCC President and CEO
Dr. Laura G. Murillo was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC) effective March 1, 2007. In less than five years in the role of President & CEO and with the support of HHCC’s Board of Directors, membership and revenues have increased over 600% and 100%, respectively. Moreover, events have reached record-breaking attendance. The HHCC has also become one of the largest chambers in the country. In 2009, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce received the prestigious National Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award, and the Regional Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The University of Houston System honored the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with the 2011 President's Medallion which is the highest honor bestowed to those that have distinguished themselves by their contribution to the community and the University. The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was honored as the 2012 Marketer of the Year - Best of Category for Economic Development by the Houston Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). Dr. Murillo also serves ad Founding President & CEO of the Greater Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She is the Host/Producer for the Chamber's television show, CONTACTO, which appears on CBS Channel 11 and the Chamber's Spanish language radio program on Univision America, 1010AM.
Prior to her role as President & CEO she was Senior Executive Director at Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical Center where she was responsible for administrative and operational areas. The Memorial Hermann Healthcare System is the largest non-profit healthcare system in Texas, servicing over 5 million people. Dr. Laura Murillo was also employed at the University of Houston for 14 years. During her last three years at the University of Houston, Dr. Murillo worked full-time as a Major Gifts Officer and subsequently accepted the Senior Executive Director position with the Memorial Hermann Foundation.
Selected Honors
This dynamic professional has been honored with many achievements during her career. Dr. Murillo was named among the Top 10 Who's Who by the Houston Business Journal. Success Magazine named Laura "Woman of the Year". She was awarded the prestigious 2012 Latina Style Honors Latina Leaders Award given to the country's top Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEOs. In November 2012 the Brookings Institute selected Dr. Murillo as a delegate for the Global Cities Initiative in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The National Diversity Council designated Dr. Murillo as a "2011 Most Powerful and Influential Woman of Texas". Texas Hispanic Magazine and Woman's Magazine named Laura among “Houston’s Most Influential Hispanic Women.” The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc., chose her as one of the recipients of the ABC Channel 13 Women of Distinction. Dr. Murillo received the 2012 National Football League (NFL) Leadership Award, the Shalom Ministries Service Honor, and the International Leadership Empowerment Award issued by the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation. Texas Executive Women and the Houston Chronicle honored Laura as a “Woman on the Move.” Dr. Murillo was recently awarded the Diversity First Award by the Texas Diversity Council, Telemundo’s Excellence in Education Award, the Minority Achiever Award by the YMCA and Women of Distinction Award by RUMBO Magazine. She was named Education Advocate of the Year by the Houston Chronicle and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Honoree for the SER Jobs for Progress 45th Annual Gala. She was also recognized as Outstanding Volunteer by the Houston Police Department. Dr. Murillo was the recipient of the 1st Annual National Hispanic Professional Organization’s Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions as a Hispanic professional.
Laura was named one of the Top 25 Women in Houston; Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Senior Executive of the Year Award and the UH College of Education’s Outstanding Alumni of the Year. She was awarded the University of Houston Mexican American Studies Distinguished Alumni Award and Outstanding Young Professional Award from the Houston Jaycees.
Dr. Murillo served on the Women’s Leadership Forum hosted by the United States Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, a federal Agency established by Congress to promote policy and to develop programs which benefit women in the workforce. Laura has been cited in The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, and international media outlets. Dr. Murillo was a panelist at the advanced and exclusive screening of CNN’s Latino in America. Dr. Murillo served as Co-Chair for the Annual Hispanic Business Magazine’s Women Entrepreneur of the Year and the Latina Style Business Series. Dr. Murillo has been featured on Julie Stav’s nationally syndicated radio program. She was selected as a member in the Greater Houston Partnership’s 2005 Center for Houston’s Future, and the American Leadership Forum Class of XVIII. She is a graduate of the United Way’s Project Blueprint. She currently serves on the Greater Houston Partnership’s Americans for Immigration Reform and the Houston BBVA Compass Corporate Board of Directors. She participated in the Asian American Studies Doctoral Fellowship held at the University of Beijing In China. She is the youngest person elected to serve as President of Hispanic Women in Leadership and became the youngest person to be inducted into the Hispanic Hall of Fame for her community and educational service.
Leadership Roles
Other leadership roles include: National Association of Corporate Directors; Mayor Annise Parker’s Hispanic Advisory Board (Chair, Boards and Appointments); Harris County Sheriff's Office 287(g) Advisory Committee; Mayor Bill White’s Hurricane Ike Recovery Fund Advisory Board; Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala Auction Chair; University of Houston’s Graduate School of Social Work–Dean’s Advisory Council Member; Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA)–Board Member; Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce–Board Member; Latina P.A.C.–Founding Officer; National Hispanic Professional Organization–Advisory Board Member; UH’s College of Education’s Alumni Association; Annunciation Orthodox School Gala–Advertising Chair; Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars; UH’s Mexican American Alumni Association; UH Alumni Board of Directors; Texas Executive Women; Leadership 2000; Greater Houston Hispanic Coalition; L.U.L.A.C.; Houston Hispanic Forum; Kappa Delta Chi; Girls Inc.; Girls Scouts; Hispanic Media Professionals; Austin High School Alumni Association; Association for Fund Raising Professionals; the Association for Healthcare Professionals; the Human Race Steering Committee; and Channel 45’s Advisory Board and Dr. Murillo was served on Mayor Annise Parker’s Delegation to China for Business and International Trade Opportunities.
Dr. Murillo’s doctoral dissertation entitled, Factors Which Impact Hispanic Philanthropy, has served as the basis for articles she has published. She earned a Doctorate Degree in Education (Administration and Supervision), a Masters Degree in Education, and a Bachelors’ Degree in Journalism from the University of Houston.
Dr. Laura Murillo is the youngest of nine children born to immigrant parents. She was born and raised in Houston’s East End. She and her husband of 19 years, Jose Luis Murillo, have two daughters, Marisa, age 14, and Mia, age 10.
