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About
Corporate Community Relations Council (CCRC) is a partner to businesses throughout the greater Houston area, helping members and their companies strengthen community relationships and investments in projects that impact the places they live and work.
Since 1983, CCRC has been Houston’s premiere networking group for Corporate Social Responsibility professionals.
Our Mission
CCRC's mission is to improve the quality of life in the community through corporate investments of time, skills, and leadership. CCRC works to create a safe space of corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals to network, share ideas and resources, and develop partnerships.
Houston’s corporations, both large and small, understand that giving back is good business. And that is why they trust CCRC equip its CSR leaders with the tools and resources needed to be effective.
Our Member Companies
AIG
Air Liquide
Amegy Bank, N.A.
Aramco Americas
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Calpine Corporation
CenterPoint Energy
ChampionX
Comcast
Corebridge Financial
CVR Energy
Freeport LNG Development
HCA Houston Healthcare
Halliburton
Insperity
KPMG
MetroNational
ONEOK
Oxy
SCI
Stellar Bank
TDECU
University of Houston
Mary Catherine Graham is an associate director – Strategic Initiatives within Growth and Strategy at KPMG in Houston. In this role she is responsible for the office’s employee engagement strategy, community impact and corporate responsibility strategy, culture, alumni relations and DEI strategy, among others.
In her current role, Mary Catherine specializes in project management and strategy for community impact, including placement of KPMG professionals on nonprofit boards, charitable contribution and sponsorship strategy and volunteerism. Prior to this role, she had extensive experience of six years in the firm’s audit practice providing financial statement audit, audit of internal control, and attestation services to large, multi-national public companies.
Mary Catherine attended the University of Houston where she obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. In her personal life, Mary Catherine is involved in community initiatives including racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and immigration aid initiatives. She enjoys listening to music and going to concerts, playing with her dogs, and having potlucks with friends and family.
Emma V. Chambers serves as corporate communications manager for Air Liquide, a world leader in the industrial gas industry. She is responsible for developing, leading and supporting all community and educational aspects of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program for all U.S. entities. This includes mobilizing leaders and employees to support community engagement activities, as well as diversity and inclusion. She also liaises and collaborates with senior leadership and a network of CSR ambassadors across the U.S. for local and national initiatives.
Emma joined Air Liquide in 2015 as communications manager for Air Liquide Industrial US L.P. where she provided communications strategy and leadership for the industrial merchant business unit. She also served as communications advisor for the Operating Committee and worked directly with the president to develop and execute communication strategy around the organization’s strategic vision and business goals.
Emma’s areas of expertise include media relations, marketing communications, branding and identity management, event planning, writing and editing. Before joining Air Liquide, she served in a number of roles with organizations including the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist. A skilled writer and editor, she has received more than 20 awards on the local, regional and national levels. A native Houstonian, Emma is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications. She has been a member of the Corporate Community Relations Council since 2020.
Paula Lara embarked on her healthcare career in 1997 at the prestigious Texas Medical Center in Houston. By 2015, she had joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise. Paula holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and boasts a unique background that encompasses health program coordination, grant management, sales and health administration. This diverse skill set has enabled her to excel in all facets of her career.
Her passion for community outreach is evident in her volunteer work with Dress for Success Houston and the Girls Empowerment Network, where she leads workshops and engages in fundraising activities. Paula's commitment to making a positive impact extends to various other nonprofit organizations as well.
As a bilingual, longtime resident of Houston and a Texan at heart, Paula is dedicated to her role at BCBSTX, where she strives to connect employees with the community, providing resources and assist in the funding process among other day to day duties. Her dedication, coupled with her extensive experience, makes her an invaluable asset to both BCBSTX and the communities she serves.
Experience in Community Relations / Community Outreach /Office Management / Executive Assistant to C-Level Executives
10+ years Board Experience – EWI - including Membership, Communications, Philanthropy, Scholarships and Fundraising
I’ve been married for a LONG time, have four nephews, eight nieces, one great nephew, two great nieces and two dogs
Gloria Bounds has worked in the community relations space for 16 years. She believes that community relations is a key function of companies and their goals. Building relationships with key stakeholders, driving employee engagement and enhancing a positive reputation play a key role in our strategic efforts.
In her role, Gloria focuses on local strategic partnerships, CenterPoint Energy Foundation grantmaking (focusing on community vitality and education) and employee engagement. She joined CCRC several years ago because she values the networking opportunities with peers and learning from others
In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family to new destinations and volunteering with local organizations such as the Latin Women’s Initiative and her boys’ elementary school.
Mary Catherine Graham is an associate director – Strategic Initiatives within Growth and Strategy at KPMG in Houston. In this role she is responsible for the office’s employee engagement strategy, community impact and corporate responsibility strategy, culture, alumni relations and DEI strategy, among others.
In her current role, Mary Catherine specializes in project management and strategy for community impact, including placement of KPMG professionals on nonprofit boards, charitable contribution and sponsorship strategy and volunteerism. Prior to this role, she had extensive experience of six years in the firm’s audit practice providing financial statement audit, audit of internal control, and attestation services to large, multi-national public companies.
Mary Catherine attended the University of Houston where she obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. In her personal life, Mary Catherine is involved in community initiatives including racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and immigration aid initiatives. She enjoys listening to music and going to concerts, playing with her dogs, and having potlucks with friends and family.
Emma V. Chambers serves as corporate communications manager for Air Liquide, a world leader in the industrial gas industry. She is responsible for developing, leading and supporting all community and educational aspects of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program for all U.S. entities. This includes mobilizing leaders and employees to support community engagement activities, as well as diversity and inclusion. She also liaises and collaborates with senior leadership and a network of CSR ambassadors across the U.S. for local and national initiatives.
Emma joined Air Liquide in 2015 as communications manager for Air Liquide Industrial US L.P. where she provided communications strategy and leadership for the industrial merchant business unit. She also served as communications advisor for the Operating Committee and worked directly with the president to develop and execute communication strategy around the organization’s strategic vision and business goals.
Emma’s areas of expertise include media relations, marketing communications, branding and identity management, event planning, writing and editing. Before joining Air Liquide, she served in a number of roles with organizations including the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist. A skilled writer and editor, she has received more than 20 awards on the local, regional and national levels. A native Houstonian, Emma is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications. She has been a member of the Corporate Community Relations Council since 2020.
Paula Lara embarked on her healthcare career in 1997 at the prestigious Texas Medical Center in Houston. By 2015, she had joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise. Paula holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and boasts a unique background that encompasses health program coordination, grant management, sales and health administration. This diverse skill set has enabled her to excel in all facets of her career.
Her passion for community outreach is evident in her volunteer work with Dress for Success Houston and the Girls Empowerment Network, where she leads workshops and engages in fundraising activities. Paula's commitment to making a positive impact extends to various other nonprofit organizations as well.
As a bilingual, longtime resident of Houston and a Texan at heart, Paula is dedicated to her role at BCBSTX, where she strives to connect employees with the community, providing resources and assist in the funding process among other day to day duties. Her dedication, coupled with her extensive experience, makes her an invaluable asset to both BCBSTX and the communities she serves.
Experience in Community Relations / Community Outreach /Office Management / Executive Assistant to C-Level Executives
10+ years Board Experience – EWI - including Membership, Communications, Philanthropy, Scholarships and Fundraising
I’ve been married for a LONG time, have four nephews, eight nieces, one great nephew, two great nieces and two dogs
Gloria Bounds has worked in the community relations space for 16 years. She believes that community relations is a key function of companies and their goals. Building relationships with key stakeholders, driving employee engagement and enhancing a positive reputation play a key role in our strategic efforts.
In her role, Gloria focuses on local strategic partnerships, CenterPoint Energy Foundation grantmaking (focusing on community vitality and education) and employee engagement. She joined CCRC several years ago because she values the networking opportunities with peers and learning from others
In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family to new destinations and volunteering with local organizations such as the Latin Women’s Initiative and her boys’ elementary school.