Houston, TX – (February 21, 2018) – Today Houston City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Brenda Bazan as the new president and CEO of the Houston First Corporation (HFC). Bazan will assume responsibilities as the new leader of Houston First, effective immediately.

Bazan is no stranger to Houston First, having been with the organization since its inception in 2011, serving as the chief financial officer where she oversaw finance, human resources and purchasing functions of the organization. Her career with the city of Houston began in 1993 where she held several positions in the Controller’s Office including director of finance and accounting and also with the Convention & Entertainment Facilities department where she served as deputy director. She has also worked on citywide endeavors such as property insurance, energy procurement and management, and debt-related issues.

"It’s an honor to be selected by Mayor Turner and confirmed by Houston City Council. The Houston First model is the first of its kind in the destination marketing industry and has achieved record successes across the organization, including sales, tourism, marketing and public relations. I’m fortunate to have such an awesome team of professionals at Houston First, and together I know we will continue transforming our big dreams into big successes for our beloved city. The future of Houston is bright and I am committed to making sure HFC serves as a beacon of light," said Bazan.

"Brenda has an impressive track record of accomplishments. With her valuable financial experience, cooperative nature, and energetic spirit, she will build on our momentum of success. I am confident she will take Houston First and the city to the next level of growth in tourism and travel, which will pump more dollars and jobs into our economy. Houston is poised for greatness as a premier destination and Brenda will provide the strategic leadership to help us get there," said David Mincberg, Chair of the Houston First board of directors.

Bazan received a degree in accounting from Western Kentucky University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She and her husband Nick have been married for 34 years. They have a son, Nick Jr., daughter, Rachel and granddaughter, Elise.