Our Team
Omar Ali
Programming Team Lead
Omar is a performance analyst at EDP Renewables where focuses on wind turbine condition monitoring systems. He is also a Master’s candidate in mechanical engineering where he researches the mechanical properties of lithium-ion battery electrolytes. He has been involved with tutoring high school students ever since he graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics in 2014.
Zach Cheaney
Programming Team Lead
Chris Pecci
Programming Team Lead
Chris Pecci is a Business Manager for Chevron. At Chevron, Chris is accountable for economic, cost and schedule performance of oil and gas major capital projects offshore Latin America, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. Chris has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a M.B.A. from Alaska Pacific University.
Jennifer Yao
Programming Team Lead
Mark Lem
Co-Director of Fundraising
Mark is an Investment Banking Analyst at Lazard Frères in their Houston office. Prior to joining Lazard in 2016, Mark was an Analyst at Ardian in their New York City office. Mark has long been interested in helping low-resourced promising adolescents reach their potential and it is this interest that prompted Mark to help pursue the formation of a Minds Matter Houston chapter. Mark obtained a B.Comm. in Finance from McGill University in 2015.
Cory Wynn
Co-Director of Mentees
Cory is a Deals Strategy Associate for PwC | Strategy&. Prior to joining PwC, Cory was a Strategy & Operations Business Analyst at Deloitte Consulting, where he served on mergers and acquisitions related engagements for Fortune 500 companies. Graduating in 2015, Cory earned a B.A. in Economics from Rice University. Cory is passionate about education and is excited to be working with the Minds Matter Houston team.
Amanda Gujral
Co-Director of Volunteering
Amanda is a Registered Nurse at UT MD Anderson. She has always had the passion for helping others and this drove her decision to pursue a nursing career. Amanda would like to do more for others outside of the hospital and believes Minds Matter is the perfect organization for her. She is excited to be the Co-Vice President of Volunteer Recruitment and believes finding the best volunteer support system for the students is critical in the success of Minds Matter Houston. Amanda obtained a B.S. in Biology from Lafayette College and a B.S. in Nursing from NYU.
Purav Patel
Co-Director of Volunteering
Purav is an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in Houston, TX. Prior to McKinsey, he was a Senior Consultant at PacWest Consulting Partners in Houston. Purav’s passion to help lead volunteering for Minds Matter stemmed from a history of helping tutor fellow students in his high school and university. Purav also enjoys supporting non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and local food banks during his free time. Purav holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Meghan Tuerff
Director of Research & Best Practice Development
Meghan is an Operations Manager for Uber Technologies in Houston. Prior to joining Uber Technologies in 2014, Meghan was a finance and risk analyst at General Electric. As an undergrad, Meghan was involved in tutoring elementary age children in math and reading. Meghan obtained a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Chinese Language and Culture from Wake Forest University.
Arsen Akopian
High School Relationship Lead
Arsen Akopian is a management consultant with Strategy&. As a first generation immigrant, Arsen cares about connecting people with opportunities. He is dedicated to tackling the knowledge gap that exists for immigrant and lower income communities. Arsen's volunteer experience is focused on this gap - he has performed pro bono consulting services for local businesses and not-for-profits and free tax services for lower income families. Arsen holds a Masters in Professional Accounting and a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Texas. He is an active CPA in Texas and enjoys merging his business background with the needs of his community.
Germese Gee
Counsel
Germese Gee knew from an early age that she wanted to be an attorney. Unlike most of her peers, when Germese Gee graduated High School, she enlisted into the United States Army. Attorney’s Gee tenure in the military taught her valuable lessons. Lessons such as honor, duty, and selfless service. These life lessons have played an integral part in both Attorney Gee’s personal and professional life. The lessons that Attorney Gee learned in the military are pillars to her legal practice. Attorney Gee practice area includes Social Security Disability, Veteran Disability and Family Law. Attorney Gee is dedicated to be an advocate for the forgotten, vulnerable, and underrepresented population.
Attorney Gee’s greatest accomplishment and most important job is being a mom to her wonderful 11-year-old son. In Attorney Gee’s spare time she has set up her church as a 501 (c) (3), she assists high school seniors with college preparation, she is a mentor, and she volunteers with local charities and non-profits in her community.
Attorney Gee earned her Juris Doctor Degree from Western Michigan Cooley Law School, she has a Master of Science Degree from Florida International University, and a Bachelor Degree from St. Thomas University. Attorney Gee is license in Texas.
Michelle Miller
English & Critical Reading Curriculum Lead
After completing a BA in Comparative Literature (French and Russian) and an MBA in Taxation and Accountancy, I decided to explore teaching, first with Russian emigres brought to the U.S. through Project Exodus, then as a teaching assistant in the University of Houston’s English Department. I eventually landed a position at The Kinkaid School, where I taught English to grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 (AP). After seven years, I moved to The Awty International School, eventually returning to Kinkaid before retiring. Now, I divide my time between a home in Houston and another on the coast of Maine. I volunteer not only with MMH, but also with the Bilingual Education Institute and the Lighthouse for the Blind. I also enjoy gardening, reading, and playing bridge.