We are incredibly fortunate to have an experienced team of professionals who love to help at various levels.
Lois Voth
Chair
Lois Voth has been a volunteer mediator with the DRC-MC since 2011. As a member of the Board of the DRC-MC from 2016 to 2021, Lois sat on various committees and served two terms as Chair. She recently returned to the DRC-MC Board in 2023 as Vice-Chair and in 2024 began another term as Chair. Lois has enjoyed facilitating a wide variety of personal development and educational training programs at the DRC-MC, including restorative justice practices, listening, empathy, and communication skills. She holds an M.S. in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Hayward and was named a 2023 Woman of Distinction by the Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations.
Jeff Newkirk
Vice-Chair
Jeff has spent the better part of his 35+ year business career in financial management and administrative positions. He currently works with IAS Wealth Management in The Woodlands as a financial advisor and business consultant. He began serving on the DRC-MC Board in 2023. Additionally, Jeff currently serves as President of the Kiwanis Club of The Woodlands and coaches U.S. military personnel with The Honor Foundation. Jeff is a proud graduate of the Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2022. He and his wife, Dian, have three grown children, Payton, Emma and Mary and reside in Spring.
Glenna Rodgers
Secretary
Glenna Rodgers received her BS in Procurement and Grants Management from American University. Later she earned a JD from the University of Houston Law School and also obtained a MBA from the University of Houston at Clearlake. After passing the Texas Bar, Glenna clerked in the Bankruptcy Court then went on to work for an oil and gas company. After retiring Glenna trained as a mediator, and has been a volunteer mediator at the DRC-MC since 2011. She previously served as Secretary of the DRC-MC Board from 2017-2021 and returned to the Board in 2023. Glenna has served on several other non-profit boards since her retirement. She was named a 2024 Woman of Distinction by the Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations.
Cathy Yowell
Treasurer
Cathy Yowell, who recertified as a volunteer mediator with the DRC-MC in 2019, spent almost four decades as an accountant. Following her graduation from Texas A&M University in 1981, Cathy spent years as an accountant, office and administrative manager, technical writer, and Vice President of Operations at companies in Grimes and Montgomery counties. She worked 10 years as CFO at Montgomery County United Way with a six-month period as interim Executive Director. Cathy retired from regular work in 2019, and since then she has focused on volunteer work. Cathy was proud to be a member of the 2008 Class of Leadership Montgomery County.
Jack Lewis
Counsel
Jack Lewis, who has been a volunteer mediator with the DRC-MC since 2017, spent almost four decades practicing law in the litigation space. Following law school Jack served two judicial clerkships and then spent approximately ten years in private practice, followed by more than 25 years working in the law department of a Fortune 100 energy company. Jack retired from the full-time practice of law in 2019 and currently has a mediation practice that is pro bono focused. Jack also serves on the Board of 2540, which serves at risk children in rural South Africa. He served on the DRC-MC Board from 2018 to 2022, including serving as Chair for one term.
Directors
(Listed In Alphabetical Order)
Michael Ellis
Michael is a partner at the Stibbs & Co., P.C. law firm, where he practices intellectual property law and commercial litigation. Michael joined the DRC-MC Board in 2025, and he also serves on the board of directors for The Woodlands Art Council and the Panther Creek Village Association. Michael first had the opportunity to work with the DRC-MC as part of the Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2022. A native Houstonian, Michael lives in The Woodlands with his wife and three children. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys both water and snow skiing.
Hon. Kathleen Hamilton
Judge Kathleen A. Hamilton has served as presiding judge of the 359th District Court in Montgomery County since 2003. For almost 12 years, she presided over civil, family, and criminal dockets, and now presides over criminal felony dockets and three specialty courts: adult DWI Court, Juvenile Drug Court, and Veterans Treatment Court. Judge Hamilton is a graduate of Texas Tech University (B.A. and M.A.) and the University of Houston Law Center (J.D.). She completed the basic mediation training at the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center many years ago, ordered mediation regularly in civil and family cases, and firmly believes that mediators know magic. Judge Hamilton is the recipient of the 2023 Athena Leadership Award.
Jennifer Ortiz Prather
Jennifer Ortiz Prather, a native Houstonian, is the Supervisory Attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and manages the ADR & Mediation Services Program for the EEOC’s Houston District Office, which includes the New Orleans Field Office. Jennifer began her federal career at the U.S. Department of Labor as Presidential Management Fellow in the Civil Rights Center, followed by nine years with the U.S. Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS) as a Commissioner of Mediation in the Office of International & Dispute Resolution Services in Washington, D.C. Jennifer received her B.A. at the University of Southern California in International Relations with a minor in Environmental Studies and her J.D. from Vermont Law School.
[/one-half]Staff Members
Julie Collins
Manager of Continuing Education & Training
Julie Collins is a native of Houston and made Montgomery County her home in 2007. She is no stranger to the vision of the DRC-MC, as she served as the Volunteer Coordinator from 2010 to 2017. She recognizes the value that wonderful volunteers offer to community organizations like the DRC-MC, and she feels honored to contribute her skills and expertise once more to further the goals of the DRC-MC as the Manager of Continuing Education and Training.
She graduated from Lone Star College with an associate’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in social work, Life Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Christian Education, and Angelo State University with an undergraduate certificate in Online Instruction, a bachelor’s degree in Adult Workforce Education, and a master’s degree in Advanced Curriculum and Instruction.
Julie’s ultimate goal is to serve DRC-MC volunteers and the community by offering positive, innovative, and supportive learning programs for adults of all ages. Please contact Julie at 936-760-6914, Ext. 6 or julie.collins@mctx.org to discuss DRC-MC training programs for adults and speakers for events.
Crystal Harris
Intake Coordinator
Crystal Harris joined the DRC-MC staff in 2024 as the Intake Coordinator and comes to the organization with extensive experience in court administration. She has worked as a court specialist and served as the Chief Deputy at the Polk County Clerk’s office, where she managed day-to-day operations in and out of the courtroom, for over ten years. As an avid supporter of continuing education for professionals, she has had the privilege of attending multiple court conferences and probate academies over the years.
She has extensive expertise in offering services to clients navigating the court system and is readily available to assist clients and attorneys with their scheduling needs with professionalism and efficiency.
To inquire about the DRC-MC mediation schedule and current availability, please contact Crystal at (936) 760-6914, Ext.1 or Ext. 2 or at drc.intake@mctx.org.
Stephanie Marquart
Manager of Volunteer Engagement and Development
Stephanie Marquart joined the DRC-MC staff in 2023. She graduated from William Woods University with two Bachelors of Science in English Communication and Equestrian Science. Stephanie has dedicated her career to working for non-profits. Prior to coming to the DRC-MC she served as the Supervisor – Volunteer Services for a large hospice program for 14 years. The experience of seeing how volunteers helped people at that most difficult time of their lives reinforced her commitment to working with volunteers. Stephanie also served as the Director of Development for a therapeutic horsemanship program and worked in client services and admissions for a facility for troubled teens. She would love to talk to you about the many different volunteer opportunities that are available at the DRC-MC. Stephanie can be reached at 936-760-6914, Ext. 4 or at stephanie.marquart@mctx.org.
Elaine B. Roberts
Executive Director
Elaine Roberts has served as the Executive Director of the DRC-MC since April 2014. A graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, she has extensive experience as a civil rights attorney and mediator in private law firms and in the non-profit sector. Prior to joining the DRC-MC, Elaine also served as Director of the Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Legal Director of a statewide disability rights organization, and was volunteer mediator/trainer/Board member for the Dispute Resolution Center of Harris County. A proud graduate of the Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2016, Elaine is honored to have been selected by State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Section for the 2020 Justice Frank Evans Award. To discuss ways that the DRC-MC can expand its programs and services to meet even more community needs, please contact Elaine at 936-760-6914, Ext. 7 or elaine.roberts@mctx.org.
