We are incredibly fortunate to have an experienced team of professionals who love to help at various levels.
Jeff Newkirk
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 on the boards of the Kiwanis Club of The Woodlands and Hands of Justice, and he 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.
Michael Ellis
Vice-Chair
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.
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. She was named a 2025 Woman of Distinction by the Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations, 2026 Texas Association of Mediators Volunteer Mediator of the Year, and the National Association for Community Mediators Spring 2026 Volunteer of the Quarter.
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)
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. She was also named a 2026 Woman of Distinction by the Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations, winner of the 2026 Montgomery County Bar Association Will Harrison Civility Award, and the 2026 Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day Lifetime Achievement Award.
Randy Lovelace
Randy has spent the past 37 years in the Property & Casualty insurance industry. He began his career with American National Insurance as a captive agent in Port Arthur, Texas, where he worked for 10 years. For the past 27 years, Randy has built and led his own business as an Agency Owner with Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, located in The Woodlands, Texas.
Randy has previously served on the boards of Bridgewood Farms and The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a graduate of Leadership Montgomery County, Class of 2013.
Outside of his professional life, Randy has a deep appreciation for nature and enjoys spending time in the forest. He lives in Oak Ridge North, Texas, with his wife, Dawn Candy. Together they are raising their two granddaughters.
Jennifer Ortiz Prather
Jennifer Ortiz Prather is currently an Ex-Officio Director of the DRC-MC Board and has served on the Board since 2022. She is past president of Texas Association of Mediators (TAM)(2016). A native Houstonian, 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.
With more than twenty years leading mediation and conflict‑management initiatives across regional, national, and international settings, she has resolved high‑stakes disputes and helped to foster collaborative organizational cultures. Jennifer is a nationally recognized attorney, mediator, and conflict‑systems strategist who helps HR leaders, executives and ADR professionals integrate alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and artificial intelligence in today’s workplace.
She resides in Houston with her husband and two daughters who play competitive soccer.
Lois Voth
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 returned to the DRC-MC Board in 2023 as Vice-Chair and served as Chair from 2024-2025. 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.
Staff Members
(Listed In Alphabetical Order)
Julie Collins
Director Of Program Services
Julie Collins initially served Montgomery County residents as the DRC-MC Volunteer Coordinator from 2010-2017. After completing her graduate degree in 2023, Julie returned to the DRC-MC as Manager of Continuing Education and Training. She has since been named Director of Program Services and oversees the development and implementation of mediation and conflict resolution training programs for children and adults.
Julie holds a B. A. in Adult Workforce Education and a M.A. in Advanced Curriculum and Instruction from Angelo State University, where she graduated with honors. She was recognized as the Graduate Student of the Year and received a Superlative Award in Leadership Excellence from the Department of Graduate Studies and Research. Julie is also a proud 2025 graduate of the United Way Greater Houston CenterPoint Energy Emerging Leaders Institute, Cohort IV, where she received executive leadership training through Texas A&M Mays Business School’s Center for Executive Development.
Julie’s dual commitment to education and non-profit service reflects a deep passion for community-building and restorative practices. She serves DRC-MC volunteers and the community by offering positive, innovative, and supportive training programs. Please contact Julie at 936-760-6914, Ext. 6 or julie.collins@mctx.org to discuss DRC-MC education & training programs and speaking opportunities.
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
President & CEO
Elaine Roberts began serving as the Executive Director of the DRC-MC in April 2014 and now serves as its President and CEO. 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. She is a graduate of the Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2016, a member of the SBOT ADR Section and the recipient of the Section’s 2020 Justice Frank Evans Award. Elaine is also an approved trainer and member of the Texas Mediator Trainer Roundtable (TMTR), a Board Member for the Texas Association of Mediators (TAM) and is the 2026 recipient of TAM’s Walter A. Wright 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.
