Power Mapping

This is the current roster for the seven-member board and two alternates.

Eric T. Paulsen (2000)

Chairman 

Mr. Paulsen is a co-founder of the Houston Mercantile Exchange, leading the commercial and business development efforts of the company. He has worked with Enron, Texas Gas, and CSX in commodity training and financial transaction services.

Current Employment: Houston Mercantile Exchange, President and CEO

Past employment: 

• ChemConnect, Vice President of the commodity exchange 
• Plassein Partners, Principal
• Enron Capital & Trade, Director of Risk Management

Community and/or board involvement

• Flooding Committee
• Katy Development Authority, Board member
• Gas Processors Association Statistical Committee, past member
• Petrochemical Feedstock Association of the Americas, founding board member

Education: BBA from Texas Tech

Paul Redmon (2014)

Vice Chairman

Current employment: Redmon Interest LLC, Owner

Community and/or board involvement

• Flooding Committee

Education

Bachelor of Engineering, Texas A&M

Sam Pearson 

Secretary

Mr. Pearson made an unsuccessful run for Katy City Council, Ward B, in 2018 and 2020. During the 2020 campaign, he called himself a “hand-shake guy” who enjoys meeting people face-to-face. He prides himself on reading all the materials given to him, and says he doesn’t have a problem being a “no” vote. He is a long-term law enforcement officer, now retired.

Mr. Pearson has a unique men’s ministry restoring cars. He uses this work along with mentorship as a metaphor and a practice for restoring a man. Just Man Ministry

Employment: Consultant and Minister

Past employment

• Rural County and Urban Metro Law enforcement officer, 40 years
• Adjunct professor, Houston Community College, 1988-2012. Criminal Justice Instructor

Stated priorities:

• Citizen safety and protection
• Continue development to the west as a way to reduce taxes
• Monitor drainage and water flows throughout the city
• Keep development in the established zoning areas; we are “running out of Katy intercity land”

Education

Master’s in Criminal Justice Management

Jason Ward (2018)

Commissioner

Mr. Ward was appointed as an alternate member in 2018. In a March 2022 local story on the comprehensive plan process, Mr. Ward said he felt that many of the initiatives the city has set forth (in the past) have been more reactive than proactive. 

“Listening to that list, there has been a lot of focus on getting where we need to be and not on going where we want to go,” Ward said, and council members agreed. “I’m excited to be going forward instead of trying to fix.” 

[Katy City Council to develop 2020-40 comprehensive plan | Community Impact]

Current Employment: Freese and Nichols, Group Manager, 2006-present

Education: BS, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M

Gregory Christmann (2018)

Commissioner

Current employment: Veritex Community Bank (formerly Green Bank), Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking, 2008 to present.

Past employment:

• Wells Fargo Bank, Vice President, 2005-2008
• Regions Bank, Vice President, 2003-2005

Education:

Finance, Stephen F Austin State University

Paul Follis 

Alternate Commissioner

Mr. Follis is a Commander in the Houston Police Department. He has received quite a bit of press that includes successfully administering CPR to a broadcaster at an Angels game, to de-escalating a potentially volatile situation at a George Floyd protest in June, 2020, in Katy. He was in charge of the Narcotics Division, which is part of the Special Investigations Command. In 2019, he was a finalist for the City of Katy’s Chief of Police position.

Current employment:

Houston Police Department, Commander, 1992 to present

Past employment:

Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Sheriff, 1987-1992

U.S. Marine Corps, 1982-1986

Community/board involvement

City of Katy Convention & Tourism Bureau, Member

Education: BA, Organizational Leadership; MS, MSME

Alan Chapman

Assistant Secretary

Randy McDonald 

Alternate Commissioner

All positions are three-year terms. The city holds elections in May, with new members sworn in soon after. In May, 2021, voters approved a $6 million bond for buildings and parks.

William H. "Dusty" Thiele 2020

Mayor 

Year elected: Mayor Thiele ran unopposed in 2022 and is up for re-election in 2025. He was appointed to city council twice to serve unexpired terms that became available (2013 and 2020). He has served for both Wards.

Current employment: Owns and operates Thiele Insurance Agency (35 years)

Community and/or board involvement

• Katy Planning Commission; he was appointed prior to being elected; and served as early as 2014
• Katy Chamber of Commerce, Ex-Officio
• Convention and Tourism Bureau; he was appointed prior to being elected, and served as early as 2014
• Village at Katy Development District (appointed prior to being elected) 
• Rotary Club Rotarian of the Year

Education: BBA, Baylor University

Janet Corte 2018

Ward A  

Year elected: 2018. She is up for re-election in 2023.

As an IT professional, Ms. Corte has helped the city government embrace current technology through software and hardware upgrades. A diversified tax base and low property taxes are important to her. Ms. Corte was re-elected in 2020, and is in her second term.

Current employment: Retired

Stated priorities are:

• Drainage and infrastructure 
• Growth in and around Katy, and improved services for residents
• Enhance parks and green spaces
• Protect Katy’s culture while fostering growth.
• Safer walking and biking to downtown and parks
• Reinstate some of the town’s historical infrastructure like rice dryers
  

Past employment

• Wicresoft Billing Consultant, Frontier communications, 2011-2016
• Business Analyst/Team Lead, Global Programming Services, Inc., 1997-2011
• Contract Programmer Analyst, SASOL N.A., 1995-97
• Manager, Custom Projects, NYNEX DPI, 1986-1995
• Programmer Manager, Blocker Energy, 1980-1986

Community and/or board involvement

• Girl Scout troop leader, 6 years
• Volunteer at Katy High School and in Boy Scouts

Education

Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems, University of Houston

Dan Smith 2021

Ward A 

Year elected: 2021, Term expires in 2024. This is the seat vacated by Dusty Thiele (now mayor).

CM Smith sees potential in improving permitting processes and inspections, and creating a position of Economic Development Coordinator to recruit businesses and work with existing businesses. He says he will “be a champion for growth because our city is growing”, and he believes this will expand the tax base, improve services, and lower tax burdens on residents. Mr. Smith moved to Katy in 2015. He is a Texas native.

Current employment: Territory Senior Manager, Best Buy, employed since 2001 in various roles.

Stated priorities are:

• Zoning restrictions
• Flood mitigation
• Customer service focused city government
• Economic development/business growth
• Enhance public safety

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Past employment

• Manager, Nutrition, Inc.,1998-2001

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Education

MBA

Rory A. Robertson 2020

Ward B 

Year elected: 2020, beating the two-term incumbent 59% to 19%. He is up for re-election in 2023.

Mr. Robertson ran for office because as a life-long resident, he felt that his experience with the families of Katy could help foster a greater sense of community. He describes himself as a social person who enjoyed campaigning, even though COVID made it difficult. He has pledged to always be available to discuss the issues with anyone. He welcomes growth to the city. Although he was the only new member after the 2020 election, he did not see this as a problem because he has regularly attended city council meetings.Council member Robertson is also a long-term substitute for Katy ISD. 

Current employment: Navigo Wealth Management, Principal, 2011 to present.

Stated priorities are:

• Protect greenspace–he sees this as a long-term goal
• Deal with effects of COVID on the community–downtown businesses need support
• Build on the success of Katy Market Days Festival; increase downtown evening events
• Flood mitigation projects

Mr. Robertson does not support tax revenues as a priority for making decisions about growth, and he disagrees with zoning changes, saying they should be limited. He wants to encourage commercial growth to the west of the city. [Meet the Katy City Council Candidates: Rory Robertson]

Regarding government transparency, he wants the council to stream all council meetings, require a city email address for each council member so that residents can contact them, and encourage more discussion on proposed projects.

Past employment: Merrill Lynch, Financial Advisor, 2000-2011

Community and/or board involvement

• Katy Heritage Society
• Coaches youth sports: football, basketball, soccer
• Former PTA at Stephens Elementary (6 years)
• Volunteer board member, Katy Youth Football

Education

BBA, Finance, Sam Houston State

Gina Hicks (R or D) 2021

Ward B 

Year elected: 2021, Term expires in 2024

CM Hicks values community service, and posits that her professional roles have included this element during much of her career. She has worked with municipalities, chambers, and local businesses as a strategic account manager in cybersecurity. Through working with municipalities, she became interested in a deeper role within the City of Katy.

Ms. Hicks grew up in Nebraska and moved to Houston in 2005. She has an extensive past-employment history in leadership and consulting that indicates an enthusiasm for work. 

Current employment: Strategic Account Manager, Keel Technology Solutions and Restoration Specialists

Stated priorities are:

• Public safety
• Drainage and flooding
• “Quality” growth
• Parks improvement

Past employment

• Various positions and companies, related to technology and cybersecurity
• Account Manager, Creative Media, Second Baptist Church, Houston 2013-2015

Community and/or board involvement

• Volunteer member of Katy Elementary Campus Advisory Team
• Awana leader at Katy’s First Baptist Church.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Committeeman
• Children’s Director, Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church (2004-02)

Education

BA, Children’s Ministry/Family Development, Oklahoma Baptist University

Chris Harris 2018

At-Large 

Mayor Pro Tem

Year elected: 2018. Up for re-election in 2023.

Mr. Harris was appointed Mayor Pro Tem in 2019 and was re-elected in 2020. He grew up in Navasota, Texas.

Current employment: U.S. Justice Department, Analyst

Stated priorities are: None found

Position on solar: None found

Community and/or board involvement

• Katy Heritage Society
• Katy Elementary Campus Advisory Team, board member
• Katy Prairie Conservancy board member
• Katy Development Authority
• Landscape Appeal board
• Volunteer firefighter

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