Maria Montes
Maria Del Pilar Montes is a native Houstonian. She joins Harris County as the first Director for the Office of Boards and Commissions. She served as Director of Boards and Commissions for the City of Houston from July 2018 to September 2021. Under her tenure, she worked closely with Mayor Turner and Council Member Abbie Kamin to create the Women’s Commission. Montes was part of the historical appointment of Cheryl Creuzot, the first African American woman to the Port of Houston Authority board. Montes also held the first public event for boards and commissions, with over 200 Houstonians in attendance.
Montes is a KIPP alumna who graduated from Hollins University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston-Downtown. Montes received the Rising Star Award from the Houston League of Women Voters in 2014 and is a current member of the American Leadership Forum, Class LIII. Montes serves on the board of the Houston Northeast CDC, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and is a member of LULAC District 8 as well as Eastex-Jensen Super Neighborhood #46.
In her free time, Montes likes to: ride her bicycle, go on hikes, spend time with her dog Destiny, and play with nephews Roggier, Rylee, and Esteban.