Board of Directors
Hon. Elizabeth Ray
Board Chair
Judge Ray brings legal and business experience to Social Motion’s Board of Directors. With 20 plus years as a civil trial judge, coupled with 14 years as a civil litigator, and 4 years in corporate America, Judge Ray has the ability to negotiate and resolve issues quickly, fairly and with an “outside the box” mentality. Her approach is intuitive and creative and deeply caring as Judge Ray is herself, a parent to a child with special needs.
Judge Ray is an active community speaker, has received numerous honors for her charitable activities and is currently a member of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo International Committee. She has been an advisor to the Texas Supreme Court, is a Houston Bar Association Fellow, a member of ABOTA, AWA, was named Trial Judge of the Year ( 2006), and has been recognized as a “Woman on the Move” by the Texas Executive Women.
Judge Ray graduated from high school in Dallas, Texas, received a B.A. from Texas Tech University, and her J.D. from Baylor University School of Law.
Judge Ray currently maintains an active mediation and arbitration practice in Houston, Texas. She is married to Paul Choules, and together they have six children, enjoy traveling and cooking. The Choules’ are active in St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Houston, Texas.
Judge Ray is an active community speaker, has received numerous honors for her charitable activities and is currently a member of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo International Committee. She has been an advisor to the Texas Supreme Court, is a Houston Bar Association Fellow, a member of ABOTA, AWA, was named Trial Judge of the Year ( 2006), and has been recognized as a “Woman on the Move” by the Texas Executive Women.
Judge Ray graduated from high school in Dallas, Texas, received a B.A. from Texas Tech University, and her J.D. from Baylor University School of Law.
Judge Ray currently maintains an active mediation and arbitration practice in Houston, Texas. She is married to Paul Choules, and together they have six children, enjoy traveling and cooking. The Choules’ are active in St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Houston, Texas.
Michelle Heinz
Board Vice Chair
Michelle Heinz is a native of Louisiana and has been a resident of Houston for more than two decades. Michelle’s son, Nicholas, has been involved with Social Motion for six years, so she has personally experienced Social Motion’s amazing program.
Michelle has always been an active volunteer with her children’s schools through the years, serving as room mom, chairing school programs and helping with school fundraisers. Additionally, Michelle has become a tireless advocate for crime prevention, and she has lent her talents to lobbying and speaking before the Texas Legislature to strengthen laws protecting our children. She recently received the Crime Stoppers of Houston Leon Goldstein Award after helping to pass legislation which prevents crimes against children.
Michelle supports and volunteers for a variety of local charities. Michelle and her husband of 26 years, Mike, have 3 children: Michael (21); Nicholas (20); and Emily (17). Michelle is a Piano major from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Michelle has always been an active volunteer with her children’s schools through the years, serving as room mom, chairing school programs and helping with school fundraisers. Additionally, Michelle has become a tireless advocate for crime prevention, and she has lent her talents to lobbying and speaking before the Texas Legislature to strengthen laws protecting our children. She recently received the Crime Stoppers of Houston Leon Goldstein Award after helping to pass legislation which prevents crimes against children.
Michelle supports and volunteers for a variety of local charities. Michelle and her husband of 26 years, Mike, have 3 children: Michael (21); Nicholas (20); and Emily (17). Michelle is a Piano major from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Lorraine Klim, MEd
Secretary
Lorraine is a career educator, administrator and autism specialist who brings a highly accomplished knowledge base in these specialty fields to Social Motion.
Lorraine Klim has spent the last 15 years supporting children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder through direct teaching, educational and behavioral support as well as training parents, caregivers and educators who support them. Lorraine found her way to education as a second career having spent 16 years as a Property Manager in commercial real estate. As a native Houstonian, she has lived in many parts of the city but chose to settle and down and raise her family in the Spring Branch area where her 3 daughters attended public school and then each graduated from a Texas university. Her introduction to Autism was through the Spring Branch ISD where she became a teacher, following a return to higher education for the credentials. Her passion and skills became strong through the years of classroom experience and she followed a path into Special Education leadership as the Manager of Autism Services in the Houston Independent School District after receiving a Master’s in Education Administration from Texas A&M University. When hired, her supervisor gave her the task to “make services for students with Autism in HISD the best they can be!”. Over the course of the next 7.5 years, she developed a team of strong women and through her leadership, they created innovative ways to educate and support the needs of students with Autism from 3 to 23 years of age. Lorraine’s vision included the development of a new inclusion model-TREK-for students who have the cognitive abilities to meet their educational requirements, but the effects of the disability create barriers. Additionally, the Autism Team developed a new model for training and supporting the teachers and staff in the classrooms through extensive professional development and coaching; the district is in year 3 of that 5-year plan. However large the city of Houston is, the community of Autism is a close knit one and Lorraine became an integral part of this circle through her work with Special Olympics Texas, Community Resource Coordination Group, The Lion King Autism Project (Hobby Foundation), HIPPY, Legacy Parent Support Group, Social Motion, as well as church groups and summer programs. Lorraine’s work has taken her in many directions, but a major component has been training. She has trained the HISD Police Dept, Principals, parents, staff, upper management, and even student peer groups. Lorraine’s personal goal and mission has always been to increase the awareness of Autism and its affect on lives and outcomes for students and their families. She will continue her work as she moves into her new position as Assistant Project Manager of Special Education at the Region 4 Education Service Center.
Lorraine Klim has spent the last 15 years supporting children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder through direct teaching, educational and behavioral support as well as training parents, caregivers and educators who support them. Lorraine found her way to education as a second career having spent 16 years as a Property Manager in commercial real estate. As a native Houstonian, she has lived in many parts of the city but chose to settle and down and raise her family in the Spring Branch area where her 3 daughters attended public school and then each graduated from a Texas university. Her introduction to Autism was through the Spring Branch ISD where she became a teacher, following a return to higher education for the credentials. Her passion and skills became strong through the years of classroom experience and she followed a path into Special Education leadership as the Manager of Autism Services in the Houston Independent School District after receiving a Master’s in Education Administration from Texas A&M University. When hired, her supervisor gave her the task to “make services for students with Autism in HISD the best they can be!”. Over the course of the next 7.5 years, she developed a team of strong women and through her leadership, they created innovative ways to educate and support the needs of students with Autism from 3 to 23 years of age. Lorraine’s vision included the development of a new inclusion model-TREK-for students who have the cognitive abilities to meet their educational requirements, but the effects of the disability create barriers. Additionally, the Autism Team developed a new model for training and supporting the teachers and staff in the classrooms through extensive professional development and coaching; the district is in year 3 of that 5-year plan. However large the city of Houston is, the community of Autism is a close knit one and Lorraine became an integral part of this circle through her work with Special Olympics Texas, Community Resource Coordination Group, The Lion King Autism Project (Hobby Foundation), HIPPY, Legacy Parent Support Group, Social Motion, as well as church groups and summer programs. Lorraine’s work has taken her in many directions, but a major component has been training. She has trained the HISD Police Dept, Principals, parents, staff, upper management, and even student peer groups. Lorraine’s personal goal and mission has always been to increase the awareness of Autism and its affect on lives and outcomes for students and their families. She will continue her work as she moves into her new position as Assistant Project Manager of Special Education at the Region 4 Education Service Center.
Hugh Urbantke
Treasurer
Hugh has almost forty years of experience in international business development and brings financial and operational expertise to Social Motion’s programs. As SVP/CFO of Freeport LNG Development, L.P., Hugh has built an exceptional team responsible for commercial operations, LNG marketing, finance, accounting, information systems, corporate communications, tax and office administration. Hugh is a Houston native and attends Houston’s First Baptist Church. He has been married for over thirty years and has two adult children. He actively supports a number of charities including KSBJ, The Source for Women, Show Hope and Cure International. Hugh travels extensively for work and pleasure and lived overseas in Indonesia and Singapore for ten years.
Sherman Glass
Sherman Glass is a retired Senior Executive from Exxon Mobil Corporation and brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and wisdom to Social Motion’s Board.
Mr. Glass began his career in 1972 as an engineer at the Baytown refinery in Texas. Following a number of technical and management roles in the refining business of Exxon Company USA, he became vice president, Basic Chemicals, Americas, Exxon Chemical Company, in 1993, and in 1996 transferred to Brussels as vice president, Basic Chemicals Europe.
He then held a number of other senior positions, including manager refining, Exxon Company International, responsible for Exxon's refining business outside North America. In 2001, Mr. Glass became general manager, Corporate Planning, Exxon Mobil Corporation, before being appointed president, ExxonMobil Global Services Company in 2002. Mr. Glass was appointed senior vice president, Basic Chemicals, Intermediates & Synthetics, ExxonMobil Chemical Company in 2005 and president of ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Company in 2008. After more than 40 years of service, Mr. Glass retired in 2012.
Mr. Glass was born in Houston, TX and is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering. Mr. Glass and his wife have 2 children and five grandchildren and enjoy golf, cooking and traveling.
Mr. Glass began his career in 1972 as an engineer at the Baytown refinery in Texas. Following a number of technical and management roles in the refining business of Exxon Company USA, he became vice president, Basic Chemicals, Americas, Exxon Chemical Company, in 1993, and in 1996 transferred to Brussels as vice president, Basic Chemicals Europe.
He then held a number of other senior positions, including manager refining, Exxon Company International, responsible for Exxon's refining business outside North America. In 2001, Mr. Glass became general manager, Corporate Planning, Exxon Mobil Corporation, before being appointed president, ExxonMobil Global Services Company in 2002. Mr. Glass was appointed senior vice president, Basic Chemicals, Intermediates & Synthetics, ExxonMobil Chemical Company in 2005 and president of ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Company in 2008. After more than 40 years of service, Mr. Glass retired in 2012.
Mr. Glass was born in Houston, TX and is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering. Mr. Glass and his wife have 2 children and five grandchildren and enjoy golf, cooking and traveling.
Katrina Chamblee
Katrina Chamblee is a native Houstonian who hails from a large Texas family that has been in the Houston area for many generations. She studied architecture at The University of Texas at San Antonio and Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of Houston.
Cooking and interior design are passions of hers along with traveling, learning about wine, and gardening. Katrina consults local law firms on internet/social media marketing along with owning an interior and event design company.
Katrina and her significant other, Butch Boyd, have been longtime supporters of Social Motion.
Cooking and interior design are passions of hers along with traveling, learning about wine, and gardening. Katrina consults local law firms on internet/social media marketing along with owning an interior and event design company.
Katrina and her significant other, Butch Boyd, have been longtime supporters of Social Motion.
Traci Arellano
Traci Arellano brings financial expertise to Social Motion’s Board of Directors. During a banking career that began in 2007, she has spent significant time understanding and responding to the banking needs of the community, leading businesses, executives, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. Four years of her banking career with Frost was in Houston as a Relationship Manager gaining knowledge and a well-rounded expertise on various industries and their banking relationship needs. In August 2014, she joined the Public Finance Division to provide that expertise to the local public and nonprofit organizations of Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. In 2017, she moved back to Houston to continue providing her skills to the Gulf Coast areas of Texas. In Traci’s most recent work with Frost Bank, she has been responsible for delivering tailored solutions to government and non-profit organizations. Traci is recognized for using strong leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills to build and maintain successful customer relationships.
Traci received an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Hill College in Hillsboro, TX, and graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Traci is an active community member and volunteer. She has served on numerous committees and advisory councils. Presently she is a member of the Greater Houston Partnership Health Care Advisory Council, member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association Social Committee, and member of the Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni Association, Class 45. Previously, she has served as a board member of Corpus Christi Metro Ministries; member of Advisory Council on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Substance Abuse; and President of Business Networking International, Houston West Region, BNI Power Players; among other leadership roles.
Traci is a native of Rockport-Fulton, Texas, where she was born and lived until leaving for school in 2003.
Traci received an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Hill College in Hillsboro, TX, and graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Traci is an active community member and volunteer. She has served on numerous committees and advisory councils. Presently she is a member of the Greater Houston Partnership Health Care Advisory Council, member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association Social Committee, and member of the Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni Association, Class 45. Previously, she has served as a board member of Corpus Christi Metro Ministries; member of Advisory Council on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Substance Abuse; and President of Business Networking International, Houston West Region, BNI Power Players; among other leadership roles.
Traci is a native of Rockport-Fulton, Texas, where she was born and lived until leaving for school in 2003.
John Buckley
John Buckley is President and Chief Executive Officer at Wilbur-Ellis, a leading international marketer, distributor and manufacturer of agricultural products, animal nutrients, and specialty chemicals. Wilbur-Ellis is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and in 2021 the company is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
John has over 30 years’ experience in business management, engineering, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Prior to joining Wilbur-Ellis in January 2018, Buckley was CEO of Air Liquide USA LLC. He led Air Liquide’s multibillion-dollar U.S. industrial gas business, and oversaw Industrial Merchant, Electronics and Large Industries businesses, as well as U.S. corporate functions.
During 22 years with Rohm and Haas Company, John held several executive roles in Brazil, Mexico and cities across the U.S. Previously, he also served as President of AgroFresh Inc. (a technology growth business), President of Angus Chemical, and Global General Manager of Personal, Home and Industrial Care at The Dow Chemical Company.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Villanova University. He serves on the Advisory Board for their College of Engineering. He serves on the board of trustees for The Center for Pursuit in Houston and is on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. He also is president of The Monica T. Buckley Foundation and serves on the board of directors of Michelman, Inc.
John and his wife Tracey live in Houston, TX and have two sons – Patrick and Alex.
John has over 30 years’ experience in business management, engineering, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Prior to joining Wilbur-Ellis in January 2018, Buckley was CEO of Air Liquide USA LLC. He led Air Liquide’s multibillion-dollar U.S. industrial gas business, and oversaw Industrial Merchant, Electronics and Large Industries businesses, as well as U.S. corporate functions.
During 22 years with Rohm and Haas Company, John held several executive roles in Brazil, Mexico and cities across the U.S. Previously, he also served as President of AgroFresh Inc. (a technology growth business), President of Angus Chemical, and Global General Manager of Personal, Home and Industrial Care at The Dow Chemical Company.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Villanova University. He serves on the Advisory Board for their College of Engineering. He serves on the board of trustees for The Center for Pursuit in Houston and is on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. He also is president of The Monica T. Buckley Foundation and serves on the board of directors of Michelman, Inc.
John and his wife Tracey live in Houston, TX and have two sons – Patrick and Alex.
Wendy K. Dawson
Wendy is Founder of Social Motion, Inc., a Houston area nonprofit she created in 2010. In this role, she helps families using the resources and inspiration she gained while raising her stepson who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age 2. Social Motion’s programs are designed for children and young adults with autism, ADD, social anxiety and similar special needs. Students learn social skills, job skills, and participate in community-based enrichment activities to improve their success in school and future employment. Wendy developed the organization’s stable, sustainable business model after a career in commodity trading in New York with the energy subsidiary of French Bank, Societe Generale. American Express sponsored Wendy’s further expertise at the Leading High Growth Businesses Executive Education program at Harvard Business School.
Wendy has served as President of the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary and as an advisor to UT Health’s Children’s Learning Institute. In 2013, she received a Hats Off to Mothers Award as one of 10 outstanding Houston women devoted to families and community charitable activities and was honored in 2016 as a Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women's Org, named by Houston Woman Magazine's 50 Most Influential and by Swoon Magazine as a Community Icon. Wendy is an active speaker and community advocate for nonprofit leadership, education, children, and special needs issues. She actively supports her children's school and activities and husband’s legal career. Wendy is currently a member of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, The Women President's Organization, and the Houston Bar Association's Project TRAIN.
Wendy has served as President of the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary and as an advisor to UT Health’s Children’s Learning Institute. In 2013, she received a Hats Off to Mothers Award as one of 10 outstanding Houston women devoted to families and community charitable activities and was honored in 2016 as a Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women's Org, named by Houston Woman Magazine's 50 Most Influential and by Swoon Magazine as a Community Icon. Wendy is an active speaker and community advocate for nonprofit leadership, education, children, and special needs issues. She actively supports her children's school and activities and husband’s legal career. Wendy is currently a member of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, The Women President's Organization, and the Houston Bar Association's Project TRAIN.