TEAM LEADERSHIP

Team Leadership for 2021

Amy Rogers – Executive Director

Amy Rogers is the Executive Director of the San Jacinto Battleground, Monument, and Museum. Prior to joining the team, she was the Executive Director of the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at William P. Hobby Airport where she held that position for 12 years. Amy holds a BA in History from Sam Houston State University and a MA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Houston-Downtown. She is an accomplished grant writer and fundraiser having secured funding for multiple programs and capital projects.

In addition to her work at the museum Amy was elected in 2012 to serve as Councilor at Large of the Southeast Texas Museums Association (SETMA) and then served as the organization’s Secretary for 5 years. She has also served as a member of the Texas Association of Museums (TAM) Program Committee and was elected to TAM Council in 2016. She holds membership in TAM, SETMA, American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and young professional organizations such as Pier & Beam (a branch of Preservation Houston) and Urban Green (Hermann Park Conservancy). Amy truly has a passion for historic preservation, nonprofit organizations, and museum operations and enjoys working with others who dedicate their time and talents to this field.

Gina Manlove – Coordinator

Manlove is Director of Development at the San Jacinto Museum of History and Battlefield Association. She is a former first lady of Pasadena and has served for 16 years as board chair for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) named Pasadena Health Center.

Denton Florian – Co-Coordinator and Visionary for Event

Florian is a Texas History enthusiast who produced the EMMY Award winning documentary film, Sam Houston. While discussing the San Jacinto Battleground with Gina Manlove he floated the idea for an illumination and subsequently flew to Maryland to view the 31st annual illumination event at the Antietam National Battlefield and meet its leaders. Back in Texas he shared his photos and information with Gina and the two determined that Texas needed a Texas-size event on a Texas-size battlefield to honor its war dead. The vision and mission were developed, and the genesis of the Texas Memorial Illumination at San Jacinto was launched.

Robyn Davis – Community Liaison and Police Coordinator

Davis is a 5th generation Texan, born and raised in the La Porte-Bayshore area. He has worked in the public service industry for over 30 years as a Paramedic and Police Officer. Two things that are important to him – family and community. He is involved in several local and state organizations such as the Sons of the Republic of Texas, Crown Hill Cemetery Association, Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo, and the La Porte-Bayshore Heritage Society. He also has the distinction of being the original “Blue Santa” in La Porte, providing toys for children in La Porte and Deer Park.

Joseph Thomas – Volunteer Coordinator

Thomas has been at National Oilwell Varco (NOV) for more than thirteen years. He serves as the Global Credit Manager overseeing $65,000,000 in assets for the company. He is the 22^nd District Commander for the American Legion Department of Texas, Chaplain of the Deaf Smith chapter of the Sons of the Republic and Assistant District Commissioner for the San Jacinto District of the Boy Scouts of America.

Hal Vaughn – Fire Prevention Management

Vaughn served 34 ½ years with the Houston Fire Department and retired as District Chief, where he supervised five fire stations and 48 personnel. He was responsible or responding as incident Commander for any Fire, Hazmat, Technical Rescue and Mass Casualty incidents within his response district. In addition, he served as member of The State of Texas Type III Incident Management Team.

Robert (Bob) J Gebhard

Bob is retired Banker, and a Rotarian. He served in the United States Navy and is a Viet Nam veteran. He has over 40 years of management experience and voluntary years of experience on volunteer board of director positions. He spent 50 years in the banking industry. Through my Rotary service, he has served in many leadership positions including President, District Governor. Bob served as the Rotary District 5890 Governor form 2013-2014.

Bob is a Military Veteran Peer Network Peer Facilitator helping veterans obtain the help they need. He is a Mentor for the Veterans Treatment Court, Houston, Texas. Bob also works with the Harris County Reentry program facilitating Leadership training inside Harris County Jail for the Stars and Stripes unit with 52 incarcerated Veterans.

Bob is the co-founder of the Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veterans. It is the fastest growing club in Rotary District 5890. This club started in July 2020 and has grown to over 40 members.

Bob belongs to the Vietnam Veterans of America in Baytown, American Legion in Pasadena, VFW, and DAV.

Bob has served many other business, community and humanitarian boards throughout my career, such as Helping a Hero, Pasadena Independent School District Education Foundation, Communities in Schools, and Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo, and Poway Jaycees.

Andrea Nguyen

Nguyen often wondered why my Creator let her live when other children on her small boat died so tragically in the South China Sea in 1984. When her family was rescued and brought to the US, she promised herself that as a little Vietnamese refugee she would take all of God’s blessings and make the most of her life.

She dreamt big and became an award-winning news reporter, working for various TV stations in Texas, Washington, California and Oregon. She chose broadcasting because her native country did not allow freedom of speech or press. What better way to exert the democracy her family fought so hard to attain than through accurate and unbiased journalism?

During her decade-long career in news, she broke an international story, was featured on Dateline NBC, got to travel with a governor to the other side of the world for a trade mission, and covered thousands of compelling stories and breaking news. She has interviewed many high-profile people including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Seth McFarlane, George Lopez, Jim Belushi, and LeAnn Rimes.

Her growing desire to impact young minds led her to consider a career as an educator. Thanks to PISD, she was able to combine her passions: education, journalism, leadership, and technology. She was a nominee for TACA’s Intern Teacher of the Year award for the state of Texas during her first-year teaching. In January 2020, Nguyen stepped out of the classroom and into an administrative role. As PISD’s director of community relations and executive director of the education foundation, She promises to work hard for the 64,000+ students and staff of Pasadena Independent School District

COL. Harold Sams, USA, Retired – Logistics Coordinator

Harold is a retired Army logistics officer with 30 plus years of service to our country. He presently serves as Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 912 in Baytown, TX. Harold is always looking for opportunities that support Veterans and the sacrifices they made for the true American experience. He serves as part-time Substitute Teacher in the Goose Creek Independent School District. He has a passion for motivation kids and young adults to achieve and be all that they can be.