HOUSTON, Texas (August 6, 2025) – The Council on Recovery proudly announces the appointment of Judy M. Chavez as its next President & CEO, effective August 4, 2025. Serving as Interim President & CEO since March 2025, Chavez successfully led a strategic reorganization of The Council to focus on advancing our mission in a rapidly shifting funding environment. She was unanimously selected by The Council’s Board of Trustees after an exhaustive search of qualified candidates.
“We are thrilled to welcome Judy M. Chavez as our new President & CEO,” said Patrick Keegan, Chair of The Board of Trustees. “Judy has demonstrated remarkable leadership from day one, leading with compassion at every level, securing critical funding to advance our mission, and uniting our organization under a clear strategic vision. Her empathy, strength, and tenacity make her the ideal leader to guide us into our next chapter.”
Prior to serving as Interim President and CEO, Chavez was The Council’s Chief Development &
Communications Officer. In her eight years with The Council, Chavez has raised more than $23.5M, consistently exceeding fundraising goals. In 2024, she led the execution of The Council’s single largest luncheon in its forty-year history which raised nearly $1M.
“It is with great enthusiasm and a profound sense of purpose that I step into this role,” says Chavez. “The Council on Recovery has a proud legacy and a bright future. Our life-saving services are more important today than ever before. If anything, we know that substance abuse and other mental health disorders continue to plague our community. The Council on Recovery offers a solution.”
Chavez continued, “We are committed to saving lives, building a joyful and connected recovery community, and fostering broad support in the value of recovery. Houston families deserve nothing less.”
Chavez fell in love with nonprofit work when she joined her father and uncle at the Houston Firefighters Burned Children’s Fund. She has gained more than fifteen years of nonprofit leadership experience at Shriners Hospitals for Children, the United Way of Greater Houston, and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center. Chavez has an undergraduate degree in Humanities from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in Healthcare Administration from The University of Texas at Tyler.