HOUSTON, Texas (March 20, 2025) – The Council on Recovery (The Council) is pleased to announce that Judy Chavez has accepted the role of Interim President & CEO. Chavez, currently the Chief Development & Communications Officer for The Council, will succeed Mary Beck who is leaving to pursue new opportunities.

“The Board believes Judy is the right person to lead us through this transition,” says Patrick Keegan, Board Chair of The Council on Recovery. “Her achievements at The Council are numerous and gives the Board confidence that she will keep us keenly focused on The Council’s mission of serving Houston’s recovery community.”

Chavez has been with The Council for 8 years and has led her team in achieving unprecedented results for The Council. She has raised more than $23.5M, consistently exceeded fundraising goals, and oversaw execution of The Council’s single-largest luncheon in its forty-year history featuring Brené Brown; which raised nearly $1M.

Chavez fell in love with non-profit work when she joined her uncle and father at the Houston Firefighters Burned Children’s Fund as Executive Director and they raised money to support young burn victims. She 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.

“I am humbled by this incredible opportunity to lead an organization that truly transforms lives and helps heal families,” says Chavez. “The Council is a precious resource for all Houstonians, and I will work tirelessly alongside our devoted team to be a faithful steward of the support and trust the community has placed in us. Houston’s recovery community deserves nothing less.”

Learn more about The Council at their 41st Annual Spring Luncheon with guest speaker, Hank Azaria, on April 25, 2025. Visit https://councilspeakerseries.org/luncheon/ for details.