HOUSTON – Houston Mayor John Whitmire has appointed venture capital executive Jay Zeidman as the new Board Chairman of the Houston First Corporation. This announcement follows the resignation of outgoing Chairman David Mincberg, who had been at the helm since 2016. Pending City Council approval, Zeidman is set to lead one of the city’s prominent organizations into a new era.
In a release, Mayor Whitmire expressed satisfaction with the appointment, stating, “I’m pleased to appoint Jay to this important post with one of our city’s leading organizations. Houston First has consistently shown its capacity to do big things and positively promote Houston around the world.”
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Zeidman, co-founder and managing partner of Altitude Ventures, a healthcare-focused investment firm, brings relevant experience to the role. His professional background includes serving as an aide to President George W. Bush at the White House and holding the position of Director of Business Development for U.S. Capital Advisors. Additionally, Zeidman is involved in various nonprofit boards, including the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Commission.
Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Zeidman said, “I am truly grateful to Mayor Whitmire and would be honored to serve in the role as Chair of the Board of Houston First. Through my service on the board the past seven years, I have seen firsthand just how important this organization is to our amazing city.”
Houston First is a local government corporation charged with promoting Houston as a destination for tourism and conventions in the U.S. and around the world as well as building and enhancing Houston’s brand and image. The organization is also responsible for managing a portfolio of city-owned assets, including the George R. Brown Convention Center, several major performing arts venues and green spaces and parking facilities. HFC also owns and operates the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston, the city’s largest hotel.
Under the leadership of outgoing Chairman David Mincberg, Houston First led the post-pandemic recovery of the travel and hospitality sector in the metro region. The convention sales team booked 419 meetings for future years in the first nine months of 2023, compared to 321 meetings during the same period in 2022. Major upcoming events, including the international energy conference Gastech and the 2028 Republican National Convention, are expected to bolster Houston’s position as a global event hub.
Mincberg’s resignation, effective from Jan. 2, marked the conclusion of his nearly eight years of service to Houston First. Mayor Whitmire expressed gratitude, acknowledging Mincberg’s contributions during a critical period.