Jesse H. Jones Alumni Chapter | Houston, TX

Verdis Wilson, President

Verdis is a native Houstonian. He earned his Bachelor of Administration Degree in Accounting from Texas Southern University, Jesse H. Jones School of Business. Verdis is currently Auditor Supervisor for the City of Houston where he supervises a team of five senior auditors. On a daily basis, Verdis assists management with evaluating the effectiveness of operations and controls over assets through operational, contract and audit compliance reviews. Aside from being the 2016-2017 President of the TSU JHJ School of Business Alumni Chapter, Verdis is also a member of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) and National Forum for Black Public Administrators – Houston Chapter (NFBPA).

Verdis enjoys giving back through volunteer work. Verdis volunteers with the community outreach organization, Rebuilding Together Houston, which provides home repair and renovation services to low-income homeowners in need.

He also volunteers with the Mayor of Houston’s Annual Back 2 School Fest which prepares students in need with supplies and materials for the school year. Verdis is active in his community and Jerusalem Baptist Church. Verdis was recently named one of Houston's top '40 Under 40' Next Generation of Leaders by i10Media Magazine.

Jasmine Belton, Vice President

As a Financial Liaison for Aramark/ Houston Independent School District- Nutrition Services; Jasmine assists the District’s Operations Team by maintaining cost control meal plans and financial system implementation, by approving and evaluating all obligations and expenditures for assigned schools and total district.

A proud TSU Tiger, Jasmine received her B.A. in Management from Texas Southern University. Three years later, she returned to Jesse H. Jones School of Business, where she earned her Executive MBA degree in Energy Finance. With her love and dedication to her alma mater, Jasmine holds many a few titles in the alumni chapter she also chairs the Fundraising (JHJ Annual Soiree) committee, and served as Recording Secretary (2014-2016). Having the ambition and drive to giving back Jasmine joined the inaugural group of Jesse H. Jones School of Business 40 under 40 recipients were she received her award. And was also recognized as JHJ’s Alumnus of the Year 2016.

Jasmine is very passionate about giving back; she volunteers with the local Habitat for Humanity, reshaping and rebuilding hope for low income families. Jasmine also serves on the advisory board for Achievement Through Leadership Foundation (ATLF) where committing to servicing Houston area students with STEM programs and education financial assistance. She is an active member of Wheeler Baptist Church and serves on several non-profits for the church.

“One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Bennie R. Allen-Brooks, Financial Secretary/Treasurer

Bennie R. Allen-Brooks, a 1977 Cum Laude graduate of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. As a 35 year professional Federal employee with the Department of Treasury, IRS, had it not been for TSU, she could not have accomplished what she have in the work-place. As an employee with IRS, she began her career as a Revenue Agent and later promoted to a Manager of Revenue Agents, a College Recruiter, Classroom Instructor, EEO Counselor as well as an EEO Investigator as well as a Customer Service Officer. Presently, Bennie serves as an Appeals Officer where she resolves Tax Controversies without Litigation and serve as support to the IRS Attorneys.

Martha Lewis, Recording Secretary

Martha is a native of Port Arthur, Texas, who graduated in 1989 and 1994 receiving her Bachelor’s Degree (BBA) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University. She further received her teaching certification from the University of Houston. She served on the committee, under the leadership of Dr. L. Hyman in 1989, to revitalize the JHJ School of Business Alumni Chapter and served as the Chapter’s first Vice President. She has also served as President and Recording Secretary of the Chapter, as well as Recording Secretary of the National Alumni Association, Inc. of Texas Southern University. Martha previously was JHJ’s Alumnus of the Year and in 2016 received the “Alumni Stellar Award” from the Chapter.

In 2000 Martha retired from Shell Chemical Company as a Marketing Analyst to pursue a career in education as a teacher in the Houston Independent School District. In this new career Martha worked at Richard W. Dowling Middle School as a Career and Technical Education teacher, Department Chair, and Teach of the Year two consecutive years. She also taught at Evan E. Worthy HS in Career & Technical Education teaching seven Business Education courses, managing the school store, and served as a mentor and department chair. Currently, Martha is employed at Barbara Jordan HS for Careers as a Career and Technical Education teacher.

In addition to her active career, Martha is the mother of three adult children – Kelley, Lucien, and Kim Lavallais; and grandmother of eight. She is actively involved at Brentwood Baptist Church as an Usher and President of her mission group – Mission Outreach. Martha is also Recording Secretary of her Education Sorority – National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Delta Chi Chapter and a member of Alpha Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. My greatest inspirations come from God and my mother, Mrs. Beatrice Fontenot.

Bernika R. Scott, Vice President of Membership

Bernika R. Scott is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, she received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Jesse H. Jones School of Business from Texas Southern University. Years later, she returned to Jesse H. Jones School of Business and earned an Executive Masters of Business Administration degree in Energy Finance.

She’s currently a Senior Tax Analyst for Emerson in Houston, Texas. She’s worked in the indirect tax and audit industry for several years. As a highly dedicated and committed professional her expertise ranges from audit analysis, defense and research to management in the areas of Transaction Tax (Indirect Tax). Bernika is a mentor of the Springboard Mentoring Program through her current employer where she’s served in this capacity for the last three years.

Beyond work, Bernika is actively involved in the Mosaic Women’s Ministry & Director of Games during Adventure Week at Brookhollow Baptist Church. Serving is one of her passions and loves to volunteer whenever she can. Giving back to the community brings one immense joy and should never be taken for granted what service can do for others. “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” ― Shirley Chisholm.

She is a proud & active Lifetime Member of the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and currently serves as the 2017-2019 Financial Secretary. Bernika was named JHJ’s “Alumnus of the Year” 2017 and was a recipient of The Jesse H. Jones School of Business, 2017 40 Under 40. As Vice-President of Membership, she looks forward to engaging future alumni and sharing with them the importance of joining an alumni chapter. MEMBERSHIP is the heartbeat of the chapter! (Lifetime Member 2016)

Whitney Jones Moore, Corresponding Secretary

Whitney Jones Moore is currently a Managing Attorney at Moore-Wright Law, PLLC where she practices criminal defense, family law, and business law. Whitney is the wife of Robert Foster Moore. They share one son, Harrison Foster Moore. Whitney received her bachelors of business administration with a concentration in business management from Texas Southern University in 2007. Robert and Whitney met during class at Texas Southern and married in January of 2009. They then relocated to Akron, Ohio where Whitney matriculated at University of Akron School of Law and School of Business.

Whitney received a juris doctorate and masters of business administration from the University of Akron in 2012. Robert and Whitney returned to Houston during the summer of 2012. Shortly after their return, Whitney opened her own law practice, The Law Office of Whitney Jones Moore.

In 2015, Whitney co-founded Moore-Wright Law, PLLC. She serves on several boards including the Jesse H. Jones School of Business Alumni Chapter, Grace Place, and Charis Acres. In her free time Whitney enjoys spending time with her family, participating in sporting activities, traveling around the world, and serving her local church, Fifth Ward Church of Christ.

Carl Jenkins, Parliamentarian

In 2003 Carl begin his career at Heart Home Health Care, Inc. as an Accounting Manager. With consistency, he is now the Administrator/CFO and he manages over 300 employees. Carl is a native Houstonian. He graduated from Jack Yates Sr. High School. He received a Bachelor of Business and later returned to earn his Executive MBA degree in Management from Texas Southern University. He is a lifetime member of the Texas Southern University National Alumni Association Inc. As a proud Alumnus he participates on many committees. He loves to give back to the University that has given him so much. Carl gives back by volunteering with the mentorship program as one of the committee chairs (2015 -2016). In 2016 Carl was voted the Jesse H. Jones School of Business Alumnus of the Year. Presently, he serves as the JHJ School of Business Alumni Chapter’s (2018-2019) Parliamentarian.

In addition to an active career, Carl takes pride in the work he does with his church, St. John’s UMC where he serves on the Financial Board and Coordinator of the count room. Not only is he proud of his success but humbled by it as well.

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” —Booker T. Washington

“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” — Aristotle

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Jesse H. Jones School of Business Alumni Chapter at Texas Southern University