HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) today announced the retirement of Board President Madeline Bunch after more than 30 years of service on the Board of Directors. The Board has appointed Elijio Serrano, former Board Vice President, as its new Board President.
In addition, the Board has appointed existing Board members Subbu Venkat as Board Vice President, Tom Stillwell as Board Secretary, and confirmed that Shannon Truman will continue serving as Board Treasurer. Natasha Cherednichenko has joined the Board of Directors, bringing the total number of volunteer members to ten. The Board of Directors’ bios can be found at the end of this release.
Bunch leaves a lasting impact on the HMC, where she has served on the Board of Directors since 1997. She played a pivotal role in the development and growth of the elite athlete program over the past two decades. She also previously served as Board President of the Houston Marathon Foundation from 2008 to 2020—helping to shape the foundation’s mission to expand access to the life-changing power of running for all of Houston’s youth—and remains an active Houston Marathon Foundation Board member.
“Over the past three decades, Maddie has played a transformative role in virtually every aspect of the organization,” said Wade Morehead, Executive Director of the Houston Marathon Committee. “In my 16 years in this position, Maddie has been directly involved in every important matter or decision that the HMC has had to address, and she has been a wonderful friend, supporter, manager, and leader to so many over the years. For that, we are all very grateful and appreciative.”
Incoming Board President Elijio Serrano has served on the Board since 2019 and brings more than 40 years of experience in accounting, finance, and treasury to his leadership. An avid runner, he is an active member of Houston’s running community.
The HMC prioritizes a professionally diverse Board that brings fresh perspectives and supports broader accessibility to the sport. New board members are identified and nominated by a selection committee before being elected by the Board of Directors.
The 55th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon, along with the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K, will take place January 15–17, 2027. General registration opens June 3, 2026, on Global Running Day. Registration through the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason Charity Program is currently open. For more information or to register, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
About Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) – Founded in 1972, the HMC is a founding member of Running USA and organizes the nation’s premier winter marathon, half marathon, and 5K hosting over 300,000 participants, volunteers, and spectators on race day. Recognized by World Athletics, the Gold Label Chevron Houston Marathon has been the race site for three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. The Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon has hosted 16 U.S. Half Marathon Championships. The HMC received Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport from 2011 to 2020, and the event garnered the 2015 AIMS Green Award for industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Race weekend generates over $51 million in economic impact for the region annually and has raised over $42 million through the Run for a Reason Charity Program since its inception in 1995. The event is broadcast and streamed Live on ABC13, ESPN+ and Disney+ (with Disney Bundle Trio).
HMC Board of Directors:
Elijio Serrano (President) recently retired from his position as Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Houston-based international publicly traded energy services companies TETRA Technologies, Inc. He has more than 45 years of experience in general management, finance and accounting, treasury, risk management, capital markets and IT in the energy, chemicals, transportation, construction, and software sectors. Elijio was previously on the board of directors and chairman of the audit committees of several public and private companies. He also previously served on the board of Talento Bilingual de Houston and was also a member of the President’s Advisory Council for the University of Houston Downtown. He and his family are avid runners in the community, and he has completed 12 Aramco Houston Half Marathons and four Chevron Houston Marathons.
Subbu Venkat (Vice President) retired recently from Texas Instruments Incorporated after a long career which spanned well over three decades holding leadership positions in business development, product, engineering and partner management. Subbu has a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Madras in India and is an avid runner who has served on the board of directors for the Houston Area Road Runners Association. Subbu is a devoted runner who has completed a total of 25 marathons, so far, including the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Berlin Marathon, five Boston Marathons, nine Aramco Houston Half Marathons and 11 Chevron Houston Marathons.
Shannon Truman, CFP (Treasurer) is a Senior Financial Advisor with Homestead Funds with over 25 years of financial service experience. Her primary focus is providing financial advisory guidance and educational support to shareholders. An avid runner and triathlete, she placed third in her age group at Ironman Texas 2021 and went on to compete in the 2022 World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Running is her true passion and she has completed 17 marathons, including three World Marathon Majors, Boston (2011, 2017), Chicago (2024), and London (2026). As a native Houstonian, she has competed in nine Chevron Houston Marathons and two Aramco Houston Half Marathons.
Tom Stilwell (Secretary) is a partner at Sorrels Law where he focuses on high stakes personal injury matters. A successful trial lawyer for 30 years, Tom has been a partner at several well-known law firms. Throughout his life, Tom has been an avid runner and racer, focusing on marathons and half marathons as an adult. He has run more than 20 marathons (including sub-3 hour finishes at Houston, Boston, and New York) and 18 half marathons. Along the way, Tom has also helped plan, organize, and direct multiple 5K, 10K, and cross-country races for various schools, organizations, and clubs. Tom was introduced to his partner Betsy by runners in the community, and together they have been raising their children Alex and Lilly, who both run and compete for their schools.
Tracey L. Anthony is the Chief Compliance Officer for Crane Worldwide Logistics. As a strategic operational executive with extensive trade compliance management experience, Anthony is a recognized speaker at collegiate and industry venues. She has over 30 years of international trade experience and is a member of the Import Export Institute as a Certified Compliance Officer and Empowered Official. Currently, Tracey focuses on Global Trade Compliance helping Crane Worldwide companies and their clients meet the rules, restrictions, and protocols of international shipping. She has overall responsibility of risk for Global Trade, FCPA (anti-corruption programs) and Anti-Trust and Competition law for Crane Worldwide companies.
Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to wonky NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. Eric has an astronomy degree from the University of Texas and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. He previously worked at the Houston Chronicle for 17 years, where the paper was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2009 for his coverage of Hurricane Ike. A certified meteorologist, Eric founded Space City Weather, co-founded The Eyewall, lives in Houston, and has completed eight Chevron Houston Marathons.
Natasha Cherednichenko is a senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in complex, multi-site, safety-critical industries, with various roles at SLB and TETRA Technologies. She most recently served as President of Certarus and now advises energy, industrial, and technology-focused companies on strategy, operations, and talent development. Originally from Australia, Natasha has lived in Houston since 2019 and is an active member of the local running community, having participated in the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon since 2020. She has completed marathons in Boston, New York, and Indianapolis, along with numerous half marathon and 10K races worldwide. Natasha also serves on the Girlstart National Board and is honored to support the Houston Marathon Committee’s mission and community impact.
Monica Dean is an attorney with over 16 years of legal experience with a senior HR certification and large international law firm experience. She has served as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for multiple companies and as a Chief Counsel and Compliance Officer for a public multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Houston. Monica is a prior recipient of the National Bar Association “Top 40 Under 40” Lawyer Nation’s Best Advocate Award. This program recognizes the nation’s top lawyers under 40 who exemplify a broad range of high achievements, including innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community involvement. Monica has a passion for running, mentoring, and volunteering. Throughout her legal career, she has provided pro bono legal assistance and mentored high school students, law school students, and new lawyers. Monica is also involved in several professional organizations and has previously served as the Co-Chair and Vice-Chair of the National Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, the Conference Planning Committee and Ambassador’s Council of the California Minority Counsel Program.
Melissa Hahn is currently the Senior Director of Corporate Partnership for the Houston Astros. She is in her 18th season with the club and oversees the activation of all club sponsorships. A native of Wasco, CA, Hahn earned a B.A. in Business Marketing from California State University, Bakersfield. After a collegiate volleyball career, she became an avid endurance athlete, completing 26 marathons, three Ironman triathlons, and over 30 half marathons. She is a member of the local PRX running group and met her husband James while training for a marathon in 2009. She and James have three children and currently reside in Kingwood.
Le Hoang is a Global Trade Compliance Manager at TE Connectivity, a global industrial company that provides connectors and sensors to multiple industries including automotive, industrial equipment, aerospace, and data centers. She has over 20 years of experience in trade compliance with operational, consulting, and governance roles. Her current role focuses on both import and export regulations. She enjoys outdoor activities like running, hiking, biking, and kayaking. Yoga is her true passion, and she recently obtained her yoga certification. She appreciates opportunities to volunteer for organizations such as Cycle, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and Trees for Houston.