Commissioner Lesley Briones has appointed Dr. Jody S. Lee and Rufi Natarajan to the Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #1 (St. George’s Place).
Dr. Jody S. Lee is renowned for her exceptional talent in crafting high-performance boards, a skill that has helped her succeed as the current Chairwoman of Southwestern National Bank (SWNB), a $1.2 billion asset community bank headquartered in Houston.
Her strategic approach to board composition, blending expertise with passion, has propelled SWNB to the forefront of Houston's financial sector as one of five OCC-supervised Minority Depository Institutions in Houston, serving businesses of various sizes. Since joining the Board of Directors in 2015, Dr. Lee has served on the Audit, ALCO, Governance, Compensation, Compliance, and Executive Committees. In addition to SWNB, Dr. Lee also serves on the board of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), and in 2021, Dr. Lee was appointed to the Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee (MDIAC) of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). With a deep understanding of financial markets and extensive corporate governance experience, Dr. Lee steers with a strategic mindset, always keeping shareholder value at the forefront.
In addition to her impactful roles in the financing sector, Dr. Lee has applied her board-building and leadership expertise across other fields including real estate, healthcare, and the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem. For almost a decade, Dr. Lee has served on the Houston chapter board of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), an international community of innovative and successful entrepreneurs. Currently, she serves as the President of EO Houston, one of the largest chapters in the world. In real estate, she has held advisory and board positions in several organizations, including the President of the Scottsdale Pinnacle Owners Association. In the medical field, Dr. Lee has served in various capacities on hospital boards and on the board of the Texas Radiological Society, including 3 years as the Political Action Committee Chair (TRS-PAC). Her role in these organizations underscores her ability to nurture and promote great board dynamics, ensuring that each board member's strengths contribute to a collective vision.
With a BA from Rice University, an MD from UT-Houston Health Science Center, and an MBA from The George Washington University, Dr. Lee brings a rich educational background to her leadership roles. Her influence extends to academic institutions, where she mentors premed students at Rice University, entrepreneurship students at the University of Houston, and College of Public Service students at the University of Houston Downtown. As a member of nCourage, a private angel investor group with a mission to invest in female startup entrepreneurs, she actively supports and mentors aspiring female startup CEOs.
Dr. Lee's remarkable career is marked by her ability to build effective, dynamic boards across diverse organizations and bring excellence across sectors, cementing her as an established leader and pillar in the community. Her strength lies in fostering an inclusive environment, where contrasting voices are heard and critical thinking is promoted. With unwavering commitment, she empowers individuals to reach their full potential. Driven by a compelling vision, exceptional communication skills, and emotional intelligence, she inspires others to achieve their goals. This transformative presence stems from her ability to facilitate constructive discussions, encourage diverse perspectives, and cultivate trust and respect.
Rufi Natarajan immigrated from Pakistan in 1971 to pursue higher education, earning a Master’s in History from the University of Missouri in 1975. From 1976 to 1985, she worked as a retail manager for JC Penney Corporation before transitioning into real estate, where she managed small properties and earned her real estate license. In 1988, she became a licensed real estate broker in Texas.
Between 1986 and 1999, Rufi managed a portfolio of 1,100 properties for Coastal Banc, successfully overseeing the liquidation of their foreclosures across Texas. By 1993, she acquired land in Northwest Houston and took over management of MUD 180. As President of Mint Homes Inc., she developed and sold 420 homes in the Kleinbrook area. She also helped manage Big Woodrows and acquired adjacent properties.
From 2016 to 2023, Rufi played an active role in several high-profile political campaigns, raising funds for the Harris County Democratic Party and registering voters throughout the county.
Rufi has served on the boards of Planned Parenthood of Houston, the American Association of University Women, ROADWomen Democratic Club, Bayou Blue Democratic Club, and RiseAAPI. She has also volunteered with Refugee Services of Texas, Harris County Democratic Party, National Organization of Women, and League of Women Voters.
Currently, she serves as the Director of Events at Harris County Precinct 4.
In her personal life, Rufi enjoys reading biographies of strong women, walking along Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park, and spending time with her son, daughter-in-law, and grand-dog.