As the President & CEO of Manifest Creative, an association management and conference / meeting planning firm, Monica takes immense pride in the work her team does managing a diverse group of non-profit associations and membership organizations as well as planning a variety of meetings and conferences. A hands-on leader, Monica regularly carries out client services, consults with clients, manages projects and oversees business development efforts and the strategic direction of the company. From meeting deadlines, exceeding expectations, negotiating contracts, implementing best practices and executing forward-thinking events, there’s no detail too big or small for her and her team. Monica’s “Figure It Out” mentality and ability is now a company philosophy that empowers the team to improvise and be inventive to meet each client’s needs.
Throughout her decades-long career, Monica has devoted her talents and honed her skills in non-profit administration, event and meeting planning, marketing, program and project management, media and public relations, community relations and outreach, photography, hospitality, transportation and tourism promotion.
After 10 years of building her career in public relations, she launched Monica Rhodes Unlimited in 2010. A naturally gifted networker, Monica quickly found a niche providing PR, marketing and event planning services to a wide range of organizations. In 2012, she expanded her services to include association & project management, an organic progression after previously managing organizations such as the South Main Alliance and Houston Museum District Association, and changed the company name to Manifest Creative.
Monica’s client roster has included corporate and non-profit organizations in industries such as visual and performing arts, museums, education, weather and climate, beverage distribution, architecture, hospitality, dining, government, medical, transportation and tourism. She has served on various non-profit boards and committees and is currently a member of the Advisory Board of Hope Stone, Inc., as well as a neighborhood representative for her subdivision within her HOA community. She is also an active volunteer with The W.I.D.E. School in Missouri City (her son's school) and serves as the Events & Service Chair for Cub Scout Pack 1199.
When she’s not working or volunteering, Monica spends her time making memories with her kiddo, taking photographs, traveling, attempting karaoke, playing board games, spending time with friends and family, reading novels penned by favorite authors Jodi Picoult, Sandra Brown, Danielle Steele or Nicolas Sparks, catching up on her favorite Netflix shows, cooling off in her stock tank pool or relaxing on the porch with a glass of Malbec.
Maureen, Manifest Creative’s Co-Owner, officially joined the Manifest Creative team in May 2012 as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer when the firm expanded its scope to include association management.
Maureen oversees the bulk of the association management services provided to Manifest Creative’s clients. Her experience and leadership management shine through in this instrumental role, which includes coordinating with client committees and boards of directors, supervising staff, managing client websites and databases and executing client events and conferences. She also manages vendor relations, administers membership services, coordinates the production and distribution of all communication materials and provides general administration. Additionally, she serves as financial manager and bookkeeper for Manifest Creative and all association management clients.
Originally from Philadelphia, Maureen has called Houston “home” since 2005 when she began her career as a meteorologist at Weather Research Center (WRC) and museum coordinator at The John C. Freeman Weather Museum in the Houston Museum District. She became Chief Meteorologist in 2008 and Executive Director of the Museum in 2011.
In her free time, Maureen enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring parks, riding bikes, playing pickleball, coaching her son’s sports teams, tasting new IPAs and cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kristi joined the Manifest Creative team as Assistant Account Manager in December 2020, after a two-year stint in New Orleans as a Client Specialist for an MSP IT company. Happy to be back “home” in Houston, she is thrilled to return to her passion – working with non-profits – while supporting the various efforts of the firm and its diverse and exciting client roster.
Kristi is no stranger to the non-profit world. In fact, she was bitten by the “non-profit bug” at a young age while she was in college working as a front desk clerk, and later a membership coordinator, at Vic Coppinger YMCA in Pearland, Texas. After receiving her BA in History, Kristi pursued an MA in Anthropology Cross Cultural Studies and followed her philanthropic heart to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. For 17 years, Kristi served in the MFAH’s membership and guest services department and was responsible for marketing, selling, renewing and retaining memberships; managing a team of more than 50 people; planning and overseeing membership drives and events; meeting and surpassing admissions revenue goals; reporting with consistency and precision; and most importantly, connecting with guests and ensuring outstanding guest experiences.
As the oldest of five children, Kristi is very close to her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. She loves spending time with her best friends laughing, dancing and enjoying wine. After living in the UK for several years, Kristi is now a bit obsessed with anything and everything British, including quoting her favorite British comedies. When she’s not hanging out with family and friends, Kristi can be found curled up with a cuppa and a good book.
A native Texan, Jennifer joined the Manifest Creative team in March of 2021. She has spent her career working in the nonprofit field, first for museums and later in nonprofit and association management. While working in small museums, she gained experience in everything from exhibit design to volunteer management, even helping to publish a series of books for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Her transition to association management came when she joined the staff of the Texas Association of Museums, where she managed the membership program, planned events and oversaw the day-to-day functions of this state-wide organization. During this time, she also completed a certificate in graphic design and began working as a consultant in the museum field. After four years with TAM, a family move took her to Colorado, where she worked as a freelance museum and nonprofit specialist before taking a position with a nonprofit management company in Denver. She also joined the staff of the Coalition of State Museum Associations, providing support for museum associations across the country.
After returning to Texas in early 2021, Jennifer joined the staff of Manifest Creative as Account Coordinator, where she exercises her skills in design and administration on behalf of nonprofit clients in Houston and across Texas. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Vanderbilt University, an MA in Museum Science from Texas Tech University and an Undergraduate Certificate in Graphic Design from Sessions College for Professional Design. Off the clock, she is an avid reader and foodie, trying out new recipes and restaurants as often as possible.
Amber Godbold, a Houston native, joined the Manifest Creative team in June 2023. In her role with Manifest Creative, Amber uses her skills in administration and customer service to support the team in their day-to-day duties and client facing tasks. She’s likely the first one you’ll speak to when you call the Manifest Creative offices and always exemplifies the company’s commitment to “service with a smile.”
She brings years of experience in administration for property management, including HOA, high-rise, commercial and master planned communities, as well as front-of-the-house hospitality and reception services, client experiences, procedural development and risk and litigation.
In her previous administrative roles, she managed day-to-day office operations while overseeing organizational functions and special event coordination. She is tech savvy, creatively inclined and skilled in C-suite executive support, quality control, data entry, special projects and more.
She recently completed an accelerated program in information technology and is excited to bring her IT expertise and skills to the Manifest Creative team and clients. In her spare time, she loves reading, crafting and spending time with her two cats, Gadget and Gizmo.
Rebecka Phillips started working with Manifest Creative in September 2023. She joins the team with nine years of expertise in providing administrative and accounting support in the property development sector, working in architecture, real estate, and construction. Driven by her passion for helping others achieve their dreams, she takes pride in providing the best support possible.
Rebecka is delighted to return to the non-profit sector after her initial exposure while working as an adoption counselor at Citizens for Animal Protection. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Manifest Creative in all facets of administrative and accounting work, enabling her to adapt to different clients' demands.
Rebecka attended the University of Houston where she majored in Psychology. She resides in Houston with her four children. She enjoys spending time outdoors, listening to jazz music, and reading horror/thriller literature when she is not working or caring for her children.
Craig joined the Manifest Creative team in March of 2023. Previously, he spent 18 years in association management working at a national medical association. In roles that ranged from Policy Director to Associate Executive Director, Craig had supervisory responsibility for areas including Finance, Legal, Human Resources, Chapter Management, and several other mission-oriented functions.
Craig brings that range of expertise to support Manifest Creative in his role as Operations Manager. Earlier in his career, Craig was an award-winning broadcast journalist and the Director of Communications for a Fortune 200 company. He moved to Texas with his family in 1999 and made the decision to work in the non-profit sector a few years later.
He is a Certified Association Executive, having earned the distinction in 2012, and he still provides consulting services to help associations reduce and manage their non-strategic costs. An avid sports fan, Craig loves his Dallas Cowboys (sorry, Maureen!), the Atlanta Braves, and anything and everything related to his beloved Auburn Tigers.
Mona Fluitt has worked with the Manifest Creative team for many years offering a variety of services, from bookkeeping to event logistics for conferences to general non-profit administration consulting. She has enjoyed a nearly 35-year career as a nonprofit manager serving many of Houston’s finest nonprofit organizations. Her work includes board training, strategic planning, project management, volunteer management, event management, nonprofit accounting, grant writing and management, grant review, database management, records management, and state and IRS compliance. Mona has taught on these topics at the University of Houston Small Business Development Center and the United Way of Greater Houston as well as being a speaker at state and national conventions. She is an expert in QuickBooks accounting software and developed a training program for using QuickBooks in nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she has added app developer to her extensive resume. She recently launched the Festival Chasers mobile app and is developing apps for a variety of nonprofit management purposes. When she’s not working, Mona and her husband enjoy traveling and entertaining friends and family.
Joanne Gore is Manifest Creative’s CPA and bookkeeping partner. Joanne is a responsive CPA who blends personal service with integrity and loves working with small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and individuals, providing assistance in navigating complex tax codes and guiding clients in best practices. She formed her CPA practice in 2004 after several years of experience at various local CPA firms after graduating from the University of Houston in 1992 and securing her CPA license in 1995. Joanne, who is originally from Seattle, has lived in Texas most of her adult life. Her after-hours interests and passions include scuba diving, traveling, gardening and reading for pleasure.
After a lot of twists and turns, deborah lawson became a non-traditional, collaborative attorney focusing on helping real people with their legal stuff, hopefully without getting stuck in the labyrinth of litigation. In addition to a boutique practice focusing on family and family-owned/micro businesses (like Manifest Creative!), deborah works with organizations to facilitate best practices in corporate and non-profit governance. deborah is proud to have worked with several organizations including Miss Texas (America), Lambda NextGen, and the Houston Aggie Women, as well as serving as President of Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston, Houston’s LGBT bar association (lawyers, not adult beverages) and as a trustee for the Executive and Professional Association of Houston.
Cathi Hight, President of organizational development firm Hight Performance Group, is Manifest Creative’s go-to expert and resource on all things membership related, assisting Manifest Creative’s association clients to build strategies for membership recruitment and retention, journey mapping and more. Her firm aims to lead its clients to the development of healthier organizations that manage constant change, enhance customer loyalty and “work smarter, not harder.” She is the developer of “The Member Retention Kit,” “A New Approach to Tiered Membership,” and the “Work Smarter, Not Harder” program. Cathi and her team offer resources to help associations attract, engage, and retain members, as well as provide them with tools to stay relevant, deliver benefits that members appreciate, and effectively communicate the value of membership with proven strategies that save time and increase the bottom line. As a certified Wiley Workplace Solutions Partner, Cathi works with organizations to develop high performing teams, effective leaders and productive work environments. Cathi believes in living a balanced lifestyle and loves spending time with her grandkids, cooking, traveling, knitting, and watching her Netflix queue.
Ramon West of DesignsW, a creative services studio he runs with his lovely wife Christine West, is Manifest Creative's video editing and production partner. He specializes in creating and developing projects that include sound designs, video editing, motion graphics design, and voice over, as well as audio composition and correction for video projects. Ramon works in all aspects of video editing for projects including web streaming, conference videos, event productions, and web applications. He and Christine are based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and enjoy spending time hiking and exploring the great outdoors with their adventurous canine sidekick Riley.
Gayle Wheeler-Lesueur, who is originally from Houston and now based in Northern California, is a creative and multi-talented graphic designer with 20+ years of experience in the management of the complete design process, from conceptualization to delivery. Gayle has been Manifest Creative’s go-to designer for nearly 10 years, helping their clients bring their ideas to life through great design. She is well-grounded in a creative and deadline driven environment while upholding customer relations, organizational and creative design skills. She consistently upholds the Manifest Creative value to go above and beyond, and is always up for whatever challenge the team and their clients throw her way. She is a graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, where starting out as a Photography major, ultimately led her to a degree in Media Production and Graphic Design. When not designing, Gayle enjoys playing video games with her husband and their two children, attending Anime conventions with her oldest daughter and cooking with her youngest. She also loves animals and volunteers at the local SPCA.
Atiwa, one of Houston’s most responsive and reliable IT services companies for nearly four decades, is Manifest Creative’s trusted IT partner and committed to “helping others by eradicating office technology frustrations and improving office efficiency.” The core of their mission centers on Helping Others, two powerful words that serve as the heartbeat of every single Atiwa team member, including its founder and president, Wayne Springer, and every policy the company makes. It’s also why the company was named and branded as “Atiwa,” which is the Native American word for a “welcoming safe haven.” Atiwa embraces the mindset of providing a safe haven to others in order to free their time and energy on efficiently running their own businesses. They bend to accommodate their customers’ needs and challenges. These philosophies make Atiwa a great partner to Manifest Creative on all things techy. Whether keeping Manifest Creative’s IT infrastructure operating optimally or providing clients with top-notch IT support, Atiwa delivers exceptional customer service and goes above and beyond in every interaction, encounter and situation.
Password Productions is Manifest Creative's preferred AV partner, providing a variety of creative audio-visual solutions for conventions and social events, specializing in LED concepts and digital signage.
As a small business consultant, Bryan Neely and his team provide guidance in the areas of human resource management with specialization within the non-profit and hospitality sector, offering an enhanced level of knowledge and expertise in the ever-evolving Human Resources ecosystem.
Since 2016, HR Ally has been a partner to Manifest Creative, supporting the Manifest Creative mission and valuing the work Manifest does for its clients while managing any and all human resource initiatives and challenges that allow the Manifest team to focus on delivering exceptional results to its clients. With more than 20 years of HR know-how, Bryan and his team work collaboratively with Manifest Creative to identify specific needs and provide customized solutions. With a genuine passion for the work they do and the work Manifest Creative does for its clients, HR Ally and Manifest Creative’s partnership and the work they do together make a real difference.
Having a strong social media presence is essential to an organization's growth. However, between the ever-changing algorithms and unending updates, it can be confusing to know where to start and how to proceed in the most effective manner. Send in Mariel Allen of Sol Social Co to the rescue! Her passion for expanding non-profits through a carefully curated social media voice and her ability to develop and execute a solid and efficient strategy make her the ideal partner for Manifest Creative and its clients. Mariel provides affordable options for small businesses and non-profits to expand and engage their audiences and create high quality content. This Texas native currently resides in Austin, Texas with her two dogs and more than fifty houseplants. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, painting and listening to good music.
VERITAS is a boutique Merchant Services and ATM Solutions provider that takes the mystery out of Payment Processing by keeping it simple, consistent, and transparent. We specialize in low processing rates, Point of Sale, wireless and countertop payment terminals, self-service kiosk solutions, online payment acceptance, ATM processing, placements, and more. Our main focus is implementing the best possible scenario for your business while substantially lowering costs on every dip, tap, or swipe while increasing your revenue.
INFINI Marketing is a Houston-based marketing company. Their team believes in impacting the world by expanding businesses one at a time. They do so by creating custom, brand-driven marketing strategies for businesses across all industries, ensuring continuous optimization along the way. Their services include website design, Google Ads, social media management, content writing, graphic design, and more!
Shanna is a partner in Reimer McGuinness Hess audit group. She has provided audit, assurance, and advisory services to various industries, including not-for-profit, financial services, construction, manufacturing, and employee benefit plans for over 20 years. She has worked with diverse clients, from start-up businesses to large corporations.
In her role as an audit partner, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the auditing process, from planning and execution to communication with clients and reporting to stakeholders. As a CPA and CFE professional, she ensures that the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and technical competence are met in the delivery of services.
As your organization’s creative collaborator, Manifest Creative will help you take action when you need it most. With our creative innovation, fresh inspiration and expert implementation, we will help your organization achieve its goals so that your audience remains satisfied!
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