Troy Porter, EMBA ‘12: Applying Leadership Skills in the Nonprofit World

As the capital projects cost estimating manager for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Troy Porter, EMBA ’12 is responsible for evaluating and endorsing the capital requests for projects worldwide for the organization. A native Houstonian who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with an engineering degree, Porter worked 25 years in the oil and gas industry.

At an early age, Porter understood the value of volunteering in the community. He has spent many hours volunteering for organizations such as MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Food Bank and the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH). After receiving his EMBA, Porter decided he wanted to serve his community by leading a nonprofit organization, not just being one of the volunteers.

Porter currently serves as board chair for the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program (FWEP), a 501 3(C) non-profit organization whose mission is “to empower boys to become responsible men and productive members of their families and communities.” FWEP serves more than 100 boys between ages 11 and 18 years living in the Fifth Ward neighborhood of Houston. Fifth Ward is one of six wards and the most underserved community in Houston. FWEP has been offering after-school and summer programs to its members for 30 years.

Porter says “execution” is the biggest challenge to his leadership abilities. Unlike a for-profit company, serving on the FWEP board of directors is not a paid position. “As the board chair, it is my responsibility to not let apathy become our culture,” Porter said. He believes if he allows this level of disengagement to take hold, it is likely the board’s goals and vision will not be achieved. Porter has made it a point to reach out to board members one-on-one, communicate and monitor our progress, and continually say “thank you.”

Porter believes his MBA education at Mays has contributed immensely to his leadership abilities. “In the Executive MBA program, I learned that leadership is situational,” he said. “You cannot be the same type of leader in every situation and be successful.”

When Porter took over as FWEP’s board chair in 2014, the organization was still reeling from the Great Recession. Porter understood that FWEP needed to be better prepared for the long term than it had been in its past. “FWEP needed a leader who could inspire board members, govern with a long-term perspective, and mold a team of like-minded professionals,” he noted. Porter reset the organization’s tone for the next five years by working with FWEP’s executive director to fill organizational gaps, respectfully asking disengaged board members to resign, and rebuilding the board with the best candidates to help execute the vision. FWEP currently has five other Aggies volunteering on the board. “The Mays MBA education gave me the confidence to not only accept this role, but understand the gravity of its importance,” he said.