Delphia Ridley,United Way of Greater Houston, has joined the organization as chief development officer.

Alexis Tarca,Avison Young, has been named operations manager for the company’s Houston office. Recommended Video

Tracey ReismanGerber,Porter Hedges, has been added as a partner in the firm’s real estate section.

Kurt Krolikowski, Locke Lord, has been promoted to partner. He represents clients in a range of commercial disputes.

Matthew Ryan,Brixmor Property Group, has been promoted to executive vice president - president of the South region.

Lauren Bottanari,Brixmor Property Group, has been named vice president, leasing in Houston.

Robert Garner,King & Spalding, has been named partner. He represents owners and developers in their global construction projects.

Jonathan Katz, King & Spalding, has been named partner. He represents owners and developers in their construction projects.

David Weiss,King & Spalding, has been named partner. He concentrates his practice on investor-state arbitration and international commercial disputes.

William “Bill” Gordon,King & Spalding, has joined the law firm as a partner in the firm’s trial and global disputes practice group.

Alex Niebruegge,of Winston & Strawn, who handles energy transactions at the global law firm, has been promoted to partner.

Lauri Johnson,Valbridge Property Advisors, has joined the firm as vice president of operations for the Houston office.

Wissam Kahoul, of The Petroleum Industry Data Exchange, has joined the organization as an international ambassador.

Tae Kouzes, Rice University, will join the university’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders as a fellow in 2019.

Jim Kouzes,Rice University, will join the university’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders as a fellow in 2019.

Imran Alibhai, Tvardi Therapeutics, has been appointed as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.

Michael Piana,Rothko Chapel, was to serve as the organization’s board chair. Piana is the president of Mrp Resources.

Justin Crossie,of the U.S. Small Business Administration, has been appointed as the regional administrator for SBA’s Region VI covering five states.

katherine.feser@chron.com