Board Members – 2026

Raina Brown
President

Raina has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She currently serves as the North American Piping Advisor for an agriculture company. Raina holds 18 years of experience across fixed equipment, inspection, and business analyst roles in the oil and gas and agriculture sectors.

With a heart for community service and giving back, Raina has collaborated with many noteworthy organizations and causes throughout her life, ranging from homeless/hunger relief, cancer relief, waste management, and disaster relief, all the way to education empowerment and mentoring.

Looking to combine her love for volunteering, engineering, traveling, and learning about various cultures, Raina joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 2019 and, subsequently, the chapter’s Kimaut Kenya Water Project before transitioning mainly to the executive board.

Brandon Huggett
Vice President – Development

Brandon graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University. He works at a local consultant firm as a graduate water resources engineer with interests in stormwater modeling and management, floodplain risks, and green infrastructure.

Brandon enjoys opportunities of community service with causes including fundraising/volunteering for local children’s hospitals, rebuilding homes, education opportunities, and STEM fairs. Seeking opportunities to get involved, Brandon joined EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in Spring 2023 and subsequently joined the Kimaut Kenya Water Project.

Terry Applegate
Vice President – Projects

Terry is a retired IT professional from ConocoPhillips. He has BS/MS degrees in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University and is a licensed PE in Oklahoma.

He has been actively involved in the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter since 2007. He has served as Fundraising Chairman, Treasurer, President, University Liaison, and QA/Training Lead. He currently works with the Kenya, Philippines, and Peru projects. He also provides mentoring to the University of Houston, Prairie View A&M, and Rice University student chapters.

In addition to his EWB-USA activities, he is also involved in several church related ministries, serves as a STEM resource for his grandsons’ Cub Scout Pack, and enjoys outdoor hikes with his wife, Debora.

Laura Lucio
Secretary

Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Her passion for community service led her through a unique career journey, from caregiving for the elderly and adults with disabilities to working as a substitute teacher.

Looking to transition back into engineering while making an impact beyond her local community, she joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in Fall 2024 and has been actively involved with the Kimaut Kenya Water Project.

Joshua Kinnaird
Treasurer

Josh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University. He is currently a Mechanical Engineer with 10 years experience providing Continuous Improvement, Technical Training and Presentations, Engineering Sales, and Product Development.  

Josh has been involved in mission and community service throughout his life.  He has served communities in the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua.  Josh sought out the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 2023, to use his aptitudes to help others once again.

Wanting to give back to his local Houston community, Josh has been contributing to Hershe Street Garden project.

Tom Bryan
Programs Coordinator

Tom holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

He is currently working as a software engineer for a NASA Johnson Space Center contractor, helping develop and maintain training simulations.

Tom has been involved with the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly South Houston/JSC) Professional Chapter since 2010. He previously served as Project Lead for the Yom Maejanoi Thailand Water Project and served as the President and Treasurer of the South Houston Professional Chapter.

He is also involved with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Toastmasters. He enjoys traveling and learning.

Aviral Jain
Volunteer Coordinator

Aviral holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Rice University. He brings over 18 years of experience in engineering and product management across the petrochemical, energy, and tech industries.

Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his family and working on engineering and construction projects with his son.

Aviral is passionate about serving the global community and using engineering as a tool for positive impact. He is especially interested in sustainable energy and infrastructure projects that are grounded in community needs. He joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 2024.

Daniel Walker
QA / Training Program Chair

Daniel graduated in spring 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Fort Lewis College.

He then spent the following six years as a project engineer for natural gas pipeline projects, ranging from maintenance work to large diameter pipeline expansion projects.  

Currently he is making a transition into the sustainable energy industry, in wind and solar, and is seeking to be part of a clean energy future.

He has a passion for fellowship and is looking to grow as an engineer beside EWB-USA projects, both local and abroad, while offering guidance through past project experience. He joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 2026.

Tanner Blackard
Fundraising Chair

Tanner works at Air Liquide in a rotational engineering program supporting hydrogen production and pipeline operations.

Tanner joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 2024, looking for a hands-on way to use engineering to support communities and learn directly from the people a project is built for. He supports the Kimaut Kenya Water Project, helping to plan and execute field work responsibly and consistently with EWB-USA safety expectations.

Outside of EWB-USA, he mentors students through Minds Matter Houston. He cares most about building dependable partnerships and systems that keep projects safe, well organized, and sustainable for the long run.

Rachel Herr
Outreach Chair

Rachel is water resources engineer specializing in stormwater management and floodplain risks. She works for a local consultant firm and has over 10 years of experience in the industry.

She holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Rachel moved to Houston in 2017 and started getting involved with the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 202. Since joining the chapter, she has been involved with the Kimaut Kenya Water Project and was previously the chapter Communications Chair.

Ruth Vanhaverbeke
Communications Chair

Ruth holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University. She works at a local consulting firm, mostly in areas of water and wasterwater engineering.

Ruth had the opportunity to take a class on water and wastewater treatment in developing countries while at LSU and traveled to Nicaragua with the class. She looks forward to the opportunity to continue to apply water and wastewater abroad as well as in the Houston area.

She joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter in 2025.

Matt Bosch
Webmaster

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Bioengineering from Rice University. He currently works at a local imaging core lab and brings over 13 years of experience in project management and the clinical trials industry.

He began his involvement with EWB-USA as a volunteer with the University of Texas at Austin Student Chapter (2008–2010). Since 2017, he has been an active member of the Greater Houston (formerly Central Houston) Professional Chapter, where he has supported the Tapul Philippines Project, traveled in support of the Loreto Peru Program, and served as Communications Chair. He currently serves as Project Co-Lead for the Kimaut, Kenya Water Project.

Outside of EWB-USA, Matt enjoys hiking and traveling.

Brian Alcott
University Liaison

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lamar University and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in structural engineering from the University of Houston. He has more than twenty-six years of experience in the transportation industry and currently supports delivery of large regional transportation infrastructure programs in the Houston area.

Brian’s experience includes complex bridge design, construction management, and coordination across public-sector transportation programs, and he is a certified construction manager. He is an active alum of Leadership Houston and assists with programming for the Houston chapter of Young Professionals in Transportation.

Outside of work, Brian enjoys volunteering, CrossFit, writing, and running. He joined the EWB-USA Greater Houston Professional Chapter in 2026 and is passionate about applying his infrastructure delivery experience to support sustainable community partnerships.