United Way of Greater Houston honors TPH CEO
United Way of Greater Houston named Bobby Tudor, chairman and CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Company LLC, as this year's recipient of the distinguished Robert W. Kneebone Volunteer of the Year Award at its annual meeting on April 29. The Kneebone Award, the highest honor given to a United Way volunteer in recognition of extraordinary leadership and commitment to community service, was presented to Tudor by last year's award recipient Dorothy Ables, chief administrative officer for Spectra Energy, and Anna M. Babin, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston.
"Bobby is a wonderful blessing to United Way and to the community we serve," said Babin. "Not only has Bobby been a devoted volunteer providing strong leadership, sound judgment and business expertise, he also truly believes in and supports our mission with his generosity, community spirit and passion for building a better, stronger Houston for all."
Tudor began his volunteer involvement with the United Way of Greater Houston in 2006, shortly before forming Tudor Capital Partners LLC following a nearly 20-year career with Goldman Sachs & Co. The Houston-based firm then partnered with Pickering Energy Partners Inc. to form the energy investment and merchant bank now known as Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. After years of consolidation in the energy investment banking space, Tudor recognized an opportunity to create an investment banking firm with a genuine focus on providing clients with quality, independent advice. That focus on service has been a constant for Tudor, who grew up in a family that supported United Way and was, in 2012, described by former chair of the Rice University Board of Trustees as an "intensely local" man committed to his community and to his family.
"Serving the United Way of Greater Houston is a great privilege," said Bobby Tudor. "The commitment of the United Way team to make life better and more hopeful for the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens is truly inspirational, and is evidence of the fact that volunteers can indeed make a positive difference."
Since 2006, when Tudor was elected to serve on the United Way Board of Trustees, his relationship with the organization has flourished. He has accepted several challenging volunteer roles over the past eight years, including serving as a key member of Campaign Leadership in 2008 and as Community Campaign chair in 2010-11. Currently, he serves as a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Strategic Resource Development Committee where he oversees the development of a strategy to reach a $100 million campaign goal by 2020.
Tudor has been instrumental in helping United Way enhance volunteer engagement and donor relations. He served as co-chair of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society in 2008-09 and 2009-10, during Hurricane Ike and the economic downturn. Under his leadership, contributions remained steady during those tough years. In 2010-11, while serving as community campaign chair, Tudor once again used his strategic skills to rebuild the annual campaign, increasing contributions.
He also has served on United Way's Community Goal Task Force, Disaster Recovery Task Force and Strategic Committee. He currently oversees the United Way Strategic Resource Development Committee, which is developing a strategy to reach a $100 million campaign goal by 2020. Each year, Tudor and his wife, Phoebe, give their largest single contribution to the United Way where they have been members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society since 1998. The Tudors are among United Way's most dedicated supporters as longtime Major Donors and Benefactors.
Continuing his commitment to community, Tudor is involved with other community organizations, including the Houston Symphony, the Houston Public Library, the Society for the Performing Arts, and his alma mater Rice University, where serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
For more than 90 years, United Way of Greater Houston has been a leader and trusted partner in improving lives, tackling key community social issues, and making a lasting difference.
Mikaila Adams | Managing Editor - News
Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was named Managing Editor - News in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.
