Keith Henry, Executive Director

Keith Henry is a public administration and community development leader with extensive experience in government, nonprofit, and public-sector leadership. Keith holds a Bachelor of Arts & Letters in English with a minor in Journalism from Buffalo State University (Buffalo, NY) and a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University. Since 2017, he has served as General Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Davis and Henry Consulting, helping nonprofits and public agencies secure funding, strengthen organizational capacity, and implement strategic initiatives. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the elected Texas City Commissioner for District 1, overseeing a $143 million municipal budget and collaborating with regional businesses and community organizations on city priorities. Previously, Keith held leadership roles with the U.S. Small Business Administration, supporting disaster recovery; Austin Public Health, managing workforce development contracts; and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), managing federal and state grant programs. He brings deep expertise in strategic planning, grant management, resilience, environmental sustainability, and community engagement to CEC. Former Commissioner Henry’s professional accomplishments include being named a 40 under 40 honoree for his native Galveston County and by the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. He has also received the For the People Award in Galveston County for supporting substance abuse and mental health, been named a Galveston Man of Purpose honoree, and received the City of Texas City Cultural Excellence Award. Keith is also inducted into Galveston’s 1st African-American museum.