Melinda Underhill Honored With HBJ Inclusive Leadership Award

HOUSTON, TX, September 29, 2026 /PRSearchEngine/ – Melinda Underhill, Chief Volunteer and HR Officer at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, has received the Inclusive Leadership Award from the Houston Business Journal as part of its 2026 Community Leadership Awards. The honor recognizes an individual whose commitment to inclusivity has championed advancement, expanded opportunity and fostered a more dynamic and equitable workplace or community.

At the Rodeo, Underhill leads the team responsible for human resources, internal communications, and volunteer and membership management, serving both staff and more than 35,000 volunteers. In a recent podcast conversation, she discussed how the organization cultivates volunteer leadership, builds accountability without burnout and uses recognition to sustain long-term engagement.

An executive HR leader with more than three decades in the field, Underhill previously served as EVP of HR and Global Head of Organization Effectiveness at Centrica and as EVP of Human Resources at USAA. A coach, facilitator, change agent and team builder, she has spent her career leading human resources teams and collaborating with C-suite executives. She is also a sought-after speaker who offers mentorship to peers and nonprofit organizations.

In June 2026, Underhill began a three-year term as President and Chairman of the Board of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, which serves girls across 26 southeast Texas counties. A former Girl Scout herself, she has volunteered with the council since 2015 and has served as vice chair and HR Committee chair as part of its board leadership. Her two roles reflect the longstanding partnership between the Rodeo and Girl Scouts.

Underhill also chaired the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women’s Partnership from 2024 to 2025. Her earlier honors include the Power 50 Award and Most Powerful & Influential Women recognition from the National Diversity Council, along with Top 15 Business Women from the National Women’s Council.

A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Journalism and Public Relations, Underhill holds SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications.