Wisdom from Women in The Woodlands: Meet Linda Nelson

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The world was full of possibilities when Linda Nelson was heading off to college in West Virginia, so much so she wasn't sure which way to go.

"I didn't know if I wanted nursing, physical education or business, so I went to a school that offered all three," Nelson said. "Ultimately I decided the business world would give me the opportunity to do all of the things I like."

After graduating from Wesleyan College, Nelson landed a job in human resources in New Jersey, where she met her husband Gordon.

"I met him on my first day of work," she said. "The day after we got engaged, he was transferred to Texas."

After the couple married, Nelson followed her new husband to The Woodlands.

"It was supposed to be for two years," Nelson said. "Now it's going on 39 years."

When Nelson moved to The Woodlands, she worked in human resources for a few years, then was a stay-home mom with her three children for 14 years. In 1997, she found her way to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands as a part-time volunteer coordinator. Shortly after, a position opened in the marketing department.

Nelson is now the Business Development and Regional Marketing Director for Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center.

"I love every minute of every day here," said Nelson, who also went on to earn her MBA. "I just felt like I needed that background to remain efficient and fluent in what I'm doing."

But there's a second reason, too.

"My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and I knew that I would be the breadwinner for our family," Nelson said. "Gordon certainly has his challenges and has been unable to work for about 10 years now, but has a completely optimistic outlook on life and is truly an amazing man."

Nelson and her husband are excited to say they will be first-time grandparents this December.

When Nelson is at work, her plate is certainly full. The Woodlands has become the "medical center of the north," Nelson said, with Memorial Hermann leading the way as the sole hospital when it opened in 1985.

"We've been here for more than 33 years, but I truly feel like we all (medical industry) work together," Nelson said. "We make ourselves better by knowing each other and working with each other. It brings all of us to another level."

Nelson supports some of Memorial Hermann's most notable events, including Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas, Memorial Hermann 10 for Texas, and the annual In the Pink of Health luncheon, now going into its 17th year. The next luncheon is Friday Oct. 12 and will feature guest speaker and three-time cancer survivor Scott Hamilton.

The 2017 luncheon raised $600,000 to help breast and ovarian cancer survivors in and around the greater Montgomery County area, including donations to Canopy, a cancer survivorship center on the campus of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, and the Interfaith Community Clinic.

"I'm proud to have Memorial Hermann's name on those signature events," Nelson said. "My true passion is community service. Being out in the community, serving on boards, working with community leaders … I love working at Memorial Hermann because our leadership encourages me to be present in the community, out and about representing our hospital."

Nelson is involved with The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors serving as Vice President of Government Affairs, sits on the Leadership Montgomery County board of directors, works with Conroe ISD's Site Based Committee, and was a 2015 Woodlands Hometown Hero.

Nelson's words of wisdom for women? Ask a lot of questions and listen closely to the answers.

"I probably drive people crazy with the amount of questions I ask, but it's just because I think it's fascinating what people can share," Nelson said. "It's so interesting to see why people do what they do, where they come from and what makes them tick."