The Woodlands Arts Council Welcome Four New Members To The Board Of Directors

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- We are thrilled to welcome four new members to The Woodlands Arts Council Board of Directors!

Michael Ellis
Attorney, Stibbs & Co., PC.

Michael is an experienced litigator who has a passion for helping clients navigate intellectual property and complex commercial matters. As a licensed patent attorney and a biomedical engineer, Michael brings institutional and practical knowledge to his intellectual property practice and provides clients with relevant and practical advice on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He represents patent clients in district and appellate courts, as well as in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in a variety of fields, and has successfully advocated matters involving technologies based in biomedicine, computer networking, oilfield drilling, and industrial manufacturing. Michael also obtains and enforces trademarks on behalf of trademark owners and defends businesses who have been accused of trademark infringement. Michael’s copyright practice includes helping creators protect their works and advising clients on best copyright practices. Michael also works with businesses to protect their trade secrets, which helps clients maintain a competitive edge.

Michael’s distinguished legal career also includes a commercial practice wherein he represents plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving contract issues, as well as a variety of business torts, including fraud, misappropriation, disparagement, and tortious interference. His peers selected him for inclusion in the Thomson Reuters Texas SuperLawyers Rising Stars List every year since 2018. Rising Stars is a designation of top-rated practicing attorneys selected through extensive evaluation. Michael’s credentials include internships with the Honorable Walter S. Smith, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division, and the Honorable Steven Kirkland of the 215th Civil District Court in Houston. In addition, he is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Montgomery County and served as an Associate in the Honorable Nancy F. Atlas Intellectual Property American Inn of Court.

Prior to embarking on his legal career, Michael had a successful career at a medical device company, where he handled and managed domestic and international sales, technical support, and product development. Michael utilizes this business, regulatory, and engineering experience to better represent clients.

A native Houstonian, Michael lives in The Woodlands with his wife and three children. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys both water and snow skiing.

Melissa Morton
Executive Assistant, Woodforest National Bank

Melissa moved from the Dallas area to The Woodlands in 2014. She had been a frequent visitor of arts festivals in Dallas and surrounding areas and was thrilled to find The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. She has been an avid supporter of the arts and joined The Woodlands Arts Council in 2023.

Melissa has been involved in the Finance sector for most of her career. She started working for Woodforest National Bank when she first moved to The Woodlands in 2014. She currently assists the CEO as well as the Chairman of the Board. She likes to volunteer, travel, and attend concerts and sporting events. She is a huge fan of the Houston Astros and the Dallas Cowboys.
Melissa and her husband, Chris, love living in The Woodlands and look forward to getting more involved within the community.

Kara Powell
Owner & Operator, Kara Powell Photography

I’m Kara, and I’m the owner of Kara Powell Photography. I started this studio way back in 2009. I have been serving families in the greater Houston area ever since then. Kara Powell Photography captures beautiful fine art photos of your growing family, delivering stunning heirloom products that your family will cherish year after year.

Want to know a few tid-bits about me? Well, let's see. I spend 99% of my time in yoga pants. I adore my new house, dining al fresco, my family near and far, and anything sweet. Chocolate cake is my favorite. I am involved in the Woodlands community and my son’s school. I have two education degrees which I use everyday in my job; just different than I ever imagined. And most of my clients call me the baby whisperer.

But my all time favorites? My boys! I have an amazing husband, Chris. Whom I have been married to for almost 20 years. We met at work a very long time ago. We have lived in the Woodlands for over 20 years and we absolutely love everything about it. Our obsession is traveling around the world and we have almost gone to every continent. And…

We have a teenager named Caden. He attends Woodlands Christian as a freshman. He is the glue that holds our little family together. But also a huge pain in the butt most of the time.

I also have a fur baby, Cash. He is a rescue Golden retriever who is 11 years old. He and I spend all day most days together. And we recently adopted a tuxedo kitten named Stella. She is gorgeous and she knows it.

Detrick Taylor
Manager of Journey Experience, Entergy Texas, Inc.

Detrick Taylor is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, and a resident of Conroe, Texas since 2021. He is a graduate of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Louisiana State University of Shreveport from which he earned degrees in Business Management and an MBA in Project Management, respectively. Beginning his career with Entergy in 2015, Detrick held various leadership positions in Regional Sales Management, Customer Service Management, and most recently, Manager of Journey Experience. His current position guides Entergy’s Outage Communications at a system level across Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi and leads corporate execution of key initiatives aimed at directly influencing customer’s experience. Detrick has served as a Board of Director Member for Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is also a member of the 2023 Leadership Montgomery County class.