Christopher W. Oliver

Christopher W. Oliver District IX District Map TRUSTEE PERSPECTIVE Christopher W. Oliver, District IX trustee, has a passion and dedication for enhancing communities across the city, and he understands that education is the single biggest factor in changing people's lives. His vision is for HCC to provide every student, even those who need a second chance, with opportunities to own their future. He is an advocate for increasing HCC's reach into the communities with new facilities conveniently located in underserved areas. During his first tenure as chairman in 1999, the college built the Town & Country campus on the Katy Freeway and purchased the old Southwestern Bell Building at the corner of Elgin and Main. However, he considers his most important accomplishment to date the building of Willie Lee Gay Hall located on U.S. 288 and Airport. This building represents the first academic institution of higher learning in the history of the Sunnyside area of Houston. Oliver's vision is matched by his dedication, leading him to take the initiative to impact legislation in Austin in favor of increased funding for Texas community colleges and to reach out to Houston businesses and surrounding chambers of commerce to develop partnerships with these organizations, thereby increasing training opportunities for minority communities. In speaking engagements across the city, he can be heard telling the audience, "We want to make a difference, and we are making a difference in this community." A graduate of Texas Southern University with a bachelor's degree in political science and a candidate for a master's degree in history from that institution, Oliver's years of dealing with people and challenges in both the public and private sectors has proven invaluable in meeting the needs and concerns of his constituency. He began his career in Washington, DC, as a congressional intern working with Wisconsin Congressman Jim Moody to provide assistance to his constituents, gather information regarding legislative matters and assist legislative aides in drafting policy. His work with the U.S. Department of Labor as an EEO specialist included investigating companies with federal contracts to ensure compliance with hiring and promotion of women and minorities and working with personnel management and company employees to determine their level of awareness of affirmative action policies. Currently, Oliver is the owner/CEO of Tekoa Property Management Group, Inc., a construction final cleaning company. ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS President of the TSU student body as an undergraduate Named the Quentin Mease Young African-American Achiever of the Year by the Minority Business Enterprise AFFILIATIONS Advisory Board of Career and Recovery, Inc. Southeast Community Coalition Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.