JULY 30TH - LUNCHEON WILL BE AT BRENNAN'S (30 Jul 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Kiwanis Club of Houston
JULY 30TH Luncheon

This luncheon will be at Brennan's!!

Speaker: James P. Bevill

James P. Bevill is an independent historian and award-winning author whose works explore pivotal moments in American and global history. His books form the foundation of widely praised presentations, and he is frequently invited to serve as a keynote speaker for historic and academic organizations.

His first book, The Paper Republic, The Struggle for Money, Credit, and Independence in the Republic of Texas, focused on the economic, financial, and political challenges of Texas from the colonial period through annexation. The book received four literary awards. Bevill’s second book, Blackboards and Bomb Shelters, The Perilous Journey of Americans in China during World War II, follows the lives of three Yale graduates and their unlikely paths of public service in Nationalist China during the Japanese occupation. His most recent book is Spies in Saigon, CIA Covert Operations in French Indochina and South Vietnam, 1950-1963, and vividly reveals the surprising depth of CIA and American involvement during the French War and the creation of the first Republic of Vietnam which followed.

Professionally, Bevill is a Senior Vice President at UBS Financial Services in the River Oaks office. He lives in Houston with his wife, Jodie Springer Bevill.

Topic: “Spies in Saigon” - The surprising depth of the CIA and American involvement
in French Vietnam and how they changed the world.

August 6th - Luncheon (06 Aug 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Kiwanis Club of Houston

August 6th Luncheon

This luncheon will be at Maggiano's!!

Speaker: Lisa Peterson

President and CEO of the Houston Zoo

Lisa Peterson is President and CEO of the Houston Zoo, leading a conservation organization that welcomes more than two million guests annually while advancing impactful wildlife conservation initiatives around the world. Under her leadership, the Zoo contributes to efforts including the recovery of the Houston toad and gorilla conservation in Rwanda.

With 27 years of executive leadership experience, Peterson previously served as the first woman Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. There, she helped advance conservation efforts for species ranging from platypus, rhinos, lions, and elephants to California condors, mountain lions, and burrowing owls. She also championed community-based conservation through artisan partnerships that empowered women in Kenya and led the development of the transformative Elephant Valley project.

At the Houston Zoo, Peterson is elevating signature experiences such as the Galápagos Islands and Texas Wetlands habitats while advancing access and belonging through the Zoo for All initiative. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is a member of its Animal Population Management and Finance Committees. She also serves on the Council of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), as a member of its Executive Committee and Chair of its Finance Committee.

Peterson began her career with leadership roles at Apple and White Lodging and remains deeply committed to developing the next generation of conservation leaders. Through global partnerships and innovative conservation strategies, she continues to position the Houston Zoo as a leader in biodiversity conservation, education, and community engagement.

Kiwanis Club Of Houston upcoming events

JULY 30TH - LUNCHEON WILL BE AT BRENNAN'S (30 Jul 2026)

August 6th - Luncheon (06 Aug 2026)