HOUSTON — The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) has officially announced its leadership team for the 2026 season following the Board of Directors’ annual meeting on June 3. Pat Mann Phillips was re-elected as Chairman of the Board for a third consecutive year, while longtime volunteer Wesley Sinor was named Chairman-Elect.
Phillips, the first woman to ever hold the top position in the organization, continues to make history with her leadership. A volunteer since 2002, she guided the 2025 Rodeo to record-breaking success, with 2.7 million attendees and a landmark $28 million pledged toward scholarships, education, and youth programs—the largest single-year commitment in the Rodeo’s history.
Her tenure has also seen the introduction of the first-ever Volunteer Appreciation Day, honoring the more than 36,000 volunteers who help run the event each year. Phillips’ impact has been recognized with induction into both the RODEOHOUSTON® Hall of Fame and the Star Trail of Fame.
Chairman-Elect Wesley Sinor brings more than two decades of service to the organization, beginning as a member of the Gatekeepers Committee in 2003. A Pasadena native, Sinor has served in multiple leadership roles including Vice President and Executive Committee member. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds an MBA from Rice University. Sinor will shadow Phillips throughout the 2025–2026 season before assuming leadership in 2027.
Expanded Executive Leadership
The Rodeo’s Executive Committee also expanded this year, welcoming new members Roger Camp, Jeff Hildebrand, Parker Johnson, J. Alan Kent, Dr. Kelly Larkin, Robbie Smith, and Wesley Sinor. Returning members include Warner Ervin, Juan Garcia, and Jeffrey S. Hayes. Non-elected seats remain occupied by former chairmen and presidents such as Jim Bloodworth, Brady F. Carruth, Don D. Jordan, Jack A. Lyons, Jim Winne, and current Chair Phillips.
Eighteen Vice Presidents were named to one-year terms. Newly elected officers include Stacy Anderson, Martha Ceballos, Nancy Motley, Robert Pike, Michael Sachs, and Jim Sartwelle III. Re-elected officers include Johnny Causey, Stan Horton, Russell Jones, T. Mark Kelly, Sean Lehane, Kristie Manning, Aimee Coates Monteverde, Amy Pinkham Miller, David Smith, David Stone, Justin Tankersley, and Lance Welch.
The board also welcomed 26 newly elected directors and honored 13 individuals with lifetime director status for their years of service and dedication.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is set for March 2–22, returning to a full 21-day format for the first time since 2022. The final day will feature a full-length concert—without rodeo competitions—with the headline performer to be announced in May. Fans can also look forward to the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, scheduled for February 26–28, which kicks off the Rodeo season.
For ongoing updates, lineup announcements, and ticket information, follow @RODEOHOUSTON on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, or visit rodeohouston.com.
