Ms. Gisela Houseman

Gisela Houseman is well known throughout the community for her philanthropic work in Southeast Texas. She was born in Hamburg, Germany and became a United States resident in 1950. Before moving to Southeast Texas in 1987 she was an insurance professional for 25 years with a background in accounting and finance. Gisela married Orange County developer, the late Tony Houseman and they have four children. She is a graduate of Leadership Texas, Leadership America and a founding member of Leadership Southeast Texas. She went to China to help establish an international leadership program. Houseman has received numerous awards throughout her life including the South East Texan of the Year, the Athena Award of Orange County, J.C. Penny Golden Rule Award, the CASA Lone Star Proud for Kids Award, and the Bill Leger Family Advocate of the Year Award for being a tireless advocate for families in need in Southeast Texas. She was inducted into the Women’s Conference of Southeast Texas Hall of Fame in 1991 for business and finance and was awarded the Frances Monk Award for Leadership. Houseman is active on numerous charity boards and foundations including the Salvation Army, CASA, Better Business Bureau, Lamar State College – Orange Foundation and the Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation where she has served a number of years as the Audit Committee Chair.