Janis Burke

Industry Impact Award Recipient, 2015

In 2006, Janis Burke, CEO of the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority became the third chief executive and first woman to hold the position since the inception of the organization in 1997.

In addition to overseeing the billion dollars of bond debt service for Houston’s premiere, professional sports stadiums, under her leadership, Houston has been awarded major sporting events to include: Several Olympic Trials, numerous National and World Championships, AAU Junior Olympics, All Star Games, and a variety of collegiate events. Janis has been recognized by Conference USA and Rice University for her outstanding contributions and achievements as a woman in the Houston sports industry, named “Woman on the Move” by the Texas Executive Women’s Association, and most recently named one of “Houston’s
50 Most Influential Women”.

She began her career working in various hotel chains in the Detroit, Michigan area, eventually serving as a Director for the Detroit Metro Conventions and Visitors Bureau. While there, she assisted in establishing the Detroit Metro Sports Commission and was a founding board member of the Motor City Bowl game.

She later assumed the role as CEO and President of Hershey-Harrisburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she became a registered lobbyist and played a key role in advocating tourism throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as educating legislators in Washington, D.C. on the driving force and positive economic impact that the sports and hospitality industry creates in the United States.

Mrs. Burke was also recruited to serve for two years as the Acting Executive Director at the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, just before arriving to Houston. Tourism is the second largest industry in the Alamo City and captures over 23 million visitors each year.