Diann L. Lewter
Appointed by the City of Houston Mayor
Confirmed by Houston City Council
Professional Achievements
Ms. Lewter’s career has primarily been focused on business development in the commercial real estate and public sectors. Notably, she was the originator of the first business development program for the Central Business District, serving as Business Development Director for Central Houston, Inc., and Economic Development Director for the Downtown District, a special assessment district. The programs were focused on the recruitment and retention of office, retail, and residents. During her tenure, office vacancy rates fell to 3% from 17%, and the CBD saw its first true retail and residential development in decades. She worked on the successful rail referendum, and the referendums to bring baseball and basketball stadiums to the Central Business District. She was instrumental in securing the first downtown circulator - old-fashioned trolley cars. The grant program she led attracted many small businesses to open restaurants and retail businesses at street level to attract pedestrian traffic. A proud accomplishment was saving the former Sakowitz Building from alterations that would have closed it from street level, and to position it for future retail use.
Ms. Lewter also served as Sr. Vice President, Business Development for a corporate real estate and tenant representation firm, and Operations Manager with a large commercial real estate firm.
Board and Community Service
Ms. Lewter is currently serving on the Board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority , Position 4, representing the City of Houston from 2022 to the present. She chairs the Joint Development and Land Use Committee, is a member of the Administration Committee, and the Public Safety/Customer Service/ Operations
Committee.
She was recently appointed to the APTA (American Public Transit Association) Transit Board Member Committee Executive Council as the Large System Representative. This position represents all large transit agencies in America.
Previously, Ms. Lewter served on the Board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Position 4, representing the City of Houston from 2014-2016. She cochaired the Public Safety and Real Estate Committees, as well as serving on the Government Affairs, People, and Capital Programs Committees.
In addition, she has held leadership positions in many organizations including serving as chair of AIDS Foundation Houston, Leadership Houston, CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), The United Way Women’s Initiative, and The Professional Group. She has served as event chair of The Book and Author Dinner, The Alley Gala, Rice Design Alliance Gala Underwriting, Houston Architectural Foundation Gala, and was appointed to the Mayor’s International Advisory Council by Mayor Bill White. Her board service has included both Hermann Park Conservancy, and The Heritage Society, where she was a member of both executive committees. She has recently served as President of the Board of the Holly Hall Retirement Community, and currently co-chairs the Long-Range Planning Committee.
Awards and Recognition
Ms. Lewter was appointed to the Houston Police Academy Criminal Justice Advisory Committee where she has served continuously since 1993 and was recently recognized by Houston Police Chief Troy Finner for her service.
Ms. Lewter is a founder of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) and was named a CREW- Local Legend for recognition of outstanding service to women in the commercial real estate community and chaired a national CREW conference in Houston. She received Leadership Houston awards including the Distinguished Alumni, and National Association of Community Leadership award for outstanding leadership. She received The Federation of Houston Professional Women award- Outstanding Woman; was named by Houston Magazine as a Woman to Watch; and received a Clean Houston, Inc.- Proud Partners Award for the Sandy Reed Buffalo Bayou Memorial Project. She was also selected by Houston Women Magazine as one of the fifty most influential women in Houston for 2014.
Ms. Lewter is married to Michael Lewter. They are advocates for the preservation of mid-century homes and buildings in the Houston area. Recently, she was appointed to the Astrodome Conservancy Board by Mayor Pro-tem, Martha Castex-Tatum to represent Houston City Council District K.
Additionally, Diann and Mike devote a great deal of their time to supporting Camp for All, a barrier-free camp for children and adults with disabilities and special needs in Burton, Texas. They were honored for their service at the Camp for All Houston 2020 Gala.