Elizabeth Ruiz, PhD, MBA
Founder & Chair
Dr. Elizabeth Ruiz is a mission-driven leader, transformational coach, and passionate advocate for both human and animal healing. As the Founder and Chair of Healing Through Action™, she brings decades of expertise in organizational leadership, psychology, and strategic communication to a profoundly personal and purposeful cause.
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With a PhD in Organizational Leadership, an MBA in Management, and a Master’s in Strategic Communication from Columbia University, Elizabeth has dedicated her life to helping others rise, especially those who have been silenced, overlooked, or wounded. Her own lived experiences of loss, trauma, and resilience have shaped the foundation of Healing Through Action™, a nonprofit committed to breaking cycles of abuse and providing safe, empowering pathways to recovery for survivors and vulnerable animals.
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Elizabeth is known for her warm, authentic presence and her ability to turn pain into purpose. She has led thousands of individuals through transformational programs, coaching sessions, and workshops that emphasize healing, leadership, and personal agency. Whether she’s mentoring a woman reclaiming her voice or rescuing an animal from neglect, her core message is the same: healing begins when we take action, with courage and compassion.
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Today, she leads Healing Through Action™ with vision, empathy, and a fierce determination to create lasting change—one life, one story, and one act of love at a time.
Kevin Ruiz
Vice Chair
"Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play". (Immanuel Kant)
God has blessed me with a professional passion for both learning and working in the electrical power industry.
Attending university part-time at night while working full-time in the field of electrical construction, testing and maintenance afforded me a much greater understanding of electrical theory and application.
Graduating from the University of Houston with honors, I continued my field engineering career with the roles of Project Manager, Senior Field Engineer and Field Service Specialist. Always eager to learn, I continued my education gaining various certifications in electrical safety, testing, and root cause failure analysis.
Transitioning from Field Engineer to Manager of Engineering/Estimating allowed me the opportunity to develop and train application engineers on various aspects of electrical solutions.
During my role as Global Technical Sales Manager, I supported a team of sales executives through onsite customer visits and technical presentations. Being closer to the customer has always allowed me the opportunity to listen to their problems and develop custom solutions using the latest electrical technologies.
As Director of Operations, I was able to develop new strategies and lead the automation team in building a solid foundation for growth in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). My current role as Director of Business Development allows me to focus on continued growth of automation solutions for a diverse new customer base.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is certainly proving to be very dynamic and exciting as it applies to the energy management sector.
As a 20+ year Senior Member of IEEE, I continue to stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in electrical power.
Spencer Harris, CCUFC
Treasurer
Spencer holds a bachelor's in economics and is a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC). A Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor is a credit union professional certified by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Not only are these CCUFC’s available to provide financial education, but they can also help with methods to increase your credit and ways to efficiently pay down debts. They are skilled in constructing budget plans, and finding ways to help you save money,
Dr. Shane Vanderford
DVM, Veterinarian
Dr. Shane Vanderford was born and raised in Brandon, MS. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University and completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center.
Dr. Vanderford – Skilled Veterinarian with a Heart for Service
With over six years of experience as a practicing veterinarian in Texas, Dr. Vanderford is dedicated to providing quality professional care and genuine personal service. He considers it a blessing to be involved in the lives of his clients and their beloved pets. His professional interests include orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, reproduction, anesthesiology, emergency and critical care, and preventative medicine. Dr. Vanderford is an active member of the AVMA, TVMA, HCVMA, and TAVP.
Outside of work, Dr. Vanderford enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, hiking, and carpentry. He is an active member of Clear Creek Community Church in League City and a proud father to two beautiful daughters, Magnolia and Wrenley
