2026 ACG Houston: May Monthly Luncheon

As President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike’s primary focus is fulfilling the corporate mission and ensuring Vortex delivers on its promise of delivering the broadest range of service solutions and proven products to customers around the globe. Since the company’s founding in 2015, Mike has strategically guided its growth and maturity in the highly competitive trenchless infrastructure rehabilitation. From its highly experienced and customer-focused services division, to the cutting edge products and technologies division, Vortex is a leader in providing an end-to-end solution to its customers.

Formerly, Mike was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for one of the largest privately held trenchless underground contractors in North America. His primary responsibilities included overseeing sales, marketing, and product development functions for all business entities. He was also in charge of forging strategic business alliances as part of the company’s vision of providing the widest selection of environmentally friendly trenchless underground repair solutions to its customers. During his five-year tenure, Mike used his vision and leadership to help measurably grow the company’s revenue.

From 2001 to 2009, Mike worked for Albany, New York-based Vellano Brothers, where he rose from the ranks from local Branch Manager to Vice President. During his tenure there, he helped streamline operations, grow accounts, and increase sales exponentially. Mike resides in Houston, Texas, along with his wife Lettie, and two daughters.

Michelle Zavala is an Executive Director working in the Commercial and Investment Bank at JP Morgan Chase (JPMC). Michelle specializes in providing financing, treasury, and a suite of other financial products for diversified industries in the larger Houston area. 

Michelle started her career as an auditor with Ernst & Young providing audit services for large manufacturing and corporate energy clients in the Houston area. Michelle then transitioned to corporate energy banking as an underwriter and was responsible for managing bank credit risk and exposure to large syndicated and bilateral deals in the energy sector. 

Michelle was born in Honduras and moved to the United States to pursue her Bachelor and Master of Business Administration at Louisiana State University. Michelle is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian and holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license along with her FINRA series 63 and series 79 licenses.