Speakers
Larry Stokes was appointed Vice President of Human Resources at Texas Medical Center on March 15, 2013 and promoted to Senior Vice President of Shared Services in September of 2013. In this position, he is responsible for all aspects of human capital from policy, payroll, employee communications, and benefits to recruiting, training, and leadership development, along with leading several strategic operations including Security, Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Facilities and Information Technology. He and his team have the daily responsibility of building a world class organization, creating a culture of excellence, and serving as an employer of choice environment for employees of Texas Medical Center. Along with these responsibilities, Mr. Stokes is tasked with developing and enhancing collaboration, and creating human resources centers of expertise throughout the medical center through its Human Resources Advisory Council and Volunteerism Council.
Prior to joining Texas Medical Center, Mr. Stokes worked for the Houston Astros as vice president of Human Resources. He joined the Astros after a rising career with Warner Bros Studios, where he spent five years as a corporate director of Employee and Labor Relations. Later, he became the director of Human Resources for one of the studio's largest field divisions. Prior to Warner Bros, Mr. Stokes spent four years as a senior employee relations representative for Riverside County, where he represented the county in arbitrations, mediations, and labor matters.
Mr. Stokes' professional career started in law enforcement as a member of the California Highway Patrol, where he patrolled the streets of Southern California for seven years. After leaving law enforcement, he earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Northrup University and later attended Glendale University College of Law, which led to his role with Riverside County's Labor Relations Team. Mr. Stokes went on to earn his Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Society of Human Resource Management in 2004.
Mr. Stokes has long been active in the Leaders of Tomorrow, an enrichment program for minority high school students, coordinated locally by the Student Affairs Committee of the National Black MBA Association - Houston Chapter. He has provided mentorship and has hosted several of their events and programs. He also maintains involved relationships with many affinity groups at Rice University, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and Texas A&M University. Mr. Stokes currently sits on the Board of Directors for Crisis Intervention of Houston and the advisory board for the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. He regularly speaks on a wide range of relevant and topical subjects, including careers in sports and entertainment, strategic and tactical approaches to teambuilding, and diversity in the workplace. With his community involvement, he is frequently asked to serve as keynote speaker at local, regional, and national functions.