Meet Cynthia Orser
City Business - Suburban Touch
Cynthia Orser was born in Galveston, Texas, and raised on the mainland in Santa Fe, Texas, just about forty miles south of Houston. Being born “on the island,” as many will say, instilled in her a sense of community, pride, and a badge of honor. As a child, Cynthia got the pleasure of experiencing the benefits of a tight-knit community of fewer than 7,000 people.
Her parents were small business owners in the community and encouraged her to have a strong work ethic and sense of accountability. Cynthia and her two siblings started working at an early age for the family business, and the phrase “lend a helping hand” took on a whole new meaning. Later in life she would realize this responsibility humbled her and helped her to become dependable and driven.
Growing up along the Gulf Coast, Cynthia is no stranger to hurricane season. During those times, she has seen the importance of people sticking together and looking out for one another. Between protecting her family, their home, and business in such turbulent times, Cynthia has learned first hand how to be resilient. The most memorable storms she can recall are Hurricane Alicia and Hurricane Harvey.
Though these life experiences would serve her well in the future, Cynthia always felt that she was missing a sense of diversity and culture. She began to seek opportunities to learn more about people at a young age. When it was time to pursue her education, Cynthia went as far away as possible without leaving Texas. She found her oasis while attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. It wasn’t just the level of education to be found there, or the beauty of the Spanish Renaissance architecture that won her heart — it was the people too.
It wasn’t long after college that Cynthia made the very wise decision to find her permanent home back in the Houston area. She was attracted to the city’s diverse culture, amazing food, fantastic entertainment, and proximity to her family in her hometown. Cynthia has enjoyed a longstanding career for a large financial institution in the downtown area, where she combines her background in finance with information technology. She loves its central location so she can experience some of Houston’s most historic and ethnic neighborhoods. Shevolunteers for a number of organizations in the citywhere she can usually be found outdoors lending a helping hand.
Cynthia still has a strong desire to learn about people and has a personal motto to “be a lifelong learner.” In the middle of her career, she returned to school to receive her master’s degree, confirming her passion to keep learning. In 2020, she joined the Leadership Houston Class XXXIX to increase her civic leadership capacity and make a positive impact on the local community. In addition, she and her husband have recently become entrepreneurs and are investing in the amazing communities within Houston. She said “It’s time to roll up our sleeves, get more involved, give back to our community, and keep learning!” Cynthia is a self-proclaimed foodie, lover of the great outdoors, and enjoys spending time with her family.
