Houston Newsmakers May 7: Jobs to Houston, burn victim, ovarian cancer survivor

HOUSTON – Takeshi Ebisu is president and CEO of Goodman Manufacturing, one of several companies owned by Daikin Industries, based in Osaka, Japan. But Daikin has opened a huge assembly and manufacturing plant in Waller just north of Highway 290.

It has 4 million square feet under one roof and is considered the second-largest plant in the United States. Ebisu said locating in the Houston region was done for pragmatic reasons.

“Is because of the people and quality and expertise of the workers and level of the workers in this region,” he said. “Therefore it’s with this environment that we are hiring a lot of talented people.”

Approximately 5,000 have been hired so far in advance of the facility’s grand opening on May 24. How many more and what skills are they looking for? Ebisu answers those questions on this week’s "Houston Newsmakers."

ALSO

She suffered third-degree burns over much of her body as her home burned down and her 22-month-old son was killed.

Justina Page was in a coma for two months, but she survived and has made it her life mission to help others, especially children, who are healing from serious burns. 

“It was a long, tedious process, but I believe hope is the heartbeat of survival. So if you have hope you can keep moving forward,” Page said.

Moving forward meant founding the Amos House of Faith, named after her son; writing help books; speaking; and much more. Meet Justina Page on this week’s "Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall."

AND

Runsi Sen is founder, president and executive director of Ovarcome, an organization she started after her mother died from ovarian cancer.

She said the critical key with ovarian cancer is catching it early.

“By the time this disease is diagnosed in 70 percent or higher of women, it’s already in advanced stages because the symptoms are so vague and nonspecific that people don’t take up on it,” Said Sen.

Sen talked about the goals of her organization and the upcoming gala featuring Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller, an ovarian cancer survivor.

“Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall,” Sunday at 10 a.m. right after “Meet the Press” on KPRC Channel 2.

•           Takeshi Ebisu, President & CEO, Goodman Manufacturing-Daikin Industries, 713-861-2500 www.goodmanmfg.com and http://careersatgoodman.com/career-areas/

•           Justina Page, Founder Amos House of Faith,  www.theamoshouse.org

Twitter: @TheAmosHouse

•           Runsi Sen, Founder, President, Executive Director, Ovarcome, 713-800-2976, www.ovarcome.org

Twitter: @Ovarcome