Allen Austin Recruits CHRO for Stress Engineering Services
October 20, 2025 – Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has helped to recruit Michelle Howison as the new chief human resources officer at Stress Engineering Services, Inc. The search was led by Edie Bartlett and Liz Townsend.
Ms. Howison brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience, with a proven track record in M&A integration, organizational development, and building high-performing cultures. She is known for aligning people strategies with business goals—and delivering measurable results.
Ms. Howison serves as president and co-founder of Yay 4 Life!, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families by helping cover expenses such as parking, meals, and travel during treatment, as well as providing scholarships within the Friendswood Independent School District. She also served as vice president and global human resources director at Bray International, Inc., where she oversaw global HR strategy and operations. Previously, Ms. Howison held leadership roles at QMax, Endeavor Management, and NorthStar Memorial Group, and served on the board of directors for the National Speakers Association Houston Chapter. Earlier in her career, she was an adjunct professor at the University of Houston–Clear Lake and worked in organizational development at Houston Methodist.
Stress Engineering Services is a globally recognized engineering consulting and testing firm, founded in 1972, that provides advanced design, analysis, materials science, instrumentation and full-scale testing services across a broad range of industries. With more than 130,000 square feet of laboratory space and a portfolio of over 75 technical disciplines—from fluid mechanics and subsea engineering to medical device materials and failure analysis—the company supports clients confronting complex challenges under demanding conditions.
CEO Search
Last year, Allen Austin assisted in the recruitment of Justin Jarski as CEO of Stress Engineering Services. This milestone marked the company’s first-ever external hire for this esteemed position, underscoring a forward-thinking approach to growth and leadership. “Our team at Allen Austin was honored to conduct this executive search, a process that brought together our expertise in matching top-tier leaders with industry-leading organizations,” the firm said. “For us, finding the right CEO wasn’t just about filling a role; it was about selecting someone who could uphold the legacy of excellence while inspiring future growth. Justin’s appointment represents the culmination of this dedicated effort.”
Allen Austin is a top 40 global management consulting firm specializing in executive search and leadership advisory services. Founded in 1996, the firm partners with boards, CEOs and senior leaders of companies small and large, public and private, family-owned, private equity, venture-backed, domestic and international. Allen Austin has more than 30 partners managing client engagements from offices in 20 cities in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
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Rob Andrews is founder and CEO of Allen Austin, a leadership advisory and executive search firm. He leads Allen Austin’s global CEO, consumer packaged goods & durables practice, and is also a member of the firm’s leadership advisory, private equity, industrial and marketing officer practices. Building on his earlier career experience as an operating president with major convenience store and supermarket chains, Mr. Andrews conducts searches for board members, CEO, and senior officers across a broad range of sectors.
Allen Austin Partners Recruits Inaugural Board of Directors for Stress Engineering Services
Allen Austin has completed a board engagement for Stress Engineering Services Inc., to design and build its first fiduciary board of directors. The incoming board was designed to bring the right directors together to advise management on matters of strategy, culture, organizational performance, and specific market sector penetration. “We are confident that the addition of these accomplished professionals to our board of directors will fortify our governance framework and position Stress Engineering Services for sustained success,” remarked Jack Miller, CEO of Stress Engineering Services.
“As part of this landmark board search, Allen Austin is proud to introduce the newly appointed external independent directors, and internal directors, who bring a wealth of experience, industry knowledge and leadership expertise to the SES boardroom,” the search firm said.
Based in Houston, Ms. Bartlett is a partner, and a member of the firm’s consumer & retail, marketing officer, business development, and industrial practices. She has over 20 years’ experience in executive leadership roles with prestigious consumer packaged goods companies Including Warner Brothers, MGM Studio and Starz. Her expertise encompasses all areas of CPG distribution including, sales, marketing, and product distribution across all classes of trade such as, e-commerce including Amazon, digital platforms such as Apple and brick and mortar retailers across with U.S. and Canada.
Based in Houston, TX, Ms. Townsend is part of the leadership advisory segment of Allen Austin. She specializes in consumer goods and services with emphasis on health, fitness and restaurant brands. Prior to joining Allen Austin, Ms. Townsend spent 13 years as a P&L operator with 24 Hour Fitness during their exponential growth and acquisition phase.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
