We are thrilled to celebrate Steven J. Baines as the Honoree of our 11th Annual OkraFest! 

When we first met Steven back in 2014, he was a patron perusing the market & minding his own business. Casey McAuliffe, GOFM’s Executive Director, spotted the obvious greatness that had waltzed unwittingly into our laps and then lassoed him into the GOFM network, where he has served in multiple capacities – volunteer, board member, Board President, Friends of the Farmers Market financial supporter and a longtime dear friend. 

Steven is a true force for good with a passion for transformative leadership and getting things done! As a sought-after Leadership Consultant, Organizational Development Expert & Trainer, and Executive Coach, Steven partners with individuals, teams, and organizations of all sizes in his professional life. His mission? To crank up performance, elevate leadership, and drive the kind of meaningful change you can actually see and measure. Talk about making an impact!

With over 20 years of experience spanning healthcare, nonprofits, higher education, and even global development, Steven has taken his talents from U.S. boardrooms to international field offices. He's a pro at guiding executives, leading dynamic leadership programs, and supporting strategic moves, all while blending the smarts of behavioral science with sharp cultural intelligence and results-focused strategies. 

Steven is deeply rooted in our Galveston community, serving on the board of Vision Galveston and the advisory board of MORTAR Galveston. He was named "Toastmaster of the Year" while serving as president of ANICO Articulators Toastmasters, served on the advisory board for The Grand 1894 Opera House and has been integral to the growth of GOFM over the past decade.

Internationally, Steven is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Bolivia, and managed HIV/AIDS programming for Catholic Relief Services in Malawi. In Cincinnati, he’s a past chairman of the Cincinnati Health Department Board (with $40M budget oversight) and was a national trainer with the Human Rights Campaign.And if that's not impressive enough— Steven holds not one, but two master’s degrees: International & Intercultural Management from the School for International Training and Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University. 

There’s simply no one else who can hold a candle to the style, grace and sincerity of our Steven J. Baines. Whether admiring his bespoke suits, his dazzling smile, his brilliance in problem-solving and human relations or his willingness to share a laugh with anyone and everyone –we’re just lucky to be in his orbit.