Howard Tellepsen is Chairman of Tellepsen, a fourth generation, family owned and operated business, providing commercial, institutional, and industrial construction services in Houston since 1909.

Tellepsen has made a multi-generational dedication to projects of significance and to giving back to the community.  Known as “builders & believers,” Tellepsen is drawn to opportunities to be a part of something that is “larger than themselves.”  Tellepsen has impacted the lives of five generations of Houstonians, building places where they work, play, live, learn, and worship.

Howard graduated from Lamar High School, Houston, and has received its Distinguished Alumni award; Gentlemen of Lamar, elected by student body and Carolyn Dudley was Lady of Lamar (Howard’s wife); and Most Popular Senior Boy.

Howard received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he served as Student Body President, is a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation, was elected to the Engineering Hall of Fame (2016), received the 2012 Alumni Distinguished Service Award, the 2015 Dean Griffin Community Service Award, and established the Howard T. Tellepsen Endowed Chair in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Howard is a member of the board of directors of the YMCA of Greater Houston (Life Member, past Chairman, and benefactor of the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA); YMCA Foundation (past Chairman); Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (Life Member, past Chairman, benefactor of the Tellepsen Scout Camp), and Distinguished Eagle Scout; Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, Treasurer; Thermal Energy Corporation (TECO) Texas Medical Center, Executive Committee.

Previous board service includes:  St. Luke’s Health, Executive Committee/St. Luke’s Foundation, past Chairman; Enterprise Bank, past Chairman; Edith and Daniel Ripley Foundation, past President; Petroleum Club of Houston, past President.

Howard is also a Senior Fellow in the American Leadership Forum (ALF), and is a long-standing member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO Gold).  He also received the Houston Business Journal’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Howard and his wife of 58 years, Carolyn, have four married sons (all involved at Tellepsen) and 10 grandchildren.