HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-28-22RICHARD WARREN, PRESIDENT DANNY EARP, BOARD MEMBER
BRENT McCAULLEY, COUNCILPERSON JOHN BLAKEMORE, BOARD MEMBER
RACHEL COTTON, BOARD MEMBER NANCY OJEDA, VICE-PRESIDENT
CHUCK ENGELKEN, COUNCILPERSON
CITY OF LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING AGENDA
Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the City of La Porte Development Corporation to be held on
March 28, 2022, at the City Hall Council Chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas,
beginning at 5:00 pm to consider the following items of business:
Remote participation is available, also. Attend via a screen using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81061850610?pwd=VDRNN2QvZGJTeHZIMkwvVUpHNjJzQT09
Join by phone at 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499. The meeting ID is 810 6185 0610 and the passcode is
196366.
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.CITIZEN COMMENT (Generally limited to five minutes per person; in accordance with state law,
the time may be reduced if there is a high number of speakers or other considerations.)
3.PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATION, and RECOGNITIONS
(a)Receive Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Annual Report as presented by the
President of BAHEP. [Corby Alexander, City Manager]
4.AUTHORIZATIONS
(a)Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation held
on January 24, 2022. [President W arren]
(b)Approve incentive payment to Mark Rosado, owner of Battleground Saloon, located at 116
S. Broadway Street in La Porte, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00, in
accordance with economic development incentive agreement between the La Porte
Development Corporation and Mark Rosado dated January 24, 2022. [Corby Alexander,
City Manager]
5.SET NEXT MEETING
6.BOARD COMMENTS Hear announcements concerning matters appearing on the agenda;
items of community interest; and/or inquiries of staff regarding specific factual information
or existing policy from the Committee members and City staff, for which no formal action
will be discussed or taken.
7.ADJOURN
If, during the course of the meeting and discussion of any items covered by this notice, the La Porte
Development Corporation Board determines that a Closed or Executive Session of the Board is required,
then such closed meeting will be held as authorized by Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section
551.071 - consultation with counsel on legal matters; Section 551.072 - deliberation regarding purchase,
exchange, lease or value of real property; Section 551.073 - deliberation regarding a prospective gift; Section
551.074 - personnel matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties,
discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee; Section 551.076 - implementation of security
personnel or devices; Section 551.087 - deliberation regarding economic development negotiation; Section
551.089 - deliberation regarding security devices or security audits, and/or other matters as authorized under
the Texas Government Code. If a Closed or Executive Session is held in accordance with the Texas
Government Code as set out above, the La Porte Development Corporation Board will reconvene in Open
Session in order to take action, if necessary, on the items addressed during Executive Session.
Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids or services are
requested to contact the City Secretary's office (281-470-5019), two working days prior to the meeting for
appropriate arrangements.
Pursuant to Texas Government Code Sec. 551.127, on a regular, non-emergency basis, members may attend and participate in the
meeting remotely by video conference. Should that occur, a quorum of the members will be physically present at the location noted
above on this agenda.
CERTIFICATE
I, Lee W oodward, City Secretary, do hereby certify that a copy of the March 28, 2022, La Porte Development Corporation
Board agenda was posted on the City Hall bulletin board, a place convenient and readily accessible to the general public
at all times, and to the City's website, www.LaPorteTX.gov, in compliance with Chapter 551, Texas Government Code.
DATE OF
POSTING
TIME OF
POSTING
TAKEN DOW N
Lee Woodward
Lee W oodward, City Secretary
REQUEST FOR LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD
AGENDA ITEM
Agenda Date Requested: March 28, 2022
Requested By: Corby Alexander, City Manager
Department: Economic Development
Report Resolution Ordinance
Exhibits: Annual Presentation, BAHEP’s letter on
report, President’s Business Brief
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS
During the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bay Area Houston Economic
Partnership has presented their Annual Report to the Economic Development
Corporation Board.
This is the 46th year of the organization’s existence and BAHEP has provided Economic
Development Services to the City of La Porte since 2014.
ACTION REQUIRED BY LPDC BOARD
No action required, the City Manager will note that the Economic Development
Board has received the 3-28 Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Annual
Report as presented by the President of BAHEP.
Approved for the La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting agenda
Corby D. Alexander, City Manager Date
Appropriation
Source of Funds: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Amount Requested: N/A
Budgeted Item: Yes No
2021 Annual Report
Challenges Met Obstacles Overcome
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
2022 Board of Directors Page 2
Letter from the Outgoing Chair Page 4
Letter from the Incoming Chair Page 5
Letter from the President Page 6
Challenges Met
Obstacles Overcome Page 7
2022 Executive Committee Page 22
Ex Officio Members of the
2022 Executive Committee Page 26
Membership Page 28
Region Supported by the Bay Area Back Cover
Houston Economic Partnership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS
Chairman: Kenny Koncaba, CEO, Texan Bank
Vice-Chairman: Tim Kropp, Executive Vice President, MRI
Technologies
Secretary: Gwen Griffin, Founder / CEO, Griffin
Communications Group
Treasurer: Jennifer Bowers, Partner, Bowers and Sadler, LLP
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Todd Caliva, CEO, HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake
Fernando De La Peña Llaca, President / CEO,
AEXA Aerospace, LLC
Mark Gittleman, P.E., President / CEO, Aegis Aerospace, Inc.
Gwen Griffin, Founder / CEO, Griffin Communications Group
W. Michael Hawes, D.Sc., Vice President, Human Space
Exploration & Orion Program Manager,
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D., Chancellor, San Jacinto College District
Kenny Koncaba, CEO, Texan Bank
Tim Kropp, Executive Vice President, MRI Technologies
John Mulholland, Vice President and Program Manager,
International Space Station (ISS), The Boeing Company
Denise Navarro, Founder / President / CEO, Logical Innovations,
Inc.
Victor Pierson, Chairman / President / CEO, Moody Bank
John Wilkins, CEO, CLC Properties
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HONORARY CHAIRMAN
Frans Gillebaard (1939 - 2013)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Jennifer Bowers, Partner, Bowers & Sadler, LLP
Gale E. Burkett, President / CEO, GB Tech, Inc.
Dick H. Gregg, Jr., Attorney-at-Law / President, Gregg &
Gregg, P.C.
Fred B. Griffin, Founder & Chairman, Griffin Partners, Inc.
Marc Havican, President, Space City Films, Inc.
Joy Kelly, Ph.D., Vice President / General Manager, Jacobs
Bernard A. Milstein, M.D., President, The Eye Clinic of Texas
Charlie Stegemoeller, Senior Director, Business Development,
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
Vanessa E. Wyche, Director, NASA Johnson Space Center
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jamie Ballard, Senior Vice President, Veritex Community Bank
La Crista Bishop, Regional Operations Director, University of
Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, League City and
Galveston
Jennifer Bowers, Partner, Bowers and Sadler, LLP
Gale E. Burkett, President / CEO, GB Tech, Inc.
Todd Caliva, CEO, HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake
Noel J. Cárdenas, FACHE, Senior Vice President / CEO,
Memorial Hermann Southeast and Pearland Hospitals
Nellie Chappell-White, President / CEO, JES Tech
Deborah Acosta Conder, Board Chair, Wellby, Powered by
JSC FCU
David Dean, Senior Program Manager, S&K Global Solutions
Fernando De La Peña Llaca, President / CEO,
AEXA Aerospace, LLC
Col. Michael E. Fossum, VP / COO, Texas A&M University at
Galveston
Glenn Freedman, Ph.D., President, EduSafe Systems, Inc.
Jeff Gionnette, General Manager, Brookfield Properties
Mark Gittleman, P.E., President / CEO, Aegis Aerospace, Inc.
Fred B. Griffin, Founder & Chairman, Griffin Partners, Inc.
Gwen Griffin, Founder / CEO, Griffin Communications Group
Phil Griffis, President, The Law Office of Phil Griffis
Darrin Hall, Director, Corporate and Community Affairs,
United Airlines
2
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
2022 Board of Directors
Trey Hall, III, Vice President / COO, The Rothe Companies:
Houston Operations
Marc Havican, President, Space City Films, Inc.
W. Michael Hawes, D.Sc., Vice President, Human Space
Exploration & Orion Program Manager,
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D., Chancellor, San Jacinto College District
Jorge Hernandez, President / CEO, Bastion Technologies, Inc.
Walter Jackson, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, La Porte ISD
Stephen K. Jones, MHA, FACHE, VP Health System Strategy,
CEO Clear Lake Campus, UTMB
Joy Kelly, Ph.D., Vice President / General Manager, Jacobs
Kenny Koncaba, CEO, Texan Bank
Jeannie Kranz, Senior Director, NASA Business Development
Strategy, ASRC Federal
Tim Kropp, Executive Vice President, MRI Technologies
Laurie Labra, Vice President, Human Exploration Division, KBR
Arturo Machuca, General Manager, Ellington Airport &
Houston Spaceport, City of Houston, Houston
Airport System
Jamieson Mackay, CCUFC, Vice President, Project Development,
Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union
Bernard A. Milstein, M.D., President, The Eye Clinic of Texas
Melinda Mintz, Director, Sales, Hilton NASA Clear Lake
John Mulholland, Vice President and Program Manager,
International Space Station (ISS), The Boeing Company
Denise Navarro, Founder / President / CEO, Logical Innovations,
Inc.
Douglas H. Owens, Lt. Gen., USAF (Ret.), CEO, Lone Star
Flight Museum
Kelly Page, President, Barrios Technology
Laura Pennino, CEO, Pennino & Partners
Victor Pierson, Chairman / President / CEO, Moody Bank
Bill Provenzano, Senior Vice President, Hometown Bank
Kevin Repa, Vice President / General Manager, All Points
Logistics, LLC
Elizabeth Smith, Owner/Agent, Elizabeth Smith Life and
Health Insurance
Charlie Stegemoeller, Senior Director, Business Development,
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
Stephanie Wiggins, Regional Manager Economic Development,
CenterPoint Energy
John Wilkins, CEO, CLC Properties
Eric Williams, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Clear Creek ISD
BOARD EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Chad Burke, President / CEO, Economic Alliance Houston
Port Region
Mary Alys Cherry, Editor and Publisher, Bay Area Houston
Magazine
Cindy Harreld DeWease, President / CEO, Clear Lake Area
Chamber of Commerce
Marcy Fryday, Marketing Director, Lakewood Yacht Club
Dick H. Gregg, Jr., Attorney-at-Law / President, Gregg &
Gregg, P.C.
John Martinec, President, AeroSys, LLC
Jeff Sjostrom, President, Galveston Economic Development
Partnership
Steven Skarke, Vice President, Kaneka North America, LLC
Mike Sullivan, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs,
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
Hajime “Sam” Suzuki, Vice President, Administration, Kuraray
America, Inc.
Vanessa E. Wyche, Director, NASA Johnson Space Center
3
4
Back in January, we all wondered what the year of 2021 would hold in store. While the pandemic con-
tinues, the ever-changing economy has provided a robust set of issues that BAHEP and its leadership
have pressed into making good things happen. With the legislation creating the Gulf Coast Protection
District (GCPD), funding regarding the Texas Coastal Study (coastal barrier), the construction and new
industry at the Spaceport, our new strategic plan, new members, and many other new initiatives, we
have proven, once again, the power of BAHEP to bring good people and good causes to successful en-
actment.
I’ve found that sitting in the chairman’s seat gives a slightly different perspective of the BAHEP organi-
zation and how it accomplishes so much. There is a lot of detailed work involved in something as
seemingly straightforward as a General Membership Meeting (great to have them once again in per-
son!), and the effort put into a project win, which can take months or even years for a successful con-
clusion – our BAHEP staff and members are outstanding!
This has been an excellent year for BAHEP, especially since the good people and the good causes with
which we’ve been involved for so long have really had tangible results. The United States Army Corps
of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office released the long-awaited Coastal Texas Protection
and Restoration Feasibility Study Final Report in September. The study was initiated in 2014. As I
stated above, some initiatives take time, and this one certainly did. BAHEP began its work on regional
storm surge protection six years prior to that. Patience and perseverance are non -negotiable require-
ments when working in economic development. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed BAHEP President
Bob Mitchell to the board of the GCPD – a proud moment for both BAHEP and Bob, and it positions
BAHEP where it always excels – right in the middle of the action.
After a five-year hiatus, the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, chaired by Dr. Glenn Freedman, did
another excellent job with the creation of the 2022-2024 BAHEP Strategic Plan. The committee was
composed of CEOs from 24 organizations, representing the region’s industries, academia, and profes-
sional services. There was targeted input from over 250 people, including elected officials at the local,
county, state, and federal levels. It truly is a comprehensive document that will be very valuable as
BAHEP transitions to new leadership at the conclusion of next year.
It has been an honor to serve as the chairman of the BAHEP Board of Directors. I have also developed
a deeper appreciation of you, our board, and the gifts you and your firms represent to our one -of-a-
kind region. Best wishes for a fantastic 2022!
Charlie Stegemoeller
Senior Director, Business Development
Science Applications International Corporation
Letter from the Outgoing Chair
5
Letter from the Incoming Chair
Challenges Met – Obstacles Overcome. As a former executive in the energy business and a long-time
banker, I have seen numerous examples of this in action. Taking into consideration the ongoing pan-
demic, this has created a very challenging time for us all. As the incoming chairman of the Bay Area
Houston Economic Partnership, I have seen how this extraordinary organization handles adversity
over the years. Through government shutdowns, cancellation of major job-providing programs,
floods, storm surges, and lost opportunities, BAHEP’s leadership has had the vision to forge ahead
devising solutions along the way.
BAHEP is a proven leader in economic development throughout the entire region. Its long -
established relationships with every business and industry sector, the region’s outstanding educa-
tional institutions, and supportive elected officials at all levels of government have made it the place
to go for assistance. If there is one thing that I could say unequivocally about BAHEP, it’s that it will
absolutely do what is best for the entire region. This annual report will highlight the activities that
added up to a really great year for the organization. As the incoming chair, however, my job is to look
ahead taking into consideration unfinished business and opportunities that lie before us.
Until we see a completed coastal barrier system in place in Galveston Bay, this will be unfinished
business for quite some time. The barrier is a monumental project that will take years to build, but it
is a critical component of the region’s infrastructure for economic vitality and safety. The creation of
the Gulf Coast Protection District by the recent legislature was a big step in the right direction.
BAHEP will continue to work closely with the district, the Texas General Land Office, the U.S. Corps
of Engineers, and our elected officials toward the achievement of this goal.
BAHEP will continue to engage with the Houston Airport System in the development of the Houston
Spaceport. We will further our support of human space exploration through our Citizens for Space
Exploration trips to educate members of Congress about the importance of this initiative. BAHEP
will carry on its activities with Port Houston to ensure the vitality of this national asset.
Finally, and perhaps the most difficult, we will continue the transition process to a new BAHEP pres-
ident when Bob Mitchell retires at the close of 2022. Yes, it’ll be a busy 2022, but BAHEP, as always,
is up for the challenges.
Kenny Koncaba
CEO, Texan Bank
6
Letter from the President
The theme of this annual report is Challenges Met, Obstacles Overcome. The staff of the Bay Area
Houston Economic Partnership met and unanimously determined that this theme perfectly repre-
sents BAHEP’s experience this year. Personally, I have found that meeting problems directly and suc-
cessfully dealing with them has provided new understandings and an increased confidence in facing
the inevitable next obstacle. As we all know and have experienced, even challenges with less than ide-
al outcomes provide valuable insights that become invaluable tools in our dealing-with-life toolbox.
BAHEP’s successes since its founding in 1976 can be attributable to the many outstanding staff mem-
bers who have made this organization strong, trustworthy, dependable, and the “go to” place to get
things done. I have said many, many times, however, that our partnerships with business, industry,
academia, and our elected officials have really been the cornerstone of BAHEP’s success and the pros-
perity of the entire region. We couldn’t do what we do without you. This is evident as you read
through the pages of the annual report. BAHEP had amazing project wins in 2021. Through our part-
nerships with the Houston Airport System, the City of Houston, and San Jacinto College, the Houston
Spaceport is on track to become one of the best locations in the world for aviation/aerospace research
and development, manufacturing, testing operations, technician training, and more.
The 87th Texas Legislature created the Gulf Coast Protection District which is authorized to receive
and issue funds for the Texas Coastal Study (coastal barrier). We’ve been working towards this goal
since Hurricane Ike struck in 2008. The 87th Legislature also increased the SATOP budget for the
2022–2023 biennium. The funding increase allows SATOP to provide technical assistance to small
businesses through the Texas A&M University Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and the uni-
versity’s Capstone Design Program. There student teams, led by a professor of practice, provide tech-
nical solutions and design assistance to small businesses, especially startups.
Although we’ve been working on the above initiatives for a long time, 2021 has been the year when we
have seen many of our efforts result in very positive outcomes. Great strides have definitely been
made, but the work of economic development is never static. As I enter into my final year as BAHEP
president, rest assured that we at BAHEP will follow the course set forth by the newly -developed
2022-2024 Strategic Plan, meeting challenges and overcoming obstacles one day at a time for this
incredible region that we call home.
President
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
7
AEROSPACE INITIATIVES CREATED AEROSPACE INITIATIVES CREATED
TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES
TexSpace Seeks to Remove Barriers
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell and Aerospace Marketing Man-
ager Kim Morris met with Jack Fisher of Intuitive Machines and
James Adams of Gallant Culture, a Houston marketing agency, to
continue development of TexSpace. TexSpace is a space innova-
tion hub with sights set on removing barriers for space innova-
tion, supporting companies and entrepreneurs, utilizing a shared
infrastructure, creating robust funding networks, and connecting
innovation communities.
TexSpace has applied for, and received, an interim 501(c)(3) des-
ignation. It continues to enhance its website and engage with po-
tential funding organizations. TexSpace and Morris have had sev-
eral discussions with the Space Force Association (SFA). SFA is
an advocacy group for the U.S. Space Force that helps to bring
awareness to the Space Force. There is discussion for SFA to hold
an event in Houston in February and March 2022 for the purpose
of bringing awareness to the U.S. Space Force in the Houston re-
gion and facilitate discussions with NASA Johnson Space Center.
TexSpace has formed a Board of Directors and had its first board
meeting in October. Morris serves on the TexSpace board.
Board Chair Briefs AAC on Formation of Space Club
Texas Chapter
In August, Charlie Stegemoeller, BAHEP board chair and senior
director of Business Development, Science Applications Interna-
tional Corporation (SAIC), briefed BAHEP’s Aerospace Advisory
Committee on the possibility of forming a Texas chapter of the
Space Club. Stakeholders are establishing committees as a step
towards the development of Space Club Texas, a chapter of the
National Space Club. The National Space Club is a non-profit as-
sociation devoted to excellence in space activity and creating
partnerships between industry and government in the aerospace
community.
Challenges Met Obstacles Overcome
The traditional view of economic development supports the concept that development is about economic growth, which can be distin-
guished from other social, cultural, environmental, and political development issues in society. Ideally, however, econom-
ic development should be defined as efforts that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating
and/or retaining jobs and supporting or growing incomes and the tax base. Economic development by anyone’s definition must pr ovide
a way forward for all members of a community toward a better life for families, for the places they work, and for the schools their chil-
dren attend.
Since 1976, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership has engaged with its many outstanding partners to pave that way forwar d.
BAHEP has regarded challenges as opportunities for growth and understanding and overcome obstacles that others may have consi d-
ered insurmountable. The 2021 Annual Report is our story — the journey of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership told in brie f
glimpses of initiatives and activities. It tells of BAHEP’s work that, in spite of the challenges of the past and present, re peatedly over-
came obstacles. It is BAHEP’s success story.
8
A significant initiative of the Space Club Texas is to host an annu-
al event bringing together industry leaders. BAHEP Executive
Director for Economic Development Dan Seal and Aerospace
Marketing Manager Kim Morris are working with a Space Club
Texas steering committee that is collaborating with the AIAA AS-
CENDx organization to hold a two-day event, Exploration Sym-
posium, on April 27-28, 2022, in Houston, Texas.
The Exploration Symposium will be an open event that will bring
together a broad community of stakeholders from around NASA,
industry, academia, and other federal agencies to engage in dis-
cussions related to strategy building, development, and imple-
mentation of human and robotic lunar exploration.
Commercial Space & Aviation Taskforce (CSAT)
Seeks to Extend Space City Legacy
The Commercial Space and Aviation Task Force (CSAT) was initi-
ated by BAHEP’s Aerospace Advisory Committee (AAC) and was
charged to aggressively pursue economic development opportu-
nities for the BAHEP service region in the commercial aerospace
and aviation industry. The AAC engaged with Griffin Communi-
cations Group (GCG) to execute a Discovery & Assessment phase
of a larger study proposal to establish the facts and perceptions of
the market and verify the business case, building upon earlier
work by Dr. Glenn Freedman, president, EduSafe Systems, Inc.
GCG completed the Discovery & Assessment phase and has pre-
sented it to BAHEP. The drive behind this initiative is to seize the
opportunity to extend Houston’s Space City legacy into the future
through the location and growth of commercial space and aero-
space businesses. Once this report has been reviewed, the AAC
will determine next steps.
Citizens for Space Exploration Engage Virtually
with More Than 300 Congressional Offices
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BAHEP’s Citizens for Space Ex-
ploration (CSE) Committee conducted its 29th trip to Washing-
ton, D.C., virtually in which the virtual travelers advocated to
congressional members or staff for human space exploration. For
both the congressional freshmen virtual trip on March 3, 2021 ,
and the virtual trip on June 15-17, 2021, CSE gathered a total of
91 travelers made up of community members and 24 students
from around the country to reach out to 336 congressional offices
in scheduled appointments to deliver CSE’s newest point mes-
sage on the importance of NASA to the nation’s economy, space
leadership, and STEM education as well as advocating for human
space exploration.
Between the two virtual trips, 97 percent of the members and
staffers indicated that they were “very supportive” or “somewhat
supportive” of human space exploration. The top reasons for sup-
porting NASA are the economic impact of NASA, NASA’s out-
reach supporting STEM education, the agency’s leadership, and
its technology spinoffs to the commercial sector.
A highlight of the trip was a virtual, live talk from NASA Admin-
istrator Bill Nelson to the travelers communicating his support
for their efforts.
BAHEP Aerospace Marketing Manager Kim Morris met virtually
with CSE’s national team between January and June 2021 to plan
and schedule these virtual congressional meetings. The planning
focused on developing the messages for the 117th Congress and
the logistics associated with scheduling and executing virtual
meetings with the congressional offices on this scale.
TEXAS 87TH LEGISLATURE CONVENES TEXAS 87TH LEGISLATURE CONVENES
BAHEP Develops Legislative Agenda
The Bay Area Houston region is comprised of 16 cities, Harris
and Galveston counties. It is the home of:
NASA Johnson Space Center
Space Center Houston
Bayport Industrial Complex
6 major healthcare systems
Houston Spaceport at Ellington Airport
Port of Houston
5 school districts, 2 colleges & 3 universities
9
Over 20 percent of residents 25 and older hold a bachelor’s de-
gree, and over 10 percent have obtained a graduate degree.
The 800,000 people who live and work in Bay Area Houston en-
joy a low-cost business climate, affordable and diverse housing
options, and year-round activities with more than 3,000 acres of
parks and recreational space.
Houston ranks second among U.S. cities in Fortune 500 head-
quarters. Bay Area Houston features:
The largest concentration of specialty chemical
processors in the world
Industry leaders from the aerospace / aviation,
healthcare, maritime, specialty chemical, and
tourism/recreation sectors
An outstanding quality of life, regional prosperity, and
highly-skilled employees are very attractive to businesses
that are considering relocation or expansion. It is vitally
important to cooperatively address legislative issues that
are necessary for the continued growth of this region.
To that end, BAHEP’s Political Protocol Committee,
chaired by Marcy Fryday of Lakewood Yacht Club, devel-
oped the legislative agenda for the 87th Texas Legislature.
BAHEP, along with the Clear Lake Area Chamber of
Commerce, advocated for the following legislative priori-
ties during the legislative session in 2021:
Education and Workforce Development
Supporting the Region’s Healthcare System
Coastal Barrier
Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program
and Texas Aerospace Scholars Program
Spaceport Trust Fund
Transportation / Bay Tran
Economic Development Incentives
The leads for each legislative priority scheduled virtual
meetings with key legislators and committee members to
discuss the importance of BAHEP’s legislative agenda to the
entire region.
BAHEP Council of Mayors Develops and Delivers
Resolutions
The BAHEP Council of Mayors developed and delivered the fol-
lowing resolutions to the 87th Texas Legislature declaring either
the mayors’ support or opposition to specific legislation:
Resolution in Support of 87 – HB 3029, An Act Relat-
ing to the Creation of the Gulf Coast Protection Dis-
trict,
Resolution by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in
Support of 87 – HB 3029, An Act Relating to the Crea-
tion of the Gulf Coast Protection District,
Resolution in Support of 87 – HB 4497, Relating to
Changing the Date of an Election During a Declared
Disaster,
BAHEP’s Council of Mayors met with Congressman Randy Weber on
May 26, 2021. Shown seated (l to r) are: Mayor Pat Hallisey, League
City; Council Facilitator Glenn Freedman, Ph.D.; BAHEP President
Bob Mitchell; Mayor Michel Bechtel, Morgan’s Point; and Mayor Carl
Joiner, Kemah. Standing l to r are: Mayor Jerry Mouton, Deer Park;
Mayor Bob Warters, Nassau Bay; Mayor Shawn Findley, El Lago;
Mayor Louis R. Rigby, La Porte; Congressman Weber; BAHEP Mem-
bership Director Harriet Pilgrim; Mayor Paul Horn, Alvin; and Mayor
Kurt Otten, Clear Lake Shores. Participating via Zoom was Mayor
Sean Skipworth, Dickinson.
10
Resolution in Support of 87 – SB 1382, Relating to the
Authority of a Hospital to Drill a Water Well for the
purpose of Producing Water for Use in the Event of an
Emergency or Natural Disaster,
Resolution Suggesting a Modification to 87 – HB 233,
Relating to the Applicability of the Prohibition on
Governmental Entities Adopting Certain Regulations
Governing the Use of Certain Building Products, Ma-
terials, or Methods,
Resolution in Opposition to 87 - SB 234 and 87 – HB
749, Relating to Efforts to Suppress Community In-
volvement in State Government,
Resolution in Opposition to 87 – SB 10, Relating to
the Use by a County or Municipality of Public Money
for Lobbying Activities,
Resolution in Opposition to 87 – HB 1869, Relating to
the Definition of Debt for the Purposes of Calculating
Certain Ad Valorem Tax Rates of a Taxing Unit.
The Council of Mayors members are Mayors Michel Bechtel/
Morgan’s Point, Sean Skipworth/Dickinson, Pat Hallisey/League
City, Jon Keeney/Taylor Lake Village, Carl Joiner/Kemah, Kurt
Otten/Clear Lake Shores, Louis Rigby/La Porte, Tom Kolupski/
Seabrook, Bob Warters/Nassau Bay, Donna Rogers/Webster,
Shawn Findley/El Lago, Jeff Wagner/Pasadena, Jason Tabor/
Santa Fe, Paul Horn/Alvin, Jerry Mouton/Deer Park, Chris Ar-
macost/Hitchcock, Kevin Cole/Pearland, and Mike Foreman/
Friendswood.
Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark has been a partici-
pant and contributor to the council. BAHEP attendees during
meetings are council facilitator Glenn Freedman, Ph.D., Presi-
dent Bob Mitchell, and Membership Director Harriet Pilgrim.
BAHEP I-45 Resolution Signed by 26 Elected Officials
The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership created a resolu-
tion in support of maintaining the North Houston Highway Im-
provement Project and funding as proposed in the Texas Depart-
ment of Transportation’s (TxDOT) 2022 Unified Transportation
Program. The resolution was signed by 26 elected officials in
Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris counties and delivered to
TxDOT.
BAHEP Facilitates Funding for Houston Spaceport
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell worked with State Sen. Larry
Taylor and House Rep. Dennis Paul to create legislation during
the 87th Texas Legislative Session to fund the Spaceport Trust
Fund with $10 million with certain funds directed to the Houston
Spaceport. The Houston Airport System has applied for a grant
from the Spaceport Trust Fund.
The Spaceport Trust Fund (STF) is a financial tool to support the
development of infrastructure necessary or useful for establish-
ing a spaceport in the State of Texas. Fund proceeds are available
to any spaceport development corporation which has secured a
viable business entity if that entity is capable of launching and
landing a reusable launch vehicle or spacecraft and intends to
locate its facilities at the development corporation’s planned
spaceport in the state.
PARTNERSHIPS LEAD TO CREATION OF PARTNERSHIPS LEAD TO CREATION OF
GULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICTGULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICT
Stakeholders Review Public-Private Partnership
Strategy for Financing Coastal Barrier
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell met with municipal stakeholders
in February to review the preliminary results of a proof-of-
concept study being conducted by re:focus partners into the use
of insurance-linked resilience bonds as a mechanism to finance
the construction of the Coastal Barrier.
Morgan’s Point Mayor Michel Bechtel raised three-quarters of
the $100,000 necessary to fund the study from regional munici-
palities that have a strongly vested interest in the protection that
the Coastal Barrier will provide. A contract between re:focus
partners and the Bay Area Coastal Protection Alliance (BACPA)
was signed to begin the study back in 2020.
11
The group discussed the insurance risk pool structure and its set-
up, the public-private partnership and its set-up, and addressed
the need for enabling state legislation to implement the public-
private partnership. The group outlined the next steps, including
a legislative strategy heading into the 87th Texas Legislature in
2021. re:focus Partners identified in its Feasibility Report the key
benefits of the Coastal Barrier / Coastal Spine.
Panel Discusses Innovative Funding and Financing
Opportunities for Texas Coastal Barrier
BAHEP hosted a meeting in June for a panel discussion on Inno-
vative Funding and Financing Opportunities for the Texas
Coastal Spine. Panelists and speakers included Shalini Vajjhala,
CEO, re:focus partners; Jose Peralta, National Practice, Aon; Ro-
main Limouzin, COO, Meridiam North America; and BAHEP
President Bob Mitchell. Others participat-
ing in the discussions included Roger Guen-
ther, executive director, Port Houston; State
Rep. Dennis Paul (District 129); Morgan’s
Point Mayor Michel Bechtel; Taylor Lake
Village Mayor Jon Keeney; Congressman
Brian Babin, DDS, represented by Kelly Wa-
terman; Congressman Randy Weber repre-
sented by Bill Christian; Houston Mayor Pro
Tem Dave Martin represented by Mark Mitchell;
and BAHEP Executive Director for Economic Devel-
opment Dan Seal.
The purpose of the panel discussion was to continue
to develop strategies to provide matching local funds
for the anticipated federal funding to construct the
Coastal Barrier and funds to operate and maintain
the barrier. Options include resilience bonds, and
the panel discussed strategies for pooling the benefi-
ciaries. The Coastal Barrier will protect the Upper
Texas Coast, including East Harris County, from
storm surge flooding such as the county experienced
during Hurricane Ike in 2008.
The group discussed the insurance risk pool structure and
its set-up, the public-private partnership and its set-up, and ad-
dressed the need for enabling state legislation to implement the
public-private partnership.
This activity resulted in Bob Mitchell working with Sen. Larry
Taylor and Rep. Dennis Paul to create SB 1160 and HB 3029 –
acts relating to the creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.
87th Legislature Creates Gulf Coast Protection District
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1160 into law on
June 16, 2021, which allowed for the creation of the Gulf Coast
Protection District (GCPD). This district will be authorized to re-
ceive and issue funds for the Coastal Texas Study. SB 1160 was
introduced by State Sen. Larry Taylor in March 2021 and was co-
authored by State Rep. Dennis Paul.
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell is pictured on April 27, 2021, as he pro-
vides testimony to the Committee on Natural Resources regarding the
creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.
12
BAHEP President
Bob Mitchell
worked with Sen.
Taylor and Rep.
Paul to create SB
1160 and HB 3029.
Mitchell traveled to
the State Capitol
during May 2021 to
give testimony be-
fore the House
Natural Resources
Committee citing
his support for HB
3029.
The bill allows for
the creation of a
special multi-county
district that would
serve as a non-federal
construction cost-share
entity that can sign project partnership agreements (PPA) for
projects listed in the Coastal Texas Study, including needed
coastal improvements to increase resiliency from future hurri-
cane events, erosion and expected population increases in coastal
communities, and for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal
Storm Risk Management project in Orange County. The 87th Leg-
islature allocated $200 million to the GCPD.
On June 22, 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the appointment
of Sally Bakko, Michel Bechtel, Roger Guenther, Bob Mitchell,
Lori J. Traweek, and Michael VanDerSnick to the GCPD Board of
Directors for four-year terms. Additionally, the governor named
Nicole Sunstrum as the temporary executive director.
Mitchell said, “This appointment is quite an honor for me, per-
sonally, but it also serves to recognize BAHEP, its staff, and the
many partnerships we’ve established over the past 13 years in
working to make the coastal barrier system a reality. I believe
that we owe
much of the
credit to Dr. Bill
Merrell of Texas
A&M University.
We stand where
we are today due
to his expertise,
foresight, and
tenacity follow-
ing Hurricane
Ike in 2008. I
also must recog-
nize our elected
officials, Sen.
Larry Taylor and
Rep. Dennis
Paul, who cham-
pioned the legislation
that established the
GCPD. It absolutely
took a monumental,
regional effort to get this accomplished. I am very excited to
move forward with the other members of the board as we work
together to build the coastal barrier system.”
Sunstrum later was retained as the GCPD executive director
while Bechtel was elected president and Mitchell was elected vice
president of the GCPD to serve two-year terms.
USACE, Texas GLO Release Texas Coastal Study Final
Report
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the
Texas General Land Office (GLO) released the long-awaited
Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study Final
Report on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. According to the Final Report’s
Executive Summary, the Coastal Texas Study “was initiated in
2014 to evaluate large-scale coastal storm risk management
(CSRM) and ecosystem restoration (ER) actions aimed at provid-
ing the coastal communities of Texas with multiple lines of de-
fense to reduce impacts from a wide array of coastal hazards.”
There was an overflow crowd in the conference room of the Bay Area Houston
Economic Partnership at the December 2021 meeting of the board of the Gulf
Coast Protection District. GCPD Board President Michel Bechtel is seated at the
head of the conference table with Bob Mitchell, GCPD board vice president, seated
to Bechtel’s left.
13
The Texas coast, according to the report, has 3,300 miles of estu-
arine shoreline and 24 percent of the state’s population, handles
15.8 percent of U.S. port cargo, and supplies 30 percent of the
refining capacity of the country.
Gulf Coast Protection District meets at BAHEP
Bob Mitchell, president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Part-
nership, hosted the GCPD Board of Directors in the BAHEP
board room in August, September, October, and December. The
meetings were open to the public and included Nicole Sunstrum,
now executive director of the District. Texas State Sen. Larry Tay-
lor, Orange County Judge John Gothia, and Dr. Kelly Burks-
Copes, USACE, also attended the August meeting.
Sunstrum gave a presentation on the legislative creation of the
District, which includes Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson,
and Orange counties. She also discussed the purposes of the Dis-
trict to serve as the non-federal sponsor for federally-authorized
projects from the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm
Risk Management Program and projects that receive future fed-
eral authorization from the Coastal Texas Protection and Resto-
ration Feasibility Study located in the five District counties.
Dr. Burks-Copes gave a presentation on the projects evaluated by
the USACE as part of the Coastal Texas Study. Discussion ensued
regarding the process and timeline for pursuing federal authori-
zation and funding for projects in the Coastal Texas Study upon
the execution of the Final Report.
During the October meeting, USACE Col. Timothy R. Vail gave a
presentation and a status update on the Sabine Pass to Galveston
Study projects.
The GCPD was created by the Texas Legislature to operate and
leverage funding to build the unique flood control and surge pro-
tection needs for coastal communities. When completed, this
coastal Texas protection system will be the largest civil works
project in U.S. history. Like the Galveston seawall before it, this
system will protect our state and national economy and millions
of Texans for generations to come.
BAHEP TRANSITIONS THROUGHBAHEP TRANSITIONS THROUGH
CREATION OF NEW STRATEGIC PLANCREATION OF NEW STRATEGIC PLAN
BAHEP Constructs Strategic Plan 2022-2024
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership’s (BAHEP) economic
development model has been tested and refined over the decades
as conditions have changed and the region has matured. The
model’s centerpiece is trust and is founded on three questions
that reflect BAHEP’s values and mission and three questions that
assure successful implementation.
The three vision and mission questions are: In every sense, is this
right for our region? Is this built upon the trust shared with all of
our partners? Will this improve our region’s economic strengths
and quality of life?
The three implementation questions are: Is our process appropri-
ate – flexible, responsible, and viable enough to meet the current
and projected conditions? Is our partnership model appropriate
and broad enough for the given situation? Are the data and sup-
porting evidence as strong as possible to make our case?
From traditional economic development activities – job and
wealth creation – to active development of regional, industry,
and community partnerships necessary to sustain economic vital-
ity, BAHEP remains the region’s go-to organization. That respon-
sibility has been taken seriously. The four key factors for that
long-term success have been a) championing education and
workforce development; b) building trusted alliances across all
levels of government and governmental agencies; c) advocating
for those programs and policies that affect the overall business
easiness environment; and d) fostering a balanced environment
– business-friendly with an exceptional quality of life.
So, too, does the strategic planning process, within the BAHEP
framework, begin with sets of questions: What do we want our
legacy to be for our grandchildren – both for quality of life and
for economic opportunities? How do we define our successes?
14
How will we marshal the people and resources to achieve our vi-
sion? BAHEP’s strengths can be traced to our members’ abilities
to adapt to the times, cooperating across boundaries to create
opportunities, to attract and keep jobs, and to build thriving com-
munities.
Following are a few indicators of how BAHEP constructed the
2022-2024 Strategic Plan:
The Steering Committee was composed of CEOs from
24 organizations, representing the region’s industries,
academia, and professional services.
There was targeted input from over 250 people, in-
cluding elected officials at the local, county, state, and
federal levels.
Trend data were collected from local, state, university,
and federal databases.
The document was reviewed by the entire BAHEP
membership prior to approval.
The plan was based on a four-part framework with
goals and objectives that allowed the board and staff
to develop concrete steps with actions, metrics, and
lines of responsibility.
BAHEP’s Strategic Planning Steering Committee led the develop-
ment of an updated Strategic Plan for 2022 through 2024. In the
past, BAHEP developed five-year plans, but due to the dynamics
of the economy, politics, and social change, it was decided that a
three-year plan would be more appropriate. The planning process
was led by BAHEP member Dr. Glenn Freedman, president of
EduSafe Systems, Inc. The Strategic Planning Steering Commit-
tee and Dr. Freedman developed three surveys for BAHEP’s
Steering Committee to complete:
Mission, Vision, and Values
BAHEP Strategic Plan - Internal Factors
BAHEP Strategic Plan - External Factors
BAHEP’s 2022-2024 Strategic Plan is available for viewing on
the BAHEP website at www.bayareahouston.com.
BAHEP ADDS 28 NEW MEMBERSBAHEP ADDS 28 NEW MEMBERS
INCLUDING TWO MEMBER CITIESINCLUDING TWO MEMBER CITIES
It was an exceptional year for BAHEP in the membership depart-
ment. Twenty-eight new members joined the BAHEP family in-
cluding the Galveston County cities of Hitchcock and Santa Fe.
All of the names of the new members can be viewed in boldface in
the membership listing following the end of the annual report.
The City of Hitchcock, Texas
Bob Mitchell, BAHEP president, said, “We are excited to add the
City of Hitchcock to our growing list of member cities. With its
addition, BAHEP is proud to count 15 cities as members. As a
group through BAHEP’s Council of Mayors, we speak with a unit-
ed, powerful voice when addressing the region’s needs before our
elected officials. BAHEP also serves as an economic development
resource for the City of Hitchcock itself. We look forward to
working with Mayor Chris Armacost and the Hitchcock Econom-
ic Development Corporation to promote the growth of the city
while also maintaining its excellent quality of life.”
Hitchcock, Texas, has a population of approximately 8,000 peo-
ple and is located in Galveston County. Hitchcock was created as
a station of the railroad between Galveston and Houston in 1873.
Situated within an easy drive from Galveston Bay, the city fea-
tures lush parks, expanding businesses, and land that are directly
in path of predictable growth. Led by Executive Director Tyler
Robert, the Hitchcock Economic Development Corporation helps
businesses interested in relocating with site selection, develop-
ment of facility, local and state incentives, and concierge services
with the City of Hitchcock for permitting, inspections, and relat-
ed services.
The City of Santa Fe, Texas
“We have said many times that economic development doesn’t
happen by itself. With the proper tools, you can guide the course
of economic development or let it happen on its own. From many
years of experience, I can certify that determining your own
course is much more desirable and successful. Santa Fe is ideally
15
positioned along the growth corridor be-
tween Houston and Galveston. We at
BAHEP are certainly looking forward to
assisting the City of Santa Fe as it works
to develop new businesses and aid in the
expansion and retention of existing busi-
nesses,” said BAHEP President Bob
Mitchell.
The City of Santa Fe, BAHEP’s 16th mem-
ber city, operates under the council-
manager form of government. The city
council, consisting of Mayor Jason Tabor
and five council members elected at large
by the people, is the governing body of
the city. Position 4 Councilmember Fi-
dencio Leija, Jr., along with Mayor Tabor,
will represent the City of Santa Fe within
BAHEP.
Leija commented, “Santa Fe joins every
other community in this nation by wanting
the best for its citizens – by creating the ideal place to live, work,
and raise a family. The mayor and council are dedicated to that
mission, and we have a very engaged Economic Development
Corporation with a strongly-committed board that shares the
same passion for the future of Santa Fe. I have attended several
economic presentations given by members of the BAHEP staff. I
know that we will make a great team in working towards the fur-
ther growth of Santa Fe, my hometown.”
Cutsinger Guest of I-45 Now Podcast
How do prospective members learn about BAHEP’s many ser-
vices? Perhaps they listen to podcasts or radio shows! Marketing
Manager Barbara Cutsinger was a guest on the Draught 45 pod-
cast on Nov. 1, 2021, hosted by Doug Meisinger of Vinyl Draught
and TJ Aulds of I-45 Now. Cutsinger discussed commercial, in-
dustrial, and residential activities in Bay Area Houston, and
BAHEP’s economic development initiatives, such as the recruit-
ment of projects for the Houston Spaceport.
Cutsinger and Seal Guests
of Stewart Title ‘Real Estate
Matters’ Podcast / Radio Show
BAHEP Executive Director for Eco-
nomic Development Dan Seal and
Marketing Manager Barbara
Cutsinger were guest speakers on
Stewart Title ‘Real Estate Matters’
Podcast / Radio Show on Nov. 15,
2021. Seal and Cutsinger discussed
economic development activities in
Bay Area Houston, including the vari-
ous target industries and new pro-
jects at the Spaceport. Real Estate
Matters is aired on Sundays at 5:00
PM on 950 AM KPRC Houston.
BAHEP’s General Membership
Meetings Address Important
Regional Activities
One of the numerous benefits of
BAHEP membership is attending its General Membership Meet-
ings whether in-person or virtually. Throughout the year, region-
al leaders are invited to share their perspective on their industry
— their area of expertise.
January 2021 — Healthcare Leaders Offer Update
The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) held its
first virtual General Membership Meeting of the year on Jan. 13,
2021, which featured several of the region’s healthcare leaders.
During the meeting, the healthcare panelists provided a general
update that included the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals and
healthcare systems, the latest information on vaccines and test-
ing.
Leading off the discussion was Todd Caliva, CEO, HCA Houston
Healthcare Clear Lake, who was joined by Noel Cardenas, Senior
Vice President & CEO, Memorial Hermann Southeast & Pearland
Hospitals; Dr. Richard Ehlers, Executive Medical Director, Divi-
sion of Houston Area Locations, The University of Texas MD An-
BAHEP Executive Director for Economic
Development Dan Seal and Marketing
Manager Barbara Cutsinger were guest
speakers on Stewart Title ‘Real Estate Mat-
ters’ Podcast / Radio Show on Nov. 15,
2021.
16
derson Cancer Center; Steven Foster,
FACHE, South Houston Market president for
St. Luke’s Health System; Stephen K. Jones,
Jr., VP Health System Strategy & CEO Clear
Lake Campus, UTMB Health; and Dan New-
man, CEO, Houston Methodist Clear Lake
Hospital.
February 2021 — Jankowski Provides
Economic Outlook
“This has been a monumental health crisis
and collapse of the economy. It has really
upended the way we think about a lot of
things,” said Patrick Jankowski, senior vice
president, Research, Greater Houston Part-
nership, as he opened his virtual presentation
on the Houston Economic Outlook to mem-
bers of the Bay Area Houston Economic Part-
nership on Feb. 25, 2021.
He said, “What we don’t understand is how
many of our behaviors, changed to adapt to
the pandemic, will be permanent. It will take
two years, if not more, from that start of the
pandemic to recover all of the jobs that have been lost. The GDP
will recover before that, but the jobs will take longer. Unemploy-
ment claims have dropped substantially, but they are still two to
three times higher than they should be.”
There are major economic drivers that will help support job
growth. These include:
• Fiscal stimulus package
• Record low interest rates
• Successful vaccine rollout
• Pent-up demand
April 2021 — ISD Superintendents Speak of Challenges
Slightly more than one year ago, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all
Texas schools to close for the remainder of the school year due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to receive state funding, school
districts were required to provide some
form of remote instruction through the
remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
With an undertaking so massive in terms
of logistics, the challenges were enor-
mous. BAHEP hosted a virtual General
Membership Meeting in April with five of
the region’s school superintendents to
learn about those challenges and the path
forward for the districts’ nearly 120,000
students.
Participating in the discussion were
school superintendents Dr. Eric Wil-
liams, Clear Creek ISD; Carla Voelkel,
Dickinson ISD; Thad Roher, Friendswood
ISD; Dr. Walter Jackson, La Porte ISD;
and Dr. DeeAnn Powell, Pasadena ISD.
They spoke of an increase in face-to-face
learning, mental health concerns, in-
creases in failure rates, budget issues, and
the need to nurture teachers. Voelkel em-
phasized, “One of benefits that has come
out of COVID is that there is a new appreciation for teachers.
Parents are very appreciative of the hard work that goes into
meeting the needs of their children each day.”
June 2, 2021 — Diaz Presents on Houston Airports
& Houston Spaceport
In a much-anticipated, in-person General Membership Meeting,
BAHEP hosted Mario C. Diaz, director of Aviation, Houston Air-
port System (HAS), on June 2, 2021, who spoke about The Hou-
ston Airport System and the Houston Spaceport – the Future
Ahead. After an extremely challenging year for the aviation in-
dustry, that future is full of promise. Diaz delivered great news in
that the projected passenger traffic for June and July indicates
that HAS will be at 110 percent of the passenger traffic of 2019.
He believes that this is attributable to leisure travel, since busi-
ness traffic has not recovered. That, he said, will change as the
Patrick Jankowski, senior vice presi-
dent, Research, Greater Houston
Partnership (left), and Bob Mitchell,
president, Bay Area Houston Eco-
nomic Partnership, are shown follow-
ing Jankowski’s economic presenta-
tion on March 2, 2020. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s
Houston Economic Outlook was pre-
sented virtually by Jankowski to
members of BAHEP. (Photo courtesy
of Mary Alys Cherry)
economy picks up and the need for
business travel returns. Diaz said
that a recovery to pre-COVID levels
will not happen until 2023 and
probably more like 2024.
Diaz reported that Phase 1 infra-
structure of the Houston Spaceport
has been completed – a $21 million
investment with $1 million Eco-
nomic Development Administration
grant – which included roads, ca-
bling, and utilities serving 153
Acres. He said that this was a
strong selling point for companies
considering building at the space-
port. The aviation industry is recov-
ering from the COVID-19 pandemic
which has affected every nu-
ance of society. The Houston
Spaceport has become another gem in the crown of the
Houston Airport System and continues to expand. The
future is bright for the aviation/aerospace industry in
Houston, the home of human spaceflight.
June 30, 2021 — Legislative Update Given
The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership held its leg-
islative update on June 30, 2021, featuring a panel discus-
sion moderated by Dr. Brenda Hellyer, chancellor, San
Jacinto College District, with Sen. Carol Alvarado and
Reps. Mary Ann Perez, Greg Bonnen, M.D., Dennis Paul,
and Briscoe Cain.
Sen. Alvarado sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 900 related to
the safety of above-ground storage tanks. Rep. Perez
sponsored House Bill (HB) 413 requiring nursing facilities
to prepare a written notice disclosing whether the facility is
certified or not to provide specialized care and treatment for
residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Rep. Bonnen said that it was a huge accomplishment to be
17
able to fully fund HB 3 this session. He then outlined the details
of legislation that provides a permanent solution to the state pen-
sion system’s $14.7 billion liability. Rep. Paul sponsored HB
3029, working with Sen. Larry Taylor who sponsored SB 1160, to
create the Gulf Coast Protection District. Rep. Bonnen comment-
ed that this was incredibly important for everyone in the commu-
nity. Rep. Paul also spoke of SB 2 that revamped how the ERCOT
board is set-up and addressed SB 3 relating to weather emergen-
cies and power outages. Rep. Cain mentioned the COVID liability
protections for businesses (SB 6). He also spoke of HB 2087 re-
lating to mandatory arbitration for certain municipal fire depart-
ments and employee bargaining agents. BAHEP President Bob
Mitchell closed the meeting by saying, “I know I’ve said it 1,000
times, but we couldn’t do what we do without you.”
August 2021 — JSC Director Speaks of Commercial
Opportunities
The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership hosted NASA
Shown l to r are: Charlie Stegemoeller, BAHEP board chair; Rep.
Briscoe Cain; Rep. Dennis Paul; Rep. Greg Bonnen, M.D.; Rep. Mary
Ann Perez; Dr. Brenda Hellyer, chancellor, San Jacinto College Dis-
trict; Marcy Fryday, chair of BAHEP’s Political Protocol Committee
that hosted the meeting; and BAHEP President Bob Mitchell. Sen.
Carol Alvarado had to leave immediately following the discussion and
is therefore not pictured.
Membership Direc-
tor Harriet Pilgrim
organizes BAHEP’s
General Member-
ship Meetings.
Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa E. Wyche during a
luncheon held Aug. 18, 2021, at the Hilton Houston NASA Clear
Lake. With the growth of commercial space companies and pro-
grams, community partnerships will be vital for the future of hu-
man space exploration. “We are part of an ecosystem is how I see
it, and working together is how we will be able to bring more
commercial opportunities to this area. I’m looking forward to us
working and identifying ways that we can help as NASA to bring
more companies to the area,” Wyche said. “We can help you with
our critical expertise, and that gives us a mutual benefit of shar-
ing our workforce,” she said. “Great
things are happening at the spaceport,
and we will continue to work together.”
November 2021 — Going to the
Moon & Beyond
The exploration of the Moon and Mars is
about to become a reality. BAHEP hosted
three NASA Johnson Space Center leaders
who are integral to this long-envisioned
goal in early November.
The panelists were Dan Hartman, pro-
gram manager, Gateway Program; Joel
Montalbano, program manager, Interna-
tional Space Station; and Paul F. Mar-
shall, assistant program manager, Orion
Program.
Hartman led the presentations by speak-
ing about the Gateway Program. “Gateway
is a small space station that will operate
around the Moon,” he said. It will be hu-
manity’s first outpost in a sustained lunar
orbit. Marshall spoke next. He said that the
main point that he wanted to get across was,
“We are about to fly.” NASA’s Orion space-
craft will serve as the exploration vehicle that
will carry crews to space, provide emergency
abort capability, sustain crews during the
space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return
velocities. The final speaker of the day was ISS’s Montalbano.
Montalbano said that NASA has just celebrated 21 years of con-
tinuous human presence onboard the International Space Sta-
tion. The ISS is a blueprint for global cooperation with 108 coun-
tries and areas that have participated in research and education
activities. Since 1998, over 2,700 scientific investigations have
been conducted onboard.
BAHEP CELEBRATES BAHEP CELEBRATES
MULTIPLE MULTIPLE
2021 PROJECT WINS2021 PROJECT WINS
Project Anchor
(Collins Aerospace)
In May 2021, Collins Aerospace, a di-
vision of Raytheon Technologies, and
the Houston Airport System an-
nounced plans for a new, eight-acre,
120,000 square-foot campus at the
Houston Spaceport that will support
spaceflight, host Houston’s first space-
flight incubator, and bring 150 new
jobs to the region.
“For 45 years now, the Bay Area Hou-
ston Economic Partnership has
worked very closely with the aero-
space community in Houston to help
this very important industry cluster
continue to be successful,”
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell said. Mitchell
assisted Collins Aerospace by providing real
estate options and available economic devel-
opment incentives.
“When BAHEP first started working with the
Collins team on this project, we called it Pro-
18
Intuitive Machines broke ground on
its new lunar production and opera-
tions center at the Houston Space-
port at Ellington Airport on Dec. 2,
2021. BAHEP President Bob Mitch-
ell, San Jacinto College District
Chancellor Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D.,
and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
(l to r) are shown at the groundbreak-
ing.
ject Anchor, because we knew that this development would have
the significance and capability to become the ‘anchor tenant’ of
the Houston Spaceport. The work that Collins Aerospace is bring-
ing to Houston will provide valuable aerospace career opportuni-
ties for Houstonians, especially to our talented young aerospace
workers now being trained at
the Houston EDGE Center, in
our universities, and in our
local school districts.”
Project IM
(Intuitive Machines)
The City of Houston and the
Houston Airport System have
announced that Intuitive Ma-
chines, a current tenant at
the Houston Spaceport, will
expand its operations there
by building a 125,000-square
-foot facility. The facility will
be used for assembly and test
operations to further develop
its lunar lander, scheduled
for early 2022. This expan-
sion will bring the number of
employees to 250.
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell
said during a press conference on
June 16, 2021, “In just a few
short months, Intuitive Ma-
chines’ new Lunar Operations
Center will be rising out of the ground here at the Houston
Spaceport. This new facility will once again be showcasing
Houston’s deep ties to the aerospace industry and to lunar flight
operations. Every conceivable state-of-the art measure is being
designed into this building. Innovations like the latest in additive
manufacturing, advancements in lightweight and incredibly
strong structural materials, and new composite technologies are
just a few of the things that are in the works.” BAHEP assisted
19
Intuitive Machines with information on available economic de-
velopment incentives and facility construction options. Mitchell
was keynote speaker at the Intuitive Machines groundbreaking
ceremony at the Houston Spaceport later in June.
Project Surfboard
(Venus Aerospace)
Venus Aerospace an-
nounced plans to locate its
hypersonic spaceplane
manufacturing at the Hou-
ston Spaceport on March
10, 2021. This project will
create 40 jobs in its initial
stages. The spaceplane will
travel 12 times faster than
the speed of sound at an
altitude of 150,000 feet,
which is high enough to see
the blackness of space. The
founders envision a future
where high-speed travel
connects Houston to other
international cities. BAHEP
assisted Venus Aerospace
by providing interim real
estate options and available
economic development in-
centives.
Project Axle
(Axiom Space)
On Dec. 22, 2020, Axiom Space announced plans to build a 14-
acre headquarters campus at the Houston Spaceport. Axiom
Space’s campus will train private astronauts and begin produc-
tion of its Axiom Station — the world’s first free-flying, interna-
tionally available private space station that will serve as a hub for
research manufacturing and commerce in low Earth orbit, ac-
cording to the Houston Airport System. The partnership between
Axiom Space and the Houston Spaceport is expected to bring
BAHEP President Bob Mitchell is shown at the Axiom Space
announcement ceremony held Dec. 22, 2020, at Houston’s
City Hall. Pictured behind Mitchell is Axiom Space co-founder
and President/CEO Michael Suffredini. Houston Mayor Syl-
vester Turner (far left), Houston Airports Aviation Director Mar-
io Diaz (behind Mayor Turner), and Greater Houston Partner-
ship President and CEO Bob Harvey (not shown) provided
comments as well. (Photo courtesy of the City of Houston)
more than 1,000 high-paying
jobs. BAHEP’s role in this major
project was providing Axiom
with real estate options for its
location and available economic
development incentives. BAHEP
President Bob Mitchell assisted
the Houston Airport System and
Axiom Space in the development
of a Memorandum of Under-
standing which led to land lease
negotiations that culminated in
the lease for Axiom’s headquar-
ters campus.
Project Orbit (OrbitBEYOND)
BAHEP assisted OrbitBEYOND in
finding initial office space in Hou-
ston to begin operations. The com-
pany aims to provide reliable, re-
peatable and affordable payload delivery services to the Moon
and cis-lunar space. OrbitBEYOND’s website states, “The com-
mercial cis-lunar market is projected to grow exponentially over
the next 10years. We believe a cost reduction in accessing the cis-
lunar space will spur investment into in-space infrastructure,
leading to the creation of new markets for discovering & utilizing
resources in space.”
Project JJ Cool (i3 Cold Storage)
BAHEP worked with a developer to build a 145,000+ SF refriger-
ated warehouse for i3 Cold Storage on 11 acres in the City of Pasa-
dena. This is the first phase of a two-phase project. The 12-acre,
Class A cold storage business park will feature two cold/frozen
storage buildings totaling 148,900 SF. With insulated metal pan-
el skin, 36 foot clear heights, and insulated floors throughout to
accommodate freezer temperatures, the buildings can be custom-
ized to fit a variety of cold storage needs from bulk distribution to
food processing. i3 is a Houston-based commercial real estate
firm.
SPECIAL INITIATIVES SPECIAL INITIATIVES
OFFER SOLUTIONSOFFER SOLUTIONS
Space Alliance Technology Outreach
Program (SATOP)
Technical challenges are real for many small business owners in
the great State of Texas. Many businesses hit the wall with com-
pleting the development of their products, and, in some cases,
close up shop entirely.
However, through community
outreach and word-of-mouth,
the highly successful Space Alli-
ance Technology Outreach Pro-
gram (SATOP), administered
by the Bay Area Houston Eco-
nomic Partnership, is able to
reach small businesses in need.
Over the past year, SATOP
worked with 23 small business
owners and entrepreneurs to
provide technical assistance or
critical resource referrals.
State Rep. Greg Bonnen
Facilitates SATOP Funding
Through the assistance of Rep.
Greg Bonnen, MD, Dist. 24, the
87th Texas Legislature passed
legislation that increased the SATOP budget for the 2022 – 2023
biennium. The funding increase allows SATOP to provide tech-
nical assistance to small businesses through the Texas A&M Uni-
20
BAHEP’s Bob Payne
is Director of Con-
tracts and manages
the SATOP program
as well.
Specialty Chemical
Marketing Manager
C.A. Shields is part of
the successful BAHEP
marketing team that
works on numerous
projects throughout
the year.
versity Capstone Design Program, whereby student teams led by
a professor of practice provide technical solutions and design as-
sistance to small businesses, especially startups. This partner-
ship, TEES and SATOP, benefits the state of Texas.
The partnership enhances SATOP’s capabilities, allowing for con-
tinued growth of the program, and furthers TEES’ statewide mis-
sion to serve the citizens of Texas through engineering and tech-
nology-oriented research and educational collaborations. The
partnership allows TEES to collaborate with SATOP as an Alli-
ance Partner, providing technical assistance to small business
owners seeking help.
The partnership also forges a strategic relationship between
SATOP and TEES’ Office of Industry & Nonprofit Partnerships to
catalyze the translation of discoveries and inventions arising
from the university’s major research portfolio toward products
and services that benefit society while creating sustainable busi-
ness or commercial value. Texas A&M Engineering has more
than 700 industrial research sponsors and more than 1,600 stu-
dents currently supported in research activities to bring to this
partnership.
The consortium of Alliance Partners is the driving force behind
the success of SATOP. Alliance Partners include NASA Johnson
Space Center, aerospace firms, and colleges/universities.
SATOP’s Alliance Partners contribute the skills and expertise
needed to successfully solve Requests for Technical Assistance
from entrepreneurs, inventors, and small business owners. Tech-
nical solutions allow these small businesses to complete the de-
velopment of new, innovative products, thereby creating new
jobs, capital investment, and facility expansion.
Bay Area Houston Advanced Technology
Consortium (BayTech)
BayTech was awarded its eighth
Wagner-Peyser grant through the
Texas Governor’s Office in July
2021. The purpose of the grant is
to train 50 unemployed candi-
dates as an aerospace composite
technician or an aerospace elec-
trical technician and identify
internship and/or employment
opportunities post training.
This training will be delivered
by the San Jacinto College
EDGE Center for advanced
manufacturing training located
at the Houston Spaceport. Each
training curriculum is delivered
in a hybrid format with online
modules (self-paced) and in-person
labs. The training is structured so
that it can be completed in six-eight
weeks. At the conclusion of the training, students will take a cer-
tification test administered through SpaceTEC/CertTEC. If suc-
cessful, they will be awarded this nationally-recognized certifica-
tion. BayTech will work with industry partners to identify poten-
tial internship opportunities for these students during and after
their training and, once they have successfully completed the
training, facilitate the students’ placement into industry. This will
help to create a pipeline of needed technician talent.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
This is the end of BAHEP’s story for 2021, but the journey is far
from over. Paving the way forward for the people and industries
of Bay Area Houston requires perseverance, patience, and part-
nerships. We at BAHEP are very fortunate, since we have all of
these in abundance.
BAHEP’s 2021 Annual Report provides just a glance at our work
over the past year. To use a familiar expression, a lot of midnight
oil was burned on weekdays and weekends, but that is the nature
of economic development. BAHEP doesn’t punch a clock. It just
meets challenges and overcomes obstacles for the fami-
lies, for the future of Bay Area Houston.
21
BAHEP’s Kim Morris is
Director of BayTech and
is also the organization’s
Aerospace Marketing
Manager.
22
2022 Executive Committee
Todd Caliva serves as chief executive officer of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake. He has nearly 30 years of expe-
rience, including a decade at the multi-facility level. He has been with HCA in Houston since 1997. In prior roles, Cali-
va served as chief executive officer of HCA-affiliated West Houston Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medi-
cal Center and chief operating officer of HCA-affiliated The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. His robust community in-
volvement included co-chairing the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) Cardiac Care Committee for
nearly 10 years, an organization that is committed to improve the overall care for heart attack patients across the
region. He currently serves as the president/chairman of the Educational Foundation of the Southeast Texas Chapter
of the American College of Healthcare Executives as well as having served as Regent of the South Texas region from
2018-2020. Caliva also served as chairman of the board of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership in 2019 and
currently is a member of the BAHEP Executive Committee and board. Caliva earned both his undergraduate degree
and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Houston. He is the proud parent of two
daughters, Sophie and Cara, and grandfather to granddaughter Remi.
Fernando De La Peña LLaca, Aexa Aerospace, LLC President and CEO, has 27 years of successful leadership in tech-
nology and engineering companies. A U.S. citizen, his lifelong passion for space exploration, combined with Aexa’s
leading-edge expertise, plays a key role in his support for NASA. As an undergraduate engineering student, Fernan-
do completed and patented a spacecraft engine propelled by anti-matter and received other patents as well. In ad-
dition, he received a Discovery Channel Prize in 2010 for his work developing the Mexican Space Agency. He is the
former President of the National Contract Management Association, NCMA Space City Houston chapter at NASA
JSC. He was elected this year as Chairman of the Johnson Space Center Small Business Council. He serves on the Bay
Area Houston Economic Partnership Board of Directors and is the former chair of the Communications Committee of
the Johnson Space Center National Management Association. He is the Chief of the Infragard Defense Industrial
Base SIG. The Defense Industrial Base Sector is the worldwide industrial complex that enables research and develop-
ment and design, production, delivery, and maintenance of military weapons systems, subsystems, and components
or parts to meet U.S. military requirements. Furthermore, Aexa performed with NASA the first off-planet holoporta-
tion to the International Space Station under his leadership.
Mark M. Gittleman, P.E., is president and CEO of Aegis Aerospace, Inc. Aegis Aerospace (pronounced ējis) is a na-
tion-wide, woman-owned, commercial space and lunar exploration company and an experienced, well-respected
DoD and NASA contractor. Aegis Aerospace was formed in 2021 through the merger of MEI Technologies (MEIT)
and Alpha Space Test & Research Alliance. He was the Alpha Space president & CEO before leading the merger with
MEIT. Before joining Alpha Space, he was Executive Vice President for Intuitive Machines (IM), and prior to IM he
was a long time executive with Oceaneering International, Inc. He started with Oceaneering as a hard hat construc-
tion diver in the Gulf of Mexico, then helped found Oceaneering Space Systems and led it for many years, then led
its world-wide subsea controls business. Gittleman serves on several advisory boards, including the Subsea Valley
Technology Cluster in Oslo, Norway; the University of Houston-Clear Lake College of Science and Engineering; and
BAHEP. Gittleman holds a BS in Ocean Engineering, a BA in Political Science, and is a registered professional engi-
neer in the State of Texas.
2022 Executive Committee
23
Gwen Griffin is a veteran of the strategic communications industry and founder and Chief Executive Officer of Griffin
Communications Group. Since 1997, she has led the Griffin team in developing and executing strategic communica-
tions campaigns and programs for both consumer and trade audiences. As CEO, Gwen’s focus is on strategic plan-
ning and business development for the agency and providing senior counsel to Griffin team members and clients. A
powerhouse with an undeniable reputation in the industry, major global brands and industry leaders have trusted
their communications to Gwen and her team – including NASA, AIAA, Blue Origin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman,
Aerojet Rocketdyne, NASA-Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Aldrin Family Foundation, Astronaut Scholarship
Foundation, the Association of Space Explorers, Million Air, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, LEGO, and
Sprint. Earlier in her career, Gwen held positions such as Director of Marketing for NASA-Kennedy Space Center Visi-
tor Complex; Public Relations/Promotions Manager for Space Center Houston, NASA’s visitor center at the Johnson
Space Center; and Area Marketing Manager for Southwest Airlines. She also worked for several other communica-
tions agencies including Edelman Worldwide. Gwen volunteers her time to support workforce development and
STEM education. She actively supports Blue Origin’s non-profit foundation, Club for the Future, serves on the Execu-
tive Board of Space Center Houston, the Board of Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Chairs of the
Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida, and is Director Emeritus of the
Conrad Foundation.
W. Michael Hawes, D.Sc., is the vice president Human Space Exploration and Orion Program manager for Lockheed
Martin Space Systems Company. Dr. Hawes joined Lockheed Martin in July 2011 after concluding a 33-year career
with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and was selected to head up Lockheed Martin’s
Orion Program Office in 2014. Prior to joining the Orion Program, he served as the director for Human Space Flight
Programs with Lockheed Martin’s Washington Operations organization. In this role he was responsible for repre-
senting the Human Space Flight/Space Systems Company organization with the Administration and Congress. Dr.
Hawes received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1978
and Masters and Doctor of Science of Engineering Management degrees from the George Washington University in
1996 and 2006 respectively. He is also a graduate in Program Management from the Defense Systems Management
College, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D., is the fifth chancellor of San Jacinto College (SJC), the eighth largest community college in the
state of Texas and a national Top-Five College. She began her career at SJC as an inaugural director of the SJC Foun-
dation. In 2000, she was appointed executive vice president for Resource Development and in 2003 vice chancellor
for Fiscal Affairs. She served as chief financial officer for five years before serving as executive vice chancellor before
assuming her role as chancellor in 2009. Prior to joining SJC, Dr. Hellyer worked in the corporate world in ac-
counting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fort Hays State University, an MBA and an Ed.D. in Com-
munity College Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.
Kenny Koncaba is the CEO of Texan Bank, and co-founder, director, and CEO of Friendswood Capital Corporation.
Koncaba’s previous experience includes being the co-founder, chairman, CEO, and president of Family Bancorp, Inc.,
and its subsidiary bank, now known as Vantage Bank Texas. In addition, he served as a director, president and chief
operating officer at First Community Bank, Houston, a National Bank which was sold to Wells Fargo Bank in 2005.
Prior to his banking career, Koncaba was employed for more than twenty years with the Texas-New Mexico Power
Company, where he served in numerous management roles. Other business positions include being the founder/
CEO of Friendswood Energy Generation Company in 2011, a company which was sold to Quantum Energy in 2015.
Koncaba was also a partner with HC Industrial Partners, a firm he co-founded in 2015 that was sold to Proenergy
Service in 2019. He also serves on the Texas State Securities Board. Koncaba is a graduate of the University of Hou-
ston—Clear Lake, where he was recently honored as a Distinguished Alumni.
Timothy C. Kropp is the executive vice president of MRI Technologies. He guides MRI in strategic development and
implementation. Kropp came to Houston in 1984 to support the Space Shuttle program and held program responsi-
bilities in the energy industry during his early career. He has served on the Clear Creek Education Foundation,
League City Parks board, and undertaken special assignments for League City and Galveston County. He is currently
serving on the Tax Reinvestment 3 board for League City, RNASA Foundation board, and several privately held com-
panies board of directors. He has been involved with BAHEP since 1996. Community involvement includes several
local assisted living establishments, charities and local schools. Kropp graduated from Florida State University.
John Mulholland is vice president and program manager, International Space Station (ISS), The Boeing Company.
Prior to his present position, Mulholland was the vice president and program manager of Boeing's Commercial Crew
Program, leading the development of the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner system, and the vice presi-
dent and program manager for the Boeing Space Shuttle Program. From 1996 to 2002, he was the space shuttle
deputy manager of operations and project engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Mulholland is a graduate of
New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in mechani-
cal engineering.
2022 Executive Committee
24
Denise S. Navarro is founder, president, and CEO of Logical Innovations, Inc. The company specializes in financial
and acquisition services, event/exhibits management, strategic communications/outreach, training/education, ad-
ministrative services, and logistical support. Logical Innovations is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with operations
in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and
Washington, D.C. Logical Innovations’ federal clients include numerous NASA centers and facilities as well as many
federal departments and agencies. Logical Innovations was named FY2019 Small Business Prime Contractor of the
Year for NASA (Agency level), and has been the Center Level Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year for JSC
(2021, 2015) and AFRC (2021, 2019, 2017, 2016). Denise was honored as a 2021 Top 30 Influential Woman of Hou-
ston, honored as a leadHER in STEM by the SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation in 2021, Distinguished Alumna in 2017 by
University of Houston–Clear Lake, Entrepreneurial Lifetime Achievement Award by the Houston Technology Center
in 2017, named Small Business Person of the Year in 2016 by the U.S. Small Business Administration-Houston Dis-
trict, and Distinguished Alumna in 2016 by College of the Mainland.
Victor Pierson is chairman, president, and CEO of Moody Bank, vice chairman of Texas Independent Bancshares-
Dallas, a former mayor of Jamaica Beach, Texas, a past chairman of the Texas Bankers Association, and a director of
the Independent Bankers Association of Texas. He serves on the board of directors of Moody Bank, Moody Bank
Holding Company, Moody Bancshares, Inc., and Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation. Pierson is a past chairman of the United
Way of Galveston, a past chairman of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, a past chairman of the Galveston Eco-
nomic Development Partnership, and chairman of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation at
Southern Methodist University. He is also chairman of the University of Texas Medical Branch President’s Cabinet
and a member of the Texas A&M University at Galveston Board of Visitors. Pierson previously taught accounting at
Galveston College for over 16 years.
S. John Wilkins, III, has been a member of the BAHEP / CLAEDF team since 1991 representing Loral and Lockheed
Martin. He is a former vice president of both companies. Wilkins retired from Lockheed Martin and is presently the
CEO of CLC Properties. He is a cum laude graduate of Ohio University with a B.S. in math/computer science and an
MBA. Wilkin's wife, Shari, is an attorney and a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. They have been
married for 30 years and have two grown children. Wilkins has served on numerous boards in the community and
attends Clear Creek Community Church.
2022 Executive Committee
25
Jennifer Bowers is a partner with the law firm of Bowers & Sadler, LLP. The firm specializes in a variety of legal services
aimed at assisting closely-held businesses and their owners with their tax planning, business organization matters, estate
planning, and probate matters. Bowers is board certified in tax law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Gale E. Burkett is the founder and CEO of GB Tech, Inc., which provides science and engineering professionals to govern-
ment and industry. GB Tech serves clients in the aerospace, energy, homeland security, healthcare, and education sectors.
In his role as chief executive officer, Burkett oversees new market development, acquisitions, long-term strategic direction,
and the overall vision of the company. Under his leadership, GB Tech has earned numerous awards and recognition.
Burkett devotes a large portion of his time and energy to civic and community affairs. He currently serves on the board of
directors of several organizations including privately held and non-profit organizations.
Dick Gregg, Jr., is president of Gregg & Gregg, P.C., a law firm which represents and advises clients in the areas of munici-
pal, governmental, corporate, employment, real estate, and business litigation law. The firm acts as legal advisor or city
attorney for multiple local governments. The firm’s attorneys also represent numerous homeowner associations, condo-
minium associations, and town home associations. Gregg received a bachelor’s degree in government from the University
of Texas at Austin where he also earned his law degree. Gregg’s areas of practice include public law, contracts, real estate
law, business organizations, condominiums and cooperatives.
Fred B. Griffin is founder and chairman of Griffin Partners, Inc., and its related affiliates. Griffin joined Exxon Company USA
in 1969. It was there that he began his real estate career with Friendswood Development Company, a subsidiary of Exxon
Corporation. As an integral part of Friendswood’s growth, he played a key role in the purchase, planning, and development
of Kingwood, Woodlake, Greenspoint, Copperfield, Clear Lake City, and other substantial projects throughout the greater
Houston area. In 1980, Griffin, with Conley Juban, formed Griffin/Juban Companies, the predecessor to Griffin Partners. The
Griffin/Juban Companies – and subsequently Griffin Partners – have built or acquired projects encompassing approximately
11.2 million square feet space with an aggregate value of $1.5 billion. In addition to serving as chairman of Griffin Partners,
Griffin’s other appointments include: Board of Directors, BAHEP; Board of Directors, Houston Grand Opera; and Board of
Directors, Sweet Briar College. He is also the recipient of the 2013 Quasar Award for Exceptional Leadership in Economic
Development presented by BAHEP, and the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal at Lyndon B.
Johnson Space Center.
Marc Havican is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker and the founder and Chief Storytelling Officer of Space City Films, a
nationally-recognized digital film, media, and live event production company. He has been a member of the BAHEP organi-
zation since 1995 and has produced the annual BAHEP Quasar Award Banquet for 19 years. Havican earned a BA in Com-
munication from the University of Houston and began his career in the NFL as a video assistant on Coach Jerry Glanville’s
Houston Oilers staff. He spent six years as a producer/director at NASA Johnson Space Center before leaving to build Space
City Films into an industry leader in aerospace film and live event production. In 2002, the Houston Texans hired Havican to
lead their NFL Instant Replay team. He has worked dozens of NFL playoff games and a Super Bowl.
26
Ex Officio Members of the 2022 Executive Committee
27
Ex Officio Members of the 2022 Executive Committee
Joy Kelly, Ph.D., is vice president and general manager of Jacobs. She previously served as the deputy general manager and
as ESC chief engineer and the director of the Science, Engineering, and Analytical Services Department. Prior to joining the
ESC Group, Kelly was the director of Systems Engineering and Analysis for Time Domain/Alereon Corporation. Her career
with Jacobs began in 1992 when she became a technical fellow on the Jacobs Technical and Engineering Acquisition Sup-
port contract at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University
and an M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado.
Bernard A. Milstein, M.D., is a nationally recognized ophthalmologist, specializing in laser vision correction, cataract sur-
gery and diseases of the eye. Dr. Milstein has performed approximately 15,000 LASIK procedures and has been included
yearly in “Best Doctors in America” since 1996. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a past presi-
dent of the Texas Ophthalmological Association. Dr. Milstein is also a community leader and has served as chairman of the
boards of BAHEP, the Galveston Wharves, and the Galveston County Health District, as well as on many other boards, com-
mittees and associations.
Charlie Stegemoeller is a senior director with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). He serves SAIC across
the NASA account including business development, strategic alignment, and program performance. Stegemoeller began his
career as a civil servant at NASA in 1985 and supported Space Shuttle, Space Station, human exploration research and tech-
nology, and served as deputy program manager for the Constellation Program. He serves as the vice president for Technical
to the American Astronautical Society Board of Directors. He graduated from Texas A&M University and serves on the Advi-
sory Council for the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department in the College of Engineering.
Vanessa E. Wyche is the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, home to America’s astronaut corps, Mission Control
Center, International Space Station, Orion and Gateway programs, and its more than 10,000 civil service and contractor
employees. She is responsible for overseeing a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including development and op-
eration of human spacecraft, commercialization of low-Earth orbit and Johnson’s role in landing the first woman and first
person of color on the surface of the Moon. Wyche was most recently deputy director at JSC, a position she held since
2018. Before joining NASA in 1989, Wyche worked for the Food and Drug Administration in Washington D.C
28
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership owes
much of its success to the active participation
of its members.
New members in 2021 listed in boldface.
Acadian Ambulance Service
ACU of Texas
Advantage BMW Mini of Clear Lake
AECOM
Aegis Aerospace Inc.
The Aerospace Corporation
AeroSys, LLC
AEXA Aerospace, LLC
Airbus DS Space Systems, Inc.
All Points Logistics, LLC
Allegiance Bank Texas
Alvin Community College
Amazon Web Services
American Acryl
American Heart Association
AMOCO Federal Credit Union
Anadarko Industries, LLC
Archer Group
ARES Aerospace and Technology Services
ASRC Federal
AssuredPartners, Inc.
Aulds Media Holdings LLC / i45 NOW
AVERA Companies
Axiom Space, Inc.
Ayrshire Corporation
Bay Area Coastal Protection Alliance
Bay Area Commercial Real Estate Network
(BACREN)
Bay Area Council on Drugs & Alcohol
Bancorp South Bank
Barlow Jones, L.L.P.
Barrios Technology
Bastion Technologies, Inc.
Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre
Bay Area Houston Magazine
Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership
(BAYTRAN)
Bay Area Turning Point, Inc.
Bay Oaks Country Club
Baybrook Mall - Brookfield Properties
Bay Area Houston Advanced Technology
Consortium (BayTech)
Beacon Federal Credit Union
BMWC Constructors
The Boeing Company
Booz Allen Hamilton
Bowers & Sadler, LLP
Brewer Construction Services
The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.
Brooksource
Burns & McDonnell
Capital Bank - Pasadena
Clear Creek Independent School District
CDS Community Development Strategies
CenterPoint Energy
Chemical Educational Foundation
Chemical Process and Production, Inc.
CHI St. Luke’s Health Patients Medical Center
Cimarron
City of Clear Lake Shores
City of Dickinson
City of El Lago
City of Friendswood
City of Hitchcock
City of Houston
City of Houston, Houston Airport System
City of Kemah
City of La Porte
City of League City
City of Morgan's Point
City of Nassau Bay
City of Pasadena
City of Santa Fe
City of Seabrook
City of Taylor Lake Village
City of Webster
CIVET Real Estate
CLC Properties
Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Coldwell Banker United Realtors
College of the Mainland
Colliers International
Collins Aerospace
Comcast Business
Communities In Schools - Bay Area, Inc.
Community Impact Newspaper
Courtyard By Marriott Houston NASA/Nassau
Bay
Coventry Development Corporation - Houston
Craig Technologies
Crean Inc.
Criss Cross Commercial Group
Crowder Funeral Homes
Curran Investment Group of Wells Fargo
Advisors
Cyber One Solutions, LLC
CYFOR Technologies, LLC
Cypress Bay Subdivision/Marina Bay Village
DB Consulting Group
Del Papa Distributing Company
Deloitte
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
Dickinson ISD
Draper Laboratory
DRDA, PLLC
Economic Alliance Houston Port Region
EduSafe Systems, Inc.
Edward Jones - Roy Salas
Elizabeth Smith Life and Health
Express Employment Professionals
The Eye Clinic of Texas
Fast Signs - Clear Lake
Felicis Properties, Inc.
Friendswood Chamber of Commerce
Friendswood ISD
Frost Bank
Galveston Bay Foundation
Galveston County
Galveston County Daily News
Galveston Economic Development Partnership
Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce
GB Tech, Inc.
GeoControl Systems, Inc.
Greater Houston Partnership
Greer, Herz & Adams, LLP
Gregg & Gregg, P.C.
Membership
IBC
Griffin Communications Group
Griffin Partners, Inc.
Group 1 Automotive
Gulf Coast Authority
Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union
Gulf Coast Limestone, Inc.
Ham, Langston & Brezina, LLP
Harris County
Haute Flowers & Events
HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake
HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast
Health & Safety Council
HIGHER Up Texas
Highpoint Insurance Group, LLC
Hitchcock ISD
Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake
HomeTown Bank, N. A.
Houston Association of Realtors
Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital
Houston Precision Fasteners
Illuminate Video
ImageNet Consulting
Implemetrics
Intuitive Machines, LLC
J&P Technologies
J. A. Billipp Company
Jacobs
J E Dunn
JES Tech
Joiner Architects, Inc.
Kaneka North America LLC
KBR
Keller Williams Realty Clear Lake
Kemah Boardwalk
Keough Law Firm, PLLC
Kuraray America, Inc.
La Porte Independent School District
Lakewood Yacht Club
The Law Office of Phil Griffis
League City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Leidos
Lexus of Clear Lake
Lighthouse Video Surveillance
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
Lockridge Packaging, LLC
Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.
Logical Innovations, Inc.
Lone Star Flight Museum
Marsh Darcy Partners, Inc.
MDT Financial Advisors, LLC
Meador Staffing Services, Inc.
Media Riders, Inc.
Medistar Corporation
Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital
Mercedes-Benz of Clear Lake
Merrill Lynch
Monica Millican
Minuteman Press - Bay Area
Moody Bank
MRI Technologies
MRM Proposal Solutions
Murrah & Killough, PLLC
My FlooringAMERICA
NanoRacks, LLC
NASA Alumni League - JSC Chapter
NASA Johnson Space Center
Nestle Waters N.A.
NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals
Norman Frede Chevrolet
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems
Oceaneering Space Systems, Inc.
One Stop Tents & Events
Pasadena Economic Development Corporation
Pasadena Independent School District
Pasadena Texas Chamber of Commerce
Payne’s Plants
PBK
Pearland Economic Development Corporation
Pelican View Productions
Pennino and Partners
Perry’s Restaurant Group
PINK Corporate Lodging LLC
The POM Group, LLC
Port Houston
Powers Brown Architecture
The Ray Tax Group
Raytheon Technologies
The Rothe Companies—Houston Operations
Royal Harbor Partners, LLC
S&K Global Solutions
Sage Commercial Group, LLC
SAIC
San Jacinto College District
Sandler Training
Santa Fe ISD
Savills, Inc.
Schaumburg & Polk, Inc.
Shriners Children’s Texas
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Signature Flight Support
South Belt Ellington Leader
South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference
Center
Southwest Airlines Company
Space Center Houston
Space City Films, Inc.
SSCI Environmental & Consulting Services
Star Service, Inc.
Summit Management Group
TechTrans International (TTI)
Teledyne Brown Engineering
Tellepsen
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Texan Bank
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas Chiropractic College
Texas Citizens Bank
Thrivent Financial
Tommy’s Restaurant Oyster Bar
Truist Bank
Trustmark National Bank, Texas
TXU Energy
UHCL Center -Economic Development &
Research
United Airlines
United Equities, Inc.
Universities Space Research Association-USRA
University of Houston-Clear Lake
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center
Uprite Services
UTMB Health
Veritex Community Bank
Welcome Group, LLC
Wellby, Powered by JSC FCU
Wells Fargo Business Banking
Wile Interests
Wendell Wilson & Dr. Pat Potter Wilson
Wings Over Houston Air Show
YMCA of Greater Houston
Zann Commercial Brokerage, Inc.
Region Supported by
Bay Area Houston
Economic Partnership
which includes its members
Clear Lake Shores
Dickinson
El Lago
Friendswood
Hitchcock
Houston
Kemah
La Porte
League City
Morgan’s Point
Nassau Bay
Pasadena
Santa Fe
Seabrook
Taylor Lake Village
Webster
Galveston County
Harris County
Houston Airport System
and Port Houston
Bay Area Houston
Economic Partnership
18045 Saturn Lane
Houston, Texas 77058
832.536.3255
www.bayareahouston.com
Facebook:
BayAreaHoustonEcon
Twitter: @BAHEP
Page 1 of 2
January 24, 2022, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes
RICHARD WARREN
PRESIDENT
BRENT MCCAULLEY
COUNCILPERSON
RACHEL COTTON
BOARD MEMBER
CHUCK ENGELKEN
COUNCILPERSON
DANNY EARP
BOARD MEMBER
JOHN BLAKEMORE
BOARD MEMBER
NANCY OJEDA
VICE-PRESIDENT
MINUTES OF THE LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF JANUARY 24, 2022
The City of La Porte Development Corporation Board met on Monday, January 24, 2022, at the City
Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 5:15 p.m., with the following
in attendance:
Board members present: Richard Warren, Nancy Ojeda, Chuck Engelken, Danny Earp, John Blakemore,
Brent McCaulley
Board members attending remotely: None
Board members absent: Rachel Cotton
Council-appointed members present: Corby Alexander, City Manager, Lee Woodward, City Secretary;
Clark Askins, Assistant City Attorney
1. CALL TO ORDER – President Warren called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
2. CITIZEN COMMENT (Generally limited to five minutes per person; in accordance with state law, the
time may be reduced if there is a high number of speakers or other considerations.)
There were no comments.
3. AUTHORIZATIONS
a. Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the La Porte Development
Corporation held on December 13, 2021. [President Warren]
Member Ojeda moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the La Porte Development
Corporation Board of Directors held on December 13, 2021; the motion was seconded by Member
Blakemore; the motion was adopted, 6-0.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve an economic development
incentive agreement with Mark Rosado, providing for a financial incentive in an
amount not to exceed $27,308.00, for the construction and operation of Battleground
Saloon, located at 116 S. Broadway Street, in La Porte, Texas. [Corby Alexander, City
Manager]
Member Earp moved to approve an economic development incentive agreement with Mark Rosado,
providing for a financial incentive in an amount not to exceed $27,308.00, for the construction and
operation of Battleground Saloon, located at 116 S. Broadway Street, in La Porte, Texas; the motion
was seconded by Member McCaulley; the motion was adopted, 6-0.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to recommend that the La Porte City
Council authorize the City Manager to contract with a third-party consultant to
provide professional services in connection with the City of La Porte Office of
Economic Development. [Corby Alexander, City Manager]
Page 2 of 2
January 24, 2022, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes
Member Ojeda moved to recommend authorizing the City Manager to contract with a third-
party consultant to provide professional services in connection with the City of La Porte
Office of Economic Development; the motion was seconded by Member McCaulley; the motion
was adopted, 5-1, Member Earp voting against.
4. SET DATE FOR NEXT MEETING
The next meeting date was scheduled for February 28, 2022.
5. BOARD COMMENTS Hear announcements concerning matters appearing on the agenda; items of
community interest; and/or inquiries of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy from
the Committee members and City staff, for which no formal action will be discussed or taken.
Members expressed that they were happy to assist in the economic development incentive agreement
process with Mr. Rosado but had concerns about recommendations for agreements that veered so far
from the matrix and the perception that a member of staff had coached the applicant ’s responses on
the application; and requested to be included in Economic Alliance information.
ADJOURN – The meeting was adjourned without objection at 5:46 p.m.
___________________________________
Lee Woodward, City Secretary
REQUEST FOR LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD
AGENDA ITEM
Agenda Date Requested: March 28, 2022
Requested By: Corby Alexander, City Manager
Department: Administration/CMO
Report Resolution Ordinance
Exhibits: Incentive Agreement, Payments made by
Battleground Saloon
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS
On September 27, 2021, Staff brought the La Porte Development Corporation Board a
project in downtown La Porte. The applicant, Mark Rosado, was interested in building
the “Battleground Saloon” business, which would be located at 116 S. Broadway Street,
south of the old Magic Mart (corner of Main Street and Broadway).
Staff was provided documents and has validated $62,930 in expenses related to this
project, which meets the required 1st benchmark threshold. There are more
benchmarks to be passed in the future, in which Staff will bring forward to the Board
when those payments can be verified.
The applicant, Mark Rosado, has passed his first benchmark for proof of a capital
investment of at least $50,000, exclusive of land purchase.
ACTION REQUIRED BY LPDC BOARD
Approve the incentive payment with Mark Rosado, owner of Battleground
Saloon, located at 116 S. Broadway Street in La Porte, Texas in an amount not
to exceed $10,000.00.
Approved for the La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting agenda
Corby D. Alexander, City Manager Date
Appropriation
Source of Funds: 038 – EDC Fund
Account Number: 038-6030-565-9997
Amount Budgeted: $27,308
Amount Requested: $10,000
Budgeted Item: Yes No