ABOUT US
Mission
Grow and market a vibrant regional economy
Marketing the Houston Port Region to secure business investment that will maximize economic opportunities and supporting policy that promotes a stable business climate.
Economic Alliance Houston Port Region is a nonprofit business-led organization whose mission for over 35 years has been to grow a vibrant regional economy through economic development.
This effort is supported by public policy, workforce development, transportation/infrastructure, quality of life and thought leadership initiatives.
PRIVATE SECTOR MEMBERS
CITIES/COMMUNITIES
WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT
As the economic development corporation for the Houston Ship Channel Region, we work diligently to represent the unique needs of the petrochemical, maritime, and logistics industries that dominate our area.
This region is home to the world’s second largest petrochemical complex and is the largest U.S. exporting port.
It annually impacts over one million jobs and contributes $178.5 billion to the Texas economy. With more than $35 billion in planned chemical plant expansions in our area over the next five years, these are the good old days.
Never before in our history have we seen the kind of capital investment and job creation we will experience over the next decade. Through efforts in marketing, business development, expansion and retention support, public policy, and workforce development support, since 2011, the Economic Alliance has supported 23 project wins creating over 3,600 jobs and contributing over $3.6 billion of capital investment in the Houston Ship Channel Region.
As the economic development corporation for the Houston Ship Channel region, our business is first and foremost to create and foster an environment where companies can thrive and create jobs.
A healthy and vibrant economy also raises the quality of life we all enjoy.
The strides we’ve made and the successes we have encountered can be directly attributed to the hard work of our wonderful staff and the incredible commitment and contributions from our Board and members. In the end, this region’s ability to prosper is dependent upon a collective will to make it so.
Please utilize this website as your portal to economic development opportunities and solutions in the Houston Ship Channel Region.
Events, committee meetings, networking opportunities, public policy initiatives, member services, economic incentive information, and much, much more can be found here.
Thank you for visiting and we look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Chad Burke, President & CEO
STAFF and board leadership

CHAD BURKE
President & CEO
chad@allianceportregion.com

CHAD CARSON
VP of Economic Development
carson@allianceportregion.com

MARISELA RAMIREZ
Events & Membership Director
marisela@allianceportregion.com

Mandy Baucum
Marketing & Communications Director
amanda@allianceportregion.com

Heather Carrico
Financial & Administrative Manager
heather@allianceportregion.com

MIA YOUNG
Workforce Development Director
Mia@allianceportregion.com

KAILYN GONZALES
Business Systems Analyst & Executive Assistant to CEO Kailyn@allianceportregion.com

KAREN GREGORY
Contracts Manager
karen@allianceportregion.com
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Chair: Charles Neal
Kuraray America, Inc.
Treasurer: Christian Bionat
San Jacinto College
Secretary: Steve Cote
Brady, Chapman, Holland, & Associates
Vice Chair: Ryan Sitton
Pinnacle
Vice Chair: Leona Ann Chua
ExxonMobil
Vice Chair: John Moseley
Port Houston
Vice Chair: Arienne Brent
LyondellBasell
ELECTED BOARD
Elizabeth Fazio Hale, Gulf Coast Authority
Jim Griffin, San Jacinto College – LyondellBasell
Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology
Katie Heckt, LJA Engineering
Kristi Claypool, Meador Staffing Services
Leonard A. Bedell, Mobil Steel International, Inc.
Russell Carter, Bohler Engineering
Rick Brown, Arkema
Janet Gonzales, Frost Bank
Aundrea Young, Competitive Choice
Brent Cockerham, Moody Bank
Dennis Winkler, Winkler Public Relations
Gabriel Guzman, Shell Deer Park
Doug Sinitiere, Turner Industries
Stephen Kelman, Wood
Jessica Pruneda, Enterprise Mobility
Richard Heath, TALKE USA
Tiko Reynolds- Hausman, Harris County EDDO
Nancy Ojeda, La Porte EDC
Marcus Wilkins, Bartlett Cocke
Hazel Kassu, Sudduth Search
Daniel Mendelejis, Baystar Bayport Polymers
Wayne Webb, Stellar Bank
Thomas Reeves, City of Baytown
Rina Harris , CenterPoint Energy
Shareen Larmond, West Gulf Maritime Association
Ali MacLeod, BGE
Marcia Faschingbauer, Excargo Services Inc.
Mark Bookmyer, LyondellBasell
Dena Taylor, Kaneka
Will Lynch, Republic Services
Rebecca Elliott, PEMEX Deer Park
Frances Villangran-Glover, Houston
Community College
Brad Allen, Teadit Group
Matt Asmus, Bendco Houston Pipe Benders
Lucas Bell, The Baldwin Group
Cathy Gill, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Nellie Baktashi Macaluso, Houston Methodist Hospital
Tom Nutbrown, Covestro
Violeta Vazquez, Houston City College
Mohamed Sameh, SESCO Terminals
JT Klahs, Pinnacle
Monica Beynaerts, Coastal Ice & Water
Captain Clint Winegar, Houston Pilots
Lindsey Boatman, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.
Jeremy Osterberger, BIC Alliance
PUBLIC APPOINTED
BOARD MEMBERS
Michel Bechtel, Port Houston
Mayor Charles Johnson, City of Baytown
Mayor Jerry Mouton, City of Deer Park
Mayor Esmeralda Moya, City of Galena Park
Mayor Ana Diaz, City of Jacinto City
Corby Alexander, City of La Porte
Mayor Joey McWilliams, City of Mont Belvieu
Mayor Tim Harris, City of Morgan’s point
Mayor Thomas Schoenbein, City of Pasadena
Mayor Kevin Cole, City of Pearland
Mayor Jim Sweeney, City of Seabrook
Mayor David Jennings, City of Shoreacres
Mayor Joe Soto, City of South Houston
Mayor Jon Keeney, City of Taylor Lake Village
Tracey Wheeler, Baytown Chamber of Commerce
Paula Moorhaj, Deer Park Chamber of Commerce
Isabelle Dion, Highlands- Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce
Frances Castaneda Dyess,Houston East End Chamber of Commerce
Margie Buentello, North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce
Cristina Womack, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Jim Johnson, Pearland Area Chamber of Commerce
Lisa Holbrook, South Belt – Ellington Chamber of Commerce
