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

CHAD CARSON

VP of Economic Development
carson@allianceportregion.com

Heather Carrico

Financial & Administrative Manager
heather@allianceportregion.com

MARISELA RAMIREZ

Events & Membership Director
marisela@allianceportregion.com

AMANDA BAUCUM

Marketing & Communications Director
amanda@allianceportregion.com

PATTI BELL

Workforce Development Manager
patti@allianceportregion.com

KAREN GREGORY

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Chair: Bob Bradshaw
INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Treasurer: Dr. Brenda Hellyer
San Jacinto College District

Secretary: Rob Bacon
ExxonMobil
Vice Chair: Ryan Sitton
Pinnacle

Vice Chair: Mayor Michel Bechtel
City of Morgan’s Point
Vice Chair: Monty Heins
Dow

Past Chair: Steve Cote
Brady, Chapman, Holland & Associates

ELECTED BOARD

Randy Boeding, R.Boeding Group, LLC
Buddy Tucker, Ohmstede Industrial Services Inc.
Chris Talley, Blast Builders
Connie  Tilton, ExxonMobil
David Bush, Orion Group Holdings, Inc. Elizabeth Fazio Hale, Gulf Coast Authority
Herb Hildebrand, San Jacinto College – Small Business Development Center
Janet Gonzales, Bank of Texas
Jim Griffin, San Jacinto College – LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology

Jonathan Schmaltz, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
Katie Yount, McDonough Engineering
Kristi Claypool, Meador Staffing Services Leonard A. Bedell, Mobil Steel International, Inc.
Matthew Blunck, Enterprise Holdings
Matthew Goldston, PKF Texas Nathanael Ince, Pinnacle
Robert Armstrong, Kuraray America, Inc.
Russell Carter, Bohler Engineering
Stuart Cayer, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Brent Cockerham, Moody Bank
Dave Tolson, Arete Advisors
Dennis Winkler, Winkler Public Relations
Doug Mansfield, Mansfield Marketing LLC
Dr. Lynda Villanueva, Lee College
John Grimes, LBC Tank Terminals
Jon Walkwitz, Shell Deer Park
Marcelo Moacyr, BGE
Paul J. Plauché, MobilOps
Roger Gossett, Diamondback Works
Stephen Kelman, Wood
Allatia Harris, San Jacinto College
Melissa Wolkenhauer, BIC Alliance
Larry House, INVISTA
Michelle Hundley, CenterPoint Energy
Danielle Parks, Truist Bank
Charles Montgomery, Houston ILA Dock & Marine
Shareen Larmond, West Gulf Maritime Association
Nellie Baktashi, Houston Methodist
Ali MacLeod, BGE
Marcia Faschingbauer, Excargo Services Inc.
Nikki Mason, Covestro
Scott McAlister, Coastal Ice & Water
Captain Clint Winegar, Houston Pilots

PUBLIC APPOINTED
BOARD MEMBERS

​​Mike Lykes, Harris County – Precinct 2 Commissioner Roy Mease, Port Houston
Mayor Brandon Capetillo
, City of Baytown
Mayor Jerry Mouton
, City of Deer Park
Mayor Esmeralda Moya
, City of Galena Park
Mayor Ana Diaz
, City of Jacinto City
Mayor Louis R. Rigby, City of La Porte

​​Mayor Michel Bechtel, City of Morgan’s Point
Mayor Jeff Wagner, City of Pasadena
Matthew Buchanan, City of Pearland
Mayor Thom Kolupski, City of Seabrook
Mayor David Jennings, City of Shoreacres
Mayor Joe Soto,
City of South Houston
Tracey Wheeler – President/CEO, Baytown Chamber of Commerce
Paula Moorhaj – President, Deer Park Chamber of Commerce
Jim Wadzinski – President, Highlands- Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce
Frances Castaneda Dyess – President, Houston East End Chamber of Commerce
Margie Buentello – President, North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce
Cristina Womack – President/CEO, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Jim Johnson – President, Pearland Area Chamber of Commerce
President/CEO, South Belt – Ellington Chamber of Commerce
Paul Chavez, Seabrook Economic Development Corporation