Letter from the Outgoing Chair

The exceptional leadership of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership has been integral to its longevity and success. I am proud to say that this year continued that legacy. The coastal barrier project for which BAHEP has advocated since 2009 received congressional approval. The Gulf Coast Protection District, where BAHEP President Bob Mitchell serves as vice president of the Board, remains vigilant in its efforts to ensure construction of this massive project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

2022 saw the private aerospace/aviation industry continue its regional expansion, and with it, the continued development of the Houston Spaceport. From the very beginning, BAHEP has taken a leadership role in this venture, providing a vision of what the Spaceport will ultimately be. In addition, along with a consortium of representatives from the Houston Airport System, academia, and the aerospace industry, BAHEP has also led the development of the Houston Spaceport Center for Research Education and Workforce Development (HS-CREW) at the Spaceport. The institute will provide specialized technician training and degree programs targeted at the aerospace and aviation industry as well as other industries in Bay Area Houston.

HS-CREW complements the education and training that has been available at San Jacinto College’s EDGE Center at the Houston Spaceport. Through several Wagner-Peyser grants, awarded by the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC) of the Governor’s Office to the Bay Area Houston Advanced Technology Consortium (BayTech) also formed by BAHEP, unemployed high school graduates and others are being trained as either certified aerospace composite technicians or certified aerospace electrical technicians.

BAHEP was also very involved with ASCENDxTexas, the Regional Transportation Summit, and the Human Trafficking Preven- tion and Awareness events this year. This was in addition to an extensive healthcare workforce assessment completed by members of the Education and Workforce Development Committee, a legislative agenda compiled by members of BAHEP’s Political Protocol Committee and its Council of Mayors, 276 virtual congressional meetings by the Citizens for Space Exploration travelers, the initiatives of BayTech and SATOP, as well as a busy and productive year for marketing and membership.

It has been an exciting year to be the Chair of this outstanding organization in this dynamic region, where there is a combined positive energy of growth from the aerospace, specialty chemicals and refining, maritime, healthcare and tourism industries. Economists predict that Houston should end the year with a net gain of over 130,000 jobs, with a significant portion being in the Bay Area.

I’ve truly enjoyed working with my colleagues on the board. Our most important responsibility was choosing a successor to our long-time, successful leader and president, Bob Mitchell, upon his upcoming retirement. The board worked diligently, taking our time in choosing the very best candidate for our organization in President-elect Brian Freedman, who will taking over the leadership reins in 2023.

In closing, I want to express my appreciation to Bob, for his leadership and excellent guidance, not only for this past year, but the preceding 15 years as well. And I wish Bob, Brian, incoming Board Chair Tim Kropp, and the board the very best in 2023 and beyond.

Sincerely,

Kenny Koncaba Houston Market President, Home Bank