Clear Lake Chatter 2

BAHEP Holiday Party draws big crowd

Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

SEEMED LIKE old times as Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership members gathered for their annual Holiday Party Dec. 9 -- for the first time in two years. There was President Bob Mitchell and his wife Joan welcoming Barrios Technology CEO Sandy Johnson, Vice President Robbie McAfoos and new President Kelly Page, Kuraray Vice President Hajime “Sam” Suzuk, and banker Paul Maaz and his wife, Sharon, to the celebration at Lakewood Yacht Club while early arrivals were already catching up on each other’s news. Nearby, you might have seen Ellington Airport Manager Arturo Machuca and Boeing Government Operations Manager Brian Freedman catching up on the Washington news talking with Jay Guerrero, Sen. John Cornyn’s regional director, while One Stop Tents and Events owner Karen Keesler was talking with long-time friend and employee Carol Bergman, now retired. Elected officials joining the party included State Sen. Larry Taylor, State Rep. Dennis Paul, Mayors Jeff Wagner of Pasadena and Carl Joiner of Kemah, City Councilors Ashley Graves of Nassau Bay, Bob Davee of Taylor Lake Village and Brent McCaulley of La Porte, plus Clear Lake Shores EDC Director Ronnie Richards and Clear Creek ISD Trustee Jeff Larson.

Hilton Houston Clear Lake Sales Director Melinda Mintz, left, stops to chat with, Higher Up Texas Executive Director Hillary Gramm at the Dec. 9 BAHEP Holiday Party. Bank executives Kristi and Kenny Koncaba, center, receive congratulations at the BAHEP Holiday Party from Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, left, and BAHEP Membership Director Harriet Pilgrim, right, on being named chairmen of the boards of the Chamber and BAHEP, respectively, for the coming year.

Boeing Government Operations Manager Brian Freedman, from left, and Ellington Airport Manager Arturo Machuca catch up on the news from the nation’s capital with Jay Guerrero of Sen.John Cornyn’s office as they arrive at the BAHEP Holiday Party at Lakewood. 21

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President and his wife, Joan, center, chat with Kuraray Vice President Hajime “Sam” Suzuki, left, and Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theater Executive Director Jill Reason during BAHEP’s annual holiday party at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook. Bastion Technologies President Jorge Hernandez and COO Dr. Jayant Ramakrishnan were in the happy crowd, as were BAHEP 2021 Chairman Charlie Stegemoeller, BayTran Executive Director Amy Skicki, EduSafe President Dr. Glenn Freedman, attorney Dick Gregg Jr., La Porte ISD Superintendent Walter Jackson, Griffin Communications Vice President Jeff Carr, KBR Vice President Laurie Labra, Lockwood, Andrews VP Lars Zetterstrom, Logical Innovations CEO Denise Navarro and Pennino and Partners CEO Laura Pennino. Across the way, you might have spotted Texan Bank CEO Kenny Koncaba and his wife,Kristi, who is president of the bank, talking with Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease and BAHEP Membership Director Harriet Pilgrim about the coming year when Kenny will serve as chairman of the 2022 BAHEP Board and Kristi will serve as chairman of the chamber board. Walking around, you might have also bumped into League City realtors James and Penny Brockway, ASRC Director Jeannie Kranz, SAIC Program Director Beth Fischer, Summit Management Group Managing Partner Harv Hartman, Wellby Director Peggy Zahler, orretired Delta Airlines Pilot Capt. Wendell Wilson and his wife, Dr. Pat Wilson. Plus, UH-Clear Lake Interim Senior VP Dr. Christopher Maynard and Associate Dean Dr. Edward Waller and BAHEP executives C.A. Shields, Kim Morris, Jane Gayle, Bob Payne and

Dan Seal.

Karen Keesler, owner of One Stop Tents and Events, right, and Carol Bergman, a retired employee, enjoy getting together at the Dec. 9 BAHEP Party.