Massive BAHEP crowd honors JSC director at Quasar Gala A

BLACK-TIE CROWD of 600 or more filled up South Shore Harbour Resort’s Crystal Ballroom to nearly overflowing, gathering to honor Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche for her diligent work in helping us get back to the moon and on to Mars and also welcome new Bay Are Houston Economic Partnership President Brian Freedman, who is replacing the recently retired President Bob Mitchell, who was there with his wife, Joan.

And, what a host of VIPs! Folks like former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and former JSC Director Mike Coats. Congressman Brian Babin was there, joining Texas State Reps. Dr. Greg Bonnen, Ed Thompson and Dennis Paul, along with Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Galveston County Commissioner Dr. Robin Armstrong and recently retired State Sen. Larry Taylor.

Plus, city officials from all over the Bay Area joining Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin at the popular event. They included Mayors Kurt Otten of Clear Lake Shores, Jerry Mouton of Deer Park, Mike Foreman of Friendswood, Louis Rigby of La Porte, Nick Long of League City, Michel Bechtel of Morgan’s Point, Phil Johnson of Nassau Bay, Kevin Cole of Pearland, Thom Kolupski of Seabrook, Jon Keeney of Taylor Lake Village, Donna Rogers of Webster, Mayor Pro-Tems Andy Mann of League City, Don Matter of Nassau Bay and Beverly Gaines of Webster and League City City Manager John Baumgartner

City Councilors in the crowd included Sally Alcorn, Letticia Plummer, Mike Knox and David Robinson of Houston, Steve Rockey of Friendswood, Jay Martin and Brent McCaulley of La Porte, Tom Crews and Sean Saunders of League City, James Abbey, Ashley Graves, Sandra Mossman and Michelle Weller of Nassau Bay, Thomas Schoenbein of Pasadena, Joe Machol of Seabrook, and Edward Lapeyre and Chris Vaughan of Webster – most all accompanied by their spouses. But who would want to miss it?

Aerospace biggies mingling with the crowd included Boeing Vice Presidents John Mulholland and John Shannon; Lockheed Martin VP Kirk Shireman, MRI Technologies President and Vice President Debbie and Tim Kropp; G.B. Tech CEO Gale Burkett; Barrios Technology CEO Sandra Johnson, President Kelly Page and VP Robert McAfoos; Collins Aerospace Operations Manager Ryan Kagey and General Manager Peggy Guirgis; Oceaneering VP David Cates; SAIC Business Director Charlie Stegemoeller, Cimarron CEO Jeannie Crowell, Bastion Technologies

Director Andrew Hernandez, Aegis Aerospace Chairman Stephanie Murphy, and Jacobs VP Joy Kelly

So rest assured they were all pleased when the program opened with a delightful film put together by the Banquet Committee Chairman and Space City Films owner Marc Havican, tracing the history of the space program from the beginning to the present. As were a number of education leaders such as UH-Clear Lake Provost Chris Maynard, Texas A&M Galveston COO Col. Michael Fossum, San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer and Vice Chancellor , College of the Mainland President Dr. Warren Nichols and Vice President Jerry Flinger, plus School Superintendents Dr. Karen Engle of Clear Creek ISD, Carla Voelkel of Dickinson ISD, Thad Roher of Friendswood ISD, Dr. Walter Jackson of La Porte ISD, and CCISD Board Trustees Arturo Sanchez and Jonathan Cottrell.

Regional leaders spotted in the audience included Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz, TxDOT’s Houston District Engineer Eliza Paul, Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, League City Chamber President Dewan

Clayborn, BayTran Executive Director Amy Skicki, Galveston EDP Executive Director Keith Gray, attorneys Dick Gregg Jr. and Joe Barlow, Judge Holly Williamson, HCA Houston Healthcare CEO Todd Caliva, UTMB Health-Clear Lake CEO Stephen Jones, and Communities in Schools Bay Area Executive Director Dr. Peter Wuenschel. Joining Vanessa in enjoying the evening were her husband, ARVO Realty Advisors President George Wyche, her son, George Wyche III; her mother-in-law, Rodester Wyche; and her pastor, Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff and his wife Doris After introducing many dignitaries in the audience, the new president thanked those he worked with at Boeing, NASA and BAHEP who had helped him through the years, going on to talk about the impact each of our local industries have had and how he intends to continue to build on what Jim Reinhartsen and Bob Mitchell started. He also introduced banker and 2022 Board Chairman Kenny Koncaba and 2023 Board Chairman Tim Kropp and thanked BAHEP

Membership Director Harriet Pilgrim for all her hard work putting the banquet together before noting the past board chairmen in attendance -- Joe Barlow, Sandy Johnson, Gale Burkett, Dr. Bernie Milstein, Stephen Jones, Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Todd Caliva, Robert McAfoos and Kenny Koncaba.

Others you might have spotted enjoying the evening included AssuredPartners of Houston President Ron Masters and his wife, Julie, the former mayor of Dickinson; Monica and Larry Millican, bankers Kristi Koncaba, who came with her husband Kenny; Bill Provenzano and his wife, Mindy, Paul and Sharon Maaz, Mark and Cathy Peavy; along with John and Shari Wilkins of CLC Properties, Lisa Holbrook, Pat and Wendell Wilson, Michelle and Daniel Costello, Marcy Fryday, Rebecca Lilly, Emmerline Dodd, Sara and Dr. Glenn Freedman, Dan and Elizabeth Seal, Michelle and Daniel Costello, Harriet and Jon Pilgrim, Greg and Teresa Vencil, Joyce Abbey of SAIC, and John Martinec.