Clear Lake Chatter 1

State Sen. Larry Taylor stops to congratulate BAHEP President Bob Mitchell during the celebration Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, right, and Vice President Shari Sweeney present Bob Mitchell with a plaque. Bob Mitchell, left, with San Jacinto College Chancellor and former BAHEP Board Chairman Dr. Brenda Hellyer Retired Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats, right, with BAHEP President Bob Mitchell

SAYING GOODBYE is never easy, as Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Bob Mitchell and his many, many friends and partners found during his farewell party Dec. 1. The celebration of his nearly 20-year BAHEP career – the last 14 as president – was held at South Shore Harbour Resort with dozens and dozens of those who have worked with him through the years on a variety of projects to improve life in the Bay Area were there to recall the long hours of work and the fun times when the job was done. Leading the celebration was former Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith, who gave an overview of the program and introduced many of the speakers they had both worked with over the years including Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, Morgan’s Point Mayor Michel Bechtel, Precinct 2 Deputy Chief of Staff Tiko Hausman, representing Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer, EduSafe President Dr. Glenn Freedman and BAHEP Board Chairman Kenny Koncaba. Danny Myer added to the evening singing “Impossible Dream.”

Others taking part in the farewell included retired Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats, State Sen. Larry Taylor, Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin, retired BAHEP President Jim Reinhartsen, Space City Films owner Mark Havican and incoming BAHEP President Brian Freedman – offering remembrances of days gone by as BAHEP members worked together to make Bay Area Houston the outstanding community it is today.

And, what a crowd gathered to say farewell – so many it was almost impossible to take five steps without bumping into someone you knew. Folks like Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche, Griffins Partners Chairman Fred Griffin, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Regional Director Myrna Baker, CLC Properties CEO John Wilkins and his wife, Shari; Bay Area Houston Ballet Director Jill Reason and CCEF Executive Director Deborah

Lots of elected officials everywhere you turned – Mayors Mike Foreman of Friendswood, Jeff Wagner of Pasadena and Jon Keeney of Taylor Lake Village; State Rep. Greg Bonnen MD, Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin and City Councilors Trish Hanks of Friendswood, James Abbey, Ashley Graves and Michelle Weller of Nassau Bay; Joe Machol and Tom Tollett of Seabrook; Chris Vaughn of Webster; Bob Davee of Taylor Lake Village; along with Webster Human Resources Director Brenda Miller Ferguson, Seabrook Economic Development Council President Paul Dumphey and La Porte City Manager Alexander Corby. Plus, Councilman Dave Martin brought his Chief of Staff Jessica Beemer and South Sector Manager Mark Mitchell, who happens to be the son of the honoree.

UH Clear Lake President Dr. Richard Walker was in the crowd, as were CCISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Engle, Trustee Jessica Cejka and Communications Director Elaina Polsen; La Porte ISD Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson; San Jacinto College Vice Chancellor Teri Crawford and Board Chairman Marie Flickinger.

Boeing VP John Mullholland and Lockheed Martin VP Kirk Shireman were among a large aerospace crowd that also included Barrios Technology CEO Sandy Johnson, President Kelly Page and VP Robert McAfoos; MRI Technologies CEO and VP Debbie and Tim Kropp; Oceaneering GM David Cates; Aegis Aerospace President Mark Gittleman; AeroSys President John Martinec; NanoRacks CTO Michael Lewis; GB Tech CEO and VP Gale and Jean Burkett; Bastion Technologies President Jorge Hernandez and his dad, Miquel Hernandez; SAIC execs Joyce Abbey and Beth Fischer; Collins Aerospace Associate Director Ryan Kagey, Deloitte Manager Larry Strader and Space Center Houston CEO William Harris and VP Barrett Shaver.

Glancing around, you might also have spotted attorneys Joe Barlow, Bernard Roan and Dick Gregg Jr., along with Hometown Bank Senior VP Bill Provenzano, Home Bank execs Kenny and Kristi Koncaba and Veritex Bank VP James Ballard; Ayrshire President William Burge III, JES Tech CEO Nellie White, Wellby Financial CEO Marty Pell and Board Chairman Debbie Conder; Clear Lake Chamber VP Shari Sweeney and her husband Sloan; Mori Associates VP Rick Nygren, Memorial Hermann SE Director Rebecca Lilly, SSCI President Helen Hodges, and BayTran Executive Director Amy Skicki.

Tents & Events owners Mark and Karen Keesler were also in the crowd, as were Ellington Airport GM Arturo Machuca, Amoco Federal Credit Union President Shawn Bailey, Sen. John Cornyn aide Jay Guerrero, Elevate Hospital Group CEO Don Vickers, Savills VP Derrell Curry, Logical Innovations CEO Denise Navarro, Agile Tech President Dr. Don Kelly, Express Employment CEO Mark Conrad, Sage Commercial owners Gary and Melissa Bielat, First Financial President Rick Gornto, Pennino CEO Laura Pennino and Royal Harbor partner Glenn Royal.