Business Buzz

August 1st, 2019

Port Houston Commission Chairman Ric Campos, second from left, arrives at the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership reception in his honor at the Marriott Hotel on the Gulf Freeway. Among those welcoming him were, from left, BayTran Chairman Carl Joiner and Lockwood Andrews Vice President Steve Gilbreath and Facilities Engineer Jack Drake.

BayTran welcomes new port chairman
Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership members got a rare treat when they hosted a reception recently for the new chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority, Ric Campo.

BayTran President Theresa Rodriguez and Chairman Carl Joiner introduced him to the crowd.

The event was held at the Houston Marriott South, where Campo made his way around the room during a Meet and Greet, after which he updated the crowd on Port activities.
Campo, who is chairman and CEO of the Camden Property Trust, was appointed by Harris County and the Houston City Council earlier this year to replace Janiece Longoria, who was term limited.

NASA selects 142 proposals
Managing pilotless aircraft and solar panels that could help humans live on the Moon and Mars are among the technologies NASA is looking to develop with small business awards totaling $106 million. In all, NASA has selected 142 proposals from 129 U.S. small businesses from 28 states and the District of Columbia to receive Phase II contracts as part the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

NASA selected the proposals based on a range of criteria, including technical merit and feasibility, as well as the organizations’ experience, qualifications, and facilities. Additional criteria included effectiveness of proposed work plans and the commercial potential of the technologies.

Three Kuraray facilities win safety awards
Three of Kuraray America, Inc.’s Texas facilities received top honors from the Texas Chemical Council at its annual award banquet June 6. They are:

  • Septon Plant, Pasadena: Best in Texas, Caring for Texas, Distinguished Safety Service, Zero Incident Rate, Zero Process Safety Incidents.
  • Bayport Plant, La Porte: Zero Incident Rate, Distinguished Safety Service, Zero Contractor Incident Rate.
  • La Porte Plant: Caring for Texas, Zero Process Safety Incidents.

TCC’s awards program recognizes member companies for their demonstrated commitment and exemplary results toward safe operations, community awareness, emergency response, security and pollution prevention. Applications are anonymous and judged by a group of industry peers and community members.

“At Kuraray, safety is at the cornerstone of everything we do,” said Tom Abrey, Kuraray’s director of health, safety, environment & security. “We are committed to providing a safe working environment for not only our employees but contractors and visitors alike.”

Kuraray America, Inc. took home 10 awards, including top honor – Best in Texas – for the Septon plant.

Area chamber is a winner
Pasadena Chamber’s website, Chambergram, took first prize honors at the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives annual convention in El Paso June 17-20.

Not far behind were its entry in the newsletter competition, which took second place in the state competition, and the chamber’s Resource Guide, which also was a second place winner.

The conference provides chamber professionals an opportunity to network, attend educational sessions and take an in-depth look into issues related to leadership, workforce development, membership and how Texas communities fared following the legislative session.

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Business Buzz

March 4th, 2019

Space test flights are delayed again
The first crewless test flights have been delayed again, NASA has announced. The space agency said the first uncrewed test flight by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon – previously planned for around Feb. 23 – is now scheduled for no earlier than March 2, with its second test flight with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken now scheduled for July.
Meanwhile, Boeing’s uncrewed test flight of the CTS-100 Starliner in March is now scheduled for no sooner than April, and its crewed test flight with Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson and NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Mike Fincke scheduled for no sooner than August.

NASA awards $2.9B contract to Leidos
NASA has awarded Leidos of Reston, Va., a contract for information technology (IT) end-user services to support the agency’s headquarters, centers and other performance sites.
NASA End-user Services & Technologies (NEST) is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that has a maximum value of $2.9 billion and includes a two-year, three-month base period followed by a two-year option, one-year option, and five one-year award term options that would extend the period of performance to May 31, 2029.
NASA personnel use IT to support the agency’s core business, scientific, research and computational activities. Leidos will provide, manage, secure and maintain these essential IT services for the agency.

Two firms donate $500,000 to SJC
As the building of the new San Jacinto College Center for Petrochemical, Energy and Technology nears completion, two companies have donated a total of $500,000 for an analyzer lab and for education and training.

Siemens has donated $250,000 to add an analyzer lab to the new center that is expected to open this fall while Dow Chemical has donated another $250,000 to ensure that training and the education curriculum in the center will align with the needs of petrochemical manufacturing employers.

Siemens, a global powerhouse focusing on electrification, automation and digitalization, has been among the college’s industry partners providing input and donations toward the project since the start of discussions about the San Jacinto College petrochemical training center.

San Jac broke ground for the $60 million center in September 2017. In addition to an associate degree and certificates, the college is pursuing the approval and development of a bachelor’s degree in applied technology.

Besides being an industry partner and member of the College’s Petrochemical Advisory Council, Dow Chemical Deer Park has hired 25 SJC graduates as operators in the past four years – or 23 percent of the site’s new hires. Dow also has established an apprenticeship program at the college.

Port has another outstanding year
In highlighting a host of achievements this past year, Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther announced several records were broken in 2018, including that total tonnage at the port set a record of 35.7 million tons – an increase of 9 percent from 2017.

“The strength of cargo activity helped drive operating revenue to $366 million for the year, shattering the previous record set in 2017 of $333 million.” Guenther said as he delivered his 2018 year-end report to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority during its first monthly meeting of 2019.

Combined business through the port’s public facilities also generated a total cash flow of $162 million, surpassing the previous record of $151 million set in 2017.

Presenting AMOCO Federal Credit Union’s sponsorship check for the Keep Kids in School Golf Tournament is (right) Stacey Malbrough with Communities In Schools-Bay Area’s Hillary Gramm, resource development director, and Dr. Peter Wunschel, executive director.

Amoco FCU gives $5,000 to CIS-BA
Since 2006, Amoco Federal Credit Union has supported at-risk students through the annual Keep Kids in School Golf Tournament sponsorships totaling $109,000. The golf tournament benefits Communities in Schools-Bay Area, a dropout prevention program serving 26 campuses in Clear Creek and Dickinson ISDs.

This year’ shamble tournament will be Monday, April 15 at Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake.

In addition to sponsoring the tournament, Amoco staffers serve the students in different ways. Amoco’s Stacey Malbrough, culture and communications manager, mentors a League City Elementary School student in the program and works on the Raise Your Glass to CIS wine tasting event committee. Josh Ryding, Friendswood branch manager, works on the Keep Kids in School Golf Tournament Committee.

For sponsorships or golf tournament information, contact Hillary Gramm at [email protected] or 281-486-6698.

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Business Buzz

April 1st, 2017

Janet Shirley joins League City team
League City has selected Janet Shirley to serve as the city’s director of Human Resources and Civil Service.

She worked for the Columbia Pipeline Group as the Human Resource and Recruiting Strategy manager prior to being selected for this position and also served as Lockheed Martin’s Human Resources manager for Houston Programs and is a U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve veteran.

A League City resident for more than 10 years, she attained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu; and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Chapman University in Orange, Calif.

Ambulatory Surgery Center is planned
Bay Area Regional Medical Center and Medistar Corp. are planning the  development of a new Ambulatory Surgery Center at Gemini III, located on Medistar’s three-building Gemini Medical Campus at Gemini Avenue and Buccaneer Lane in Clear Lake.

Featuring state-of-the-art equipment, the new surgery center is configured with 2 special procedure rooms and 4 operating suites with future expandability to a total of 6 ORs. Gemini I and II are fully leased to orthopedic surgeons, pain management and primary care physicians. On the same campus, the Gemini III surgery center is the latest partnership of Bay Area Regional with leading surgeons to serve patients in a modern and convenient outpatient setting.

Hospital CEO Tim Schmidt said, “Bay Area Regional is excited to join with leading physician partners on this important initiative. Our new surgery center will provide best-of-class, patient-centered outpatient services, with a focus on excellent orthopedic, spine, neurological, general, ENT and pain management surgical care for our Bay Area Houston community.” Plans are now underway, with construction scheduled for completion in late 2017.

In Webster, Medistar also is developing a new 70-bed skilled nursing facility and 60,000 SF medical office building. These projects further complement the rapid growth of Bay Area Regional, which Medistar is currently expanding from 104 to 191 total beds.

Tools developed to combat Zika
New research from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, in collaboration with Southwest University in Chongqing, China and the University of Leuven in Belgium, have developed a way to replicate the basic structure of the Zika virus, stripping it of the genes that make the virus infectious. The replicon system research was spearheaded by Dr. Xuping Xie and recently published in EBioMedicine.

Replicons are segments of viral genome that can replicate on their own, independent of the cellular chromosome. The new Zika replicon system has deleted some of the genes that give the virus its structure. Because of this, the altered Zika virus is no longer infectious, lowering the safety risk involved in working with the virus.

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Business Buzz

December 1st, 2015

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By Mary Alys Cherry

Hospital named Top Performer
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center has been recognized as a 2014 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the United States.

The medical facility was recognized as part of The Joint Commission’s 2015 annual report “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety,” for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, stroke and perinatal care.

It is one of only 1,043 hospitals out of more than 3,300 eligible hospitals in the United States to achieve the 2014 Top Performer distinction.

The Top Performer program recognizes hospitals for improving performance on evidence-based interventions that increase the chances of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions. The performance measures included in the recognition program including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma, inpatient psychiatric services, stroke, venous thromboembolism, perinatal care, immunization, tobacco treatment and substance use.

Port job creation surged in 2015
Nearly 148,000 new jobs have been generated by cargo and vessel activity at Port of Houston terminals since 2011, Port of Houston Authority Chairman Janiece Longoria announced during the Greater Houston Partnership’s annual State of the Port event.

An economic impact study by Martin Associates determined that public and private marine terminals at the Port of Houston had a statewide economic impact of $265 billion in 2014, which is 16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product, Longoria said. The study shows the port’s economic value to the state since 2011 increased $82 billion, or 45 percent, she said.

“The Port of Houston is the leading driver for the greater Houston region for creating jobs and economic opportunity,” Chairman Longoria said. Total jobs supported by Port of Houston marine terminals now totals nearly 1.175 million in Texas. The full economic impact report is available at www.portofhouston.com.

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Business Buzz

November 1st, 2015

Paul Roberts, fourth from left, founder of Roberts Wealth Management in League City, claps as the bell rings on the New York Stock Exchange. His business was recently featured in Forbes Magazine.

Paul Roberts, fourth from left, founder of Roberts Wealth Management in League City, claps as the bell rings on the New York Stock Exchange. His business was recently featured in Forbes Magazine.

Realtors elect John Nugent

Realtor John Nugent of Nassau Bay has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Houston Association of Realtors and a member of the HAR Executive Committee. He is with Re/Max Space Center.

Jenifer Duguay Mikeska with Re/Max Pearland was elected to the HAR Board of Directors.

Forbes features local company

Paul Roberts, founder of Roberts Wealth Management, and his company were recently featured in Forbes Magazine and soon afterwards he was invited to join in the ringing of the bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

His company, which started out in Biloxi, Miss., has now grown to four offices, with three in the Houston area.

Roberts, alongside his daughter Summer Roberts, runs the offices in League City and West Houston. His other daughter, April Roberts, runs the Sugar Land office, while son Paul Roberts III heads the original office in Biloxi.

Newmyer joins Space Center

Top executives continue to land at Space Center Houston. Latest addition to the nonprofit is Daniel Newmyer, a nationally awarded space science educator and business owner appointed as the new director of education.

He received the national 2013 Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award that recognizes creativity. Most recently he served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellow for NASA Headquarters and the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Barrios receives Boeing award

Barrios Technology has received a 2014 Boeing Performance Excellence Award. The Boeing Co. issues the award annually to recognize suppliers who have achieved superior performance.

Barrios Technology maintained a Silver composite performance rating for each month of the 12-month performance period, from Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014.  Barrios has been recognized at the silver level of performance since 2007.

This year, Boeing recognized 548 suppliers who achieved either a Gold or Silver level Boeing Performance Excellence Award. Barrios Technology is one of only 429 suppliers to receive the Silver level of recognition.

New faces at Cullen’s

Cullen’s American Grille has a new general manager and a new chef, owner Kevin Munz announced.

Mario Plaza, whose professional pedigree includes engagements at Perry’s Restaurant Group, the Commander’s Palace in Destin, Fla., the Royal Sonesta Hotels in New Orleans and Houston and several hotels in Michigan, will serve as the venue’s general manager, assuming the post left vacant by the unexpected death of Ryan Roberts.

And, Daniel R. Terrell, whose restaurant career spans over 20 years, including 10 in culinary management, has been named executive chef. Besides holding key positions in the Hilton Austin Downtown and at Mars Restaurant in Houston, he has also been involved in special event catering including projects for Cirque de Soleil, the Shell Houston Open, Houston Rodeo, Rice University and the Thrash family of Houston.

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Business Buzz

March 1st, 2015

Seabrook Mayor Glenn Royal, right, and City Manager Gayle Cooke visit with Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Bob Mitchell as they arrive at Cullen’s Upscale Grille for the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership’s February luncheon.

Seabrook Mayor Glenn Royal, right, and City Manager Gayle Cooke visit with Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Bob Mitchell as they arrive at Cullen’s Upscale Grille for the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership’s February luncheon.

Chamber votes to change name

After much debate, the League City Chamber has decided to change its name to the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The decision was announced by Chamber Board Chairman Bonnie Lem. “After lengthy discussions about the importance the city of League City has played in the tradition and success of our chamber, yet also recognizing that new opportunities for continued success and to expand our business footprint; the new name was determined to be very timely and appropriate,” Lem said.

Back in January, a chamber committee changed the name to the Bay Area Houston Regional Chamber of Commerce, a name that upset most members because it did not include League City in the name.

The chamber then gave members an opportunity to choose between three suggested names – League City Regional Chamber of Commerce, League City/Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and League City/Bay Area Regional Chamber of Commerce. Most liked the first suggestion.

Next step will be to select a new logo, Chamber President Laurie Baldwin said.

Union Pacific Railroad Public Affairs Vice President Brenda Mainwaring arrives at Cullen’s Upscale Grille to address the BayTran luncheon. With her are attorney Hugh McCulley, left, and Harris County Transit Services Director Ken Fickes, who is also a BayTran board member.

Union Pacific Railroad Public Affairs Vice President Brenda Mainwaring arrives at Cullen’s Upscale Grille to address the BayTran luncheon. With her are attorney Hugh McCulley, left, and Harris County Transit Services Director Ken Fickes, who is also a BayTran board member.

RadioShack set to close stores

RadioShack has announced that it is filing for bankruptcy and is closing about 1,700 of its stores nationwide, including some in the Houston area.

Among those expected to close are stores near Baybrook Mall in Webster, 142 Southmore in Pasadena, 2600 FM 1764 in La Marque and San Jacinto Mall in Baytown.

BayTran plans State of Counties

Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership President Barbara Koslov has announced plans for the 16th annual State of the Counties Address on Wednesday, April 15.

The luncheon at the Hobby Marriott at 9100 Gulf Freeway, will feature addresses by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry and Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta.

Individual tickets are $75 each with various sponsorship levels for tables for 10 available by contacting Mrs. Koslov at [email protected]

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Business Buzz

February 1st, 2015

Summer Roberts at Desk - Bio Pic3-Mentors honors Summer Roberts

Financial Professional Summer A. Roberts of Roberts Wealth Management was honored during an exclusive “Financial Professional Training Conference and Awards Ceremony,” in Laguna Niguel, Calif., by 3- Mentors, Inc. in January.

She was presented with a “2014 President’s Award” by 3-Mentors’ founding members Gary Reed, David Gaylor and Rodney Harris and was also recognized as the “Breakthrough Individual of the Year.”

“The President’s Award is given to a select few Financial Professionals as recognition for demonstrated excellence within their practice and outstanding client dedication,” Gaylor said.

“3-Mentors recognizes the drive and determination it takes to bring a financial practice to the next level. For that reason, we grant the “Breakthrough Award” to individual producers that reach this important step in their career.  Summer was one of three individuals nationwide to receive this prestigious award.”

“We chose Summer,” Reed said, for this important distinction as someone that consistently performs at a very high level within her industry and is held in the highest regard by both peers and clients alike.

Harris added, “Summer exemplifies a client-centric philosophy by never failing to put her clients’needs at the forefront of everything she does.  She truly embraces her responsibility to assist her clients’ in the protection, growth, and distribution of their wealth, with the most balanced approach possible.”

“Today’s retirees, and those approaching retirement require more than just a financial professional. They need someone to help them navigate their retirement planning, not only as a trusted guide through the various challenges, but also to help identify the myriad of opportunities that exist.  We are proud to be one of those firms and to provide these services for the people of Houston,” says Summer.

For more information about Summer and her firm’s services, you can reach Roberts Wealth Management at 281-549-6515 or visit their website at www.RobertsWealthTexas.com

Dana Tobeck earns SFA Honoree Award

The Space Flight Awareness program recently recognized Barrios Technology‘s MAPI employee Dana Tobeck with the prestigious SFA Honoree Award for her dedication and commitment to the ISS Program.

Tobeck, a principal project controls specialist, was recognized for her leadership in establishing work plan and management systems. Tobeck developed a measurement system along with training for MAPI management that ensures quality Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and provided management insight into work variances.

Tobeck has worked in the space industry for over 15 years on various NASA programs.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston, as well as a graduate degree from Texas A&M University.

The SFA Honoree Award is one of the highest presented to NASA and industry.

ExxonMobil to be honored

The Greater Houston Port Bureau will recognize ExxonMobil’s exemplary contributions to the Port of Houston and the surrounding region at the Port Bureau’s 86th Annual Maritime Dinner Aug. 22 at the Bayou City Event Center.

“The Port Bureau Board of Directors selects a person or company that has made a lasting impact on the port region to honor at our dinner,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. (Ret.) Bill Diehl, bureau president.

“ExxonMobil contributed significantly to the port region in 2013 and 2014 through community events, educational programs and industry expansion, adding to its long history of driving economic activity along Houston’s waterfront and supporting the surrounding community. We are privileged to recognize their contributions.”

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Business Buzz

January 5th, 2015

Kirk Kveton, store manager of the Target store at Baybrook Mall, holds up the check surrounded by Assistance League members, from left, Philanthropic Vice President Sarah Foulds, Operation School Bell Chairman Cindy-Senger Lewis, Altimus, Priscilla Magnussen and President-Elect Peggy Clause.

Kirk Kveton, store manager of the Target store at Baybrook Mall, holds up the check surrounded by Assistance League members, from left, Philanthropic Vice President Sarah Foulds, Operation School Bell Chairman Cindy-Senger Lewis, Altimus, Priscilla Magnussen and President-Elect Peggy Clause.

17 serving on Chamber board
The Clear Lake Area Chamber has 17 members serving on its 2014-15 Board of Directors. They are: Janette Alford, Straterion Consulting; Brent Cockerham, BB&T; Gina Conklin, Houston Community Management Services; Mark Conrad, Express Employment Professionals; Jonathan Cottrell, Martha Turner Realty; Maureen Davidson, Secure Mortgage Co.; Glenn Ellis, Jacobs Technology; Charlie Felts, Opus Bistro;

Also, Brenda Miller Ferguson, Bay Area Citizen; Steve Gordon, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center; Ray Holloway Jr., Centerpoint Energy; Carol Keough, Barita & Keough Law Firm; Jennifer McKnight, Crown Trophy; Chris Premont, Ron Carter Clear Lake; Kat Sanford, Kat Sanford Productions; Kevin Venable, Amoco Federal Credit Union; and Dawn Wilkes, Jason’s Deli.

Port to build new rail line  
The Port of Houston Authority has selected Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. to design Phase 1 of a new rail line to the Bayport Terminal. The project, which involves design of approximately 6,500 linear feet of primary rail line, will extend the existing Union Pacific Rail Corridor along State Highway 146 into the facility.

The project represents the initial phase of the development of planned rail service into the Bayport Intermodal Yard. At full development, three parallel tracks will service the intermodal yard and are expected to handle as much as 20 percent of the overall container volume through the Bayport Terminal.

The project will provide a number of significant benefits, including:

  • Creating more jobs for the local community.
  • Providing cheaper transportation of consumer goods.
  • Facilitating growth of the terminal as a regional conduit for containerized cargo.
  • Enabling removal of trucks from the highway by transferring a portion of the container volume to rail. This will improve the regional air quality and highway safety by taking trucks off the road.
  • Expanding the market potential for import and export of containers through the Port of Houston.

The project will cross three state highways using quiet zone systems. PHA and LAN will coordinate with local community partners to make the project as community-friendly as possible through the implementation of quiet zone rail crossings, and potential installation of sound walls. The project will be constructed in concert with a separate project to build a 20-foot high sight-and-sound berm that will help shield the rail line from the adjacent communities.

The design of the $13.8 million project will be completed in mid-2015 with construction starting later in the year.

Target’s grant helps the needy
Target Stores recently presented Assistance League of the Bay Area with a $2,500 grant for the nonprofit’s Operation School Bell program.

“Since entering into a partnership with Assistance League in 2011, Target has awarded $8,500 specifically to help clothe Bay Area children-in-need for school,” said Assistance League President Brunella Altimus.

“Those funds clothed approximately 170 students with a week’s worth of clothing, hygiene kits, and vouchers for shoes from Payless.”

Target team members also volunteered 30 hours to help clothe secondary students during the chapter’s largest annual philanthropic undertaking — the clothing of more than 1,700 students.

Medical groups lease building
Two medical groups have leased space in Gemini 1,the 40,000 square-foot building at 16840 Buccaneer in Clear Lake, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership’s Barbara Cutsinger reports.

An orthopedic group will occupy the first floor and a family practice group is occupying the second floor.

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Business Buzz

November 1st, 2014

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, third from left, stops for a photo with Clear Lake Area Chamber officials including, from left, Chairman Jamieson Mackey, Good Shepherd Church Pastor Dr. Jan Sattem, Business Division Chairman Janette Alford, President and CEO Cindy Harreld, Program Chairman Charity Ellis and Stuart Cayer of luncheon sponsor Kelsey-Seybold Clear Lake.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, third from left, stops for a photo with Clear Lake Area Chamber officials including, from left, Chairman Jamieson Mackey, Good Shepherd Church Pastor Dr. Jan Sattem, Business Division Chairman Janette Alford, President and CEO Cindy Harreld, Program Chairman Charity Ellis and Stuart Cayer of luncheon sponsor Kelsey-Seybold Clear Lake.

Mayor also wants to save the Dome

Houston Mayor Annise Parker thinks the Astrodome can be repurposed.

“It would be a great place for an indoor amusement park . . . but it’s going to take dollars from the private sector to do it,” she said, speaking at the Clear Lake Area Chamber’s monthly luncheon at the Nassau Bay Hilton.

It’s clear, she added, that Harris County is not interested in putting large amounts of money into the Dome without a major donor from the private sector.

That was one of about a dozen subjects she updated the crowd on, including the need for a change in term limits to two four-year terms.

NASA extends its Barrios JSC contract

NASA has exercised an option to extend a contract with Barrios Technology Ltd. of Houston to provide support to International Space Station activities at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The cost-plus-award-fee and incentive-fee contract modification increases the overall value of the contract by $83 million to almost $154.5 million. With the extension, the contract now ends Sept. 30, 2016.

Products and services provided under the current contract support mission and program integration and necessary infrastructure operations functions for the space station. It includes the potential of supporting other NASA programs or projects via task orders.

Barrios will perform work under the contract at Johnson. Subcontractors include Ares Technical Services Corporation of Burlingame, California; Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. of McLean, Virginia; Summit Technologies and Solutions Inc. of Alexandria, Virginia; and VeriCon Technical Services LLC of Houston.

Galveston port plans expansion

The Port of Galveston has gotten the OK from its governing board to expand its 90,000-square-foot Cruise Terminal No. 2 by 60,000 square feet to allow for more and larger sailing vessels and for more seating for cruise passengers.

Webber Inc. of Houston was awarded the $11 million contract.

LyondellBasell CEO to retire

LyondellBasell has announced that Chief Executive Officer James L. Gallogly will retire from the company in early 2015. Gallogly will continue to serve as CEO and chairman of the LyondellBasell management board in the interim to ensure an orderly transition pending the selection of his replacement.

The LyondellBasell supervisory board of directors has formed a committee to choose Gallogly’s successor.

Clear Lake Shores was well represented at the Clear Lake Area Chamber luncheon at the Nassau Bay Hilton featuring Houston Mayor Annise Parker as the keynote speaker by, from left, Councilwoman Amanda Booren, City Administrator George Jones, Mayor Vern Johnson and Police Chief Kenneth Cook.

Clear Lake Shores was well represented at the Clear Lake Area Chamber luncheon at the Nassau Bay Hilton featuring Houston Mayor Annise Parker as the keynote speaker by, from left, Councilwoman Amanda Booren, City Administrator George Jones, Mayor Vern Johnson and Police Chief Kenneth Cook.

SJC given grant to train mariners

Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar recently visited the San Jacinto College maritime training center to present a $368,173 Skills Development Fund grant for maritime job training.

The grant will fund training for 195 mariners from Buffalo Marine Services, G&H Towing Co., Higman Barge Lines Inc., and J.A.M. Distributing. Since the start of the San Jacinto College maritime program in 2010, approximately 2,500 U.S. Coast Guard certificates have been awarded to mariners. Having a local maritime training center saves companies travel expenses. In the past, mariners were sent out of state for similar training.

In the near future, San Jacinto College will expand its maritime training program with the opening of a 45,000-square-foot Maritime Training Center along the Port of Houston.

Unique retailer coming to area

League City and Pinnacle Development Group have partnered to bring a very unique retailer to League City. Cabela’s Incorporated, the World’s Foremost Outfitter® of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, announced its plan to build a 72,000 square-foot store in the Pinnacle Park Development at I-45 near Big League Dreams Parkway in League City.

League City has new engineering director

Earl Smith is League City’s new director of engineering. Earl Smith, who has over 27 years of public sector engineering experience and most recently worked as public works director and city engineer for the City of Decatur, Texas, began work Sept. 22.

“I look forward to working with the city staff, elected officials and residents to continue the projects and initiatives that are already established and to discover new opportunities to enhance service to League City’s residents,” he said. As engineering director, he oversees municipal engineering, the city’s capital improvement program, project management, traffic engineering and operations and land development related activities.

“We are pleased to add another talented individual to the city’s staff of professional and experienced employees. We believe Earl has the skills to work with our team to continue addressing some of the city’s most important needs, more specifically those needs related to infrastructure,” said City Manager Mark Rohr.

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