Photography by Rod Prado, Hello WoodlandsBusiness
2019 Economic Outlook Conference highlights the Path to Sustainable Growth
THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2019 Economic Outlook Conference on Friday, February 8, 2019 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. The conference, which The Chamber will be hosting for the 33rd consecutive year, provided insights into the projected growth of the economy in Montgomery County and Texas. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Pathway to Sustainable Growth” with numerous speakers at the event.
Attendees at EOC 2019 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Photo by Rod Prado, HelloWoodlands.com
View photos from the conference on the Hello Woodlands Facebook page here.
A community update was provided by Gordy Bunch, Chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton serving the Senate District 4, and by video, U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady serving the Congressional District 8 of Texas.
#EOC2019 @GordyBunch @TheTownshipTX speaking at @MHWoodlands pic.twitter.com/DBdZ77TPHo
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 @TheTownshipTX revenue changes in the future pic.twitter.com/G7iIGfdOuf
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 @SenCreighton speaks:
– Texas is in top 10 economies
– Best state to start a business
– Leading in technology and innovation
– Top state for farming
– Economy focused on diversification
– “We are prepared to succeed”
– 3.7% record low unemployment pic.twitter.com/lcfU81NIDw— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 @RepKevinBrady:
“We went from where are the jobs to where are the workers?”
“We now need more workers and more customers.”
“If the White House finishes trade negotiations… that’s where we will find new customers”
“#1 issue for economy is workers” pic.twitter.com/rCkKgfPQ8d— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
”Economy will slow because mix of workers and skills needed…. We need to dramatically scale up.”
“To educators… Every day ask ‘what are we doing today to help build the workforce for the future?’ ” pic.twitter.com/XMXQuXChWE
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
A regional update was provided by Laura Lea Palmer, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership Vice President of Business Retention and Expansion, and Jesse B. Thompson III, Senior Business Economist at the Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
#EOC2019 Laura Lea Palmer @EDPinTheWoods on Job Growth in #TheWoodlands pic.twitter.com/rQxwcakgVE
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 Laura Lea Palmer @EDPinTheWoods on Employment. Energy continues to grow, gained 26 major employers, doubled energy employers #TheWoodlands pic.twitter.com/gnRUzml3T4
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 Laura Lea Palmer @EDPinTheWoods on 15 Year Snapshot of #TheWoodlands – new developments, Hughes Landing, new hospitals and much more pic.twitter.com/3ofBclYVzK
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 @JesseBThompson pic.twitter.com/5VinxpNolV
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 @JesseBThompson Existing Home Sales by Price – Orange line, homes are appreciating up and we aren’t building homes in lower price points. Lower priced markets have low supply, but changing. $500k+ homes growth in 2018 despite mortgage rate growth. pic.twitter.com/W99NzRt3aj
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 @JesseBThompson commercial real estate: built way too much, didn’t need it, Harvey hit, but now population growth pic.twitter.com/rzaNtndx67
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
The event also featured a CEO and Leadership Panel moderated by Gil P. Staley, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership CEO. Panetlists included Sallie Rainer, CEO of Entergy Texas, Inc., Charles D. Stokes, CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, and Paul H. Layne, President of Central Region – The Howard Hughes Corporation.
#EOC2019 CEO & Leadership Panel moderated by Gil P. Staley, @EDPinTheWoods CEO. Panelists: Paul Layne @HowardHughesCo, Sallie Rainer @EntergyTX, Charles D. Stokes @MemorialHermann pic.twitter.com/DdVyF8DZjh
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 Leadership Panel: Charles D. Stokes, @memorialhermann President & CEO
“How do we change the healthcare system model?”
“We are the highest uninsured market in the United States.”
“How do we become more affordable, more accessible, continue to provide excellent care?” pic.twitter.com/eQk3zOY1b7
— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 Leadership Panel: Millennial Workforce
“Our work force is diverse and we have to make sure our leadership team must reflect that. We have to be intentional on how we prepare our workforce for the future.”
– Charles Stokes @memorialhermann— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
#EOC2019 Leadership Panel
“If you are not uncomfortable when you walk into your job, you are not pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. You have to make lateral moves, not just upward. Force yourself to grow.”
– Sallie Rainer @EntergyTX— Hello Woodlands (@HelloWoodlands) February 8, 2019
John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil Company and Founder and CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy, was the keynote speaker at the luncheon and shared a look into the future of energy. Hofmeister shared how our world today will need to evolve by tackling the waste management of harmful emissions instead of focusing solely on the elimination of using oil and fossil fuels. Hofmeister shared a vision of the world of tomorrow, a shift into Carbon Tech (or Carbon Management) that will capture, transform and eliminate pollution into harmless, usable products and utility. Instead of replacing oil and fuels with windmills and solar panels, he instead shared the need to move towards eliminating tailpipes and preventing the release of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Keynote Speaker, John Hofmeister. Photo taken by Rod Prado, HelloWoodlands.com
As the largest business association in the Houston region, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating for businesses, creating marketing and networking opportunities, serving as a professional and community resource, and supporting charitable causes. For more information, please visit www.woodlandschamber.org or www.woodlandschamber.org/EOC.
