President’s Desk: February 2024

Howdy WHA Members! 

As we continue into the year ahead, I encourage you to think through your leadership in quality growth. Take a moment to reflect on what you did to improve the region in 2023 by reading our Annual Report and think about how you want to impact the future of the region as you look over our updated and enlarged 2024 Development Map. How do you want to be a part of improving quality of life this year?   

One way to do so is to get involved with a committee. Join a group of other experts and industry leaders who want to identify infrastructure and development challenges to address in the region. Join us on the 1st for our Education and Workforce Committee, the 7th for our Flood Control & Drainage Committee, the 8th for our Quality Planned Development Committee, the 13th for our Sustainable Infrastructure Committee, the 15th for our Water Resources Committee, the 19th for a Regional Mobility Committee meeting, or the 20th for our Parks, Recreation, Open Spaces Committee. Where are your passions for improving quality of life? Let us know and we can get you plugged in with a committee that is right for you.  

Not ready to commit to a committee? Coming up on February 15th is a breakfast forum entitled “The Marketing Value of Green Development” hosted by the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee. Learn more about green development as an approach to growth that emphasizes sustainability and connectivity to the environment, and how it might have more economic benefits than you think! Or join us on March 28th where we will be talking with Mayor John Whitmire about his first 100 days in office and his plan for the years ahead. What is he doing to show his leadership in quality growth? Then on May 23rd we will have our Rising Leaders’ Topgolf Tournament. This is a great event to show your support for WHA and expand your network of like-minded individuals at the same time. Special shout out to our title sponsor, DL Meacham

If you are curious what else is going on at WHA, last month we kicked off the year with a special meeting of the Board of Directors. The group gathered to reflect on what we have accomplished over the last 45 years and where we are going in the years ahead. That was followed up with our first quarterly Committee Leadership Breakfast where committee chairs and vice chairs shared their strategies for committee engagement and identified possibilities for cross-committee collaborations. The Education and Workforce committee met to plan out their agenda for 2024 and the Quality Planned Development committee is hard at work putting together a half-day symposium for June that involves some collaboration with the Government Affairs, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Water Resources committees.  

I am looking forward to a great year ahead! Thank you for your support of the West Houston Association and working to improve quality of life for the millions of people who live, work, and play across the region!