January 13, 2011 – Area community leaders will have the opportunity hear firsthand from Houston Mayor Annise Parker as she presents the keynote address at the Greater 288 Partnership luncheon on February 11.  The luncheon, to be held at the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center in Shadow Creek, will focus on the inter-related transportation issues facing Houston and Brazoria County.

Greater 288 Partnership Co-founder and Chairman Kevin Cole is excited to have Parker’s participation.  “Since we began this partnership nearly a year ago, I have been very pleased with the favorable response we have received from our regional county and municipal leaders,” reports Cole.  “We have met with Mayor Parker to introduce her to our Partnership and our mission of coordinated regional transportation planning, and she has generously accepted our invitation to speak at our February luncheon.  We look forward to getting her firsthand input at this gathering and in the months and years to come.”

Mayor Parker was sworn in to her first term as mayor of Houston on January 4, 2010. She is Houston’s 61st Mayor and one of only two women to hold the City’s highest elected office.

Parker has spent 13 years in service to the people of Houston, first as a City Council member and six years as City Controller. She is the only person in Houston history to hold the offices of council member, controller and mayor.

Partnership Executive Director Gaylynn Naiser predicts a large turnout for the event, so she is encouraging early registration.  “With limited seating available, we are predicting a full house, so we suggest everyone register early,” says Naiser. “Anyone, whether you are a Greater 288 Partnership member or not, can make a luncheon reservation online at our website at greater288.org.”

The Greater 288 Partnership continues to add new members to their growing organization. Members enjoy regular quarterly luncheons, involvement in numerous committees, and periodic workshops and seminars.

Parker: 288 corridor critical to regional growth

Author(s):    KRISTI NIX, knix@hcnonline.com Date: February 17, 2011 Section: A

Houston Mayor Annise Parker served as keynote speaker at the Greater 288 Partnership Quarterly Luncheon held at the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center Friday (Feb. 11). Mayor Parker gave her views related to transportation issues including the development of the Highway 288 corridor.

“I know the most important issue in everybody’s mind is transportation. And I am aware of how critical the Highway 288 corridor is and the concerns that everyone has about goods and people being able to move along that corridor,” Parker said. “Having a good transportation system, an integrated transportation system where everything moves smoothly is obviously critical to our regional growth and development.”

Parker also talked about Houston’s efforts to establish an extensive light rail system, a topic of interest to many local officials who hope Houston light rail may someday stretch southward to Pearland.

“There is a lot of interest in a rail line down Kirby and the answer is I don’t know. I am very focused on current transportation funding coming out of Washington and what will happen in the future,” Parker said. “There are three light rail lines now under construction; two of those are paid for with federal funding.

“We continue to believe that the money the President put in his budget will remain in his budget for those lines and that our project like many others across the country will not be stopped in their tracks.

“We are going to continue to monitor that and lobby for that. But, it also means we are very cautious as we try to project beyond what is currently being mapped out.”

Houston Metro was another transportation topic of interest to many guests.

“I care most about two things: infrastructure and economic development,” she said. “In terms of the economic development piece I believe that transit is vital to that. And, I focused early on reforming Houston Metro and making sure we had the people in place to make that the agency what it needed to be.”

Parker was introduced by Kevin Cole, Chairman and Co-founder of the Greater 288 Partnership. Co-founder and Vice Chairman Woody Owens served as co-host at the event. Executive Director Gaylynn Naiser coordinated and helped organize the gathering.

A crowd of approximately 225 business and community leaders attended the luncheon. In addition many local officials were present including State Rep. Randy Weber, Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, Manvel Mayor Delores Martin and Pearland City Councilmember Ed Thompson.

Pearland City Manager Bill Eisen, Executive Director of the Pearland Economic Development Corporation Matt Buchanan, PEDC Director of Redevelopment Kyler Cole, PEDC Board Member Rushi Patel, Fort Bend County Commissioner Grady Prestige and Brazoria County Commissioners Stacy Adams, Larry Stanley and Dude Payne were also in attendance.

Other officials present at the luncheon included Chief Financial Officer for the City of Pearland Claire Boggard, Dr. Patty Hertenberger, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Alvin Community College, Brazoria County Engineer Gerald Roberts and Pearland Assistant City Managers Mike Hodge and Jon Branson.

The Greater 288 Partnership will host Mary Peters, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation under George W. Bush, as guest speaker at the next Greater 288 Partnership quarterly luncheon.

The event is scheduled for May 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center.

To make a reservation or to become a member of the Greater 288 Partnership, visit www.greater288.org