Lake Houston - Humble - Kingwood Edition | September 2024

Community

YOUR LOCAL GEICO AGENT MAKES BUNDLING SIMPLE.

BY WESLEY GARDNER

Bundling your home and car insurance is super easy with GEICO. Not only could you save money with a special discount, but you’ll also sav time by having all your coverages in the same place. only could you save money with a special discount, but you’ll also save your local geico agent makes bundling simple. Home + Auto = easy r home and car insurance is super easy u save money with a special discount, b by having all your coverages in the sam your home and car insurance is super easy you save money with a special discount, but by having all your coverages in the same cal geico agent makes bundl Home + Auto = eas local geico agent makes bundling Home + Auto = easy Bundling your home and car insurance is super easy with GEICO. Not only could you save money with a special discount, but you’ll also save time by having all your coverages in the same place. HOME+AUTO=EASY

Partnership Lake Houston names Ray Hernandez as new president, CEO of chamber, economic development firm

Ray Hernandez was named president and CEO of Partnership Lake Houston in July following the depar- ture of Kyle Sheldon in March. The Partnership—which serves as a chamber of commerce and economic development firm for the Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita areas—was initially established in April 1923. Hernandez is coming to The Partnership after having previously served in executive leadership roles at the San Marcos Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Huntsville Walker County Chamber of Commerce. In an interview with Community Impact , Hernandez shared some insights on how he transitioned to his new role with Partnership Lake Houston and what the nonprofit offers to local businesses and businesses seeking to relocate to the area. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What are some of your biggest accomplishments thus far? The thing I’m most passionate about is making posi- tive, generational change in a community—not change just to change, but impacting a community in a positive way generationally. ... In 2009, the Buda Chamber [of Commerce] and the Kyle [Area Chamber of Commerce] came together to help facilitate bringing Austin Commu- nity College to northern Hays County. ... When I was in Huntsville, some folks came to us and told us the school district was in pretty bad shape. Facility wise, there was a middle school where the auditorium hadn’t been used in six years. ... We got a good collection of people from every part of the community together [to help put together a bond package]. ... It had been 23 years since the district’s last bond election, and we passed two propositions in the same election. How has your prior experience helped lead you to where you are today? I think it’s just really the culmination of all of my experiences—San Marcos, Kyle, Lewisville, Huntsville— they’re all very different communities. To me, it’s about perspective. ... If you want to find a solution, you have to bring in people with diverse perspectives, whether you agree with those perspectives or not. The solution is going to be there somewhere. More than anything, I know I’m humble enough to know that I don’t have the answer, but I also know the answer exists here already. There are people in this community who can help us, who can lend a hand with their time and talent, to help us continue to move this community forward.

COURTESY PARTNERSHIP LAKE HOUSTON

What are some of the Lake Houston area’s biggest needs right now in terms of economic development? One of the challenges that we have—and it’s not unique to us—is that we have to continue to educate our elected officials and our partners in the area for economic development about the tools that are avail- able to solicit and retain good projects. There might be a project in Pennsylvania or Indiana that’s looking [to relocate], and many times we’re looking at different tools and incentives [to recruit them]. They could go just about anywhere, so we’re looking for partnerships with the city, the county, the state of Texas and the federal government. We have those opportunities, so it’s incumbent on us to continue to educate elected officials and partners about the use of tools that can better serve our community. How will you help make the Lake Houston area more attractive to prospective businesses? It’s already attractive to businesses, and it’s incum- bent on us to continue to do good marketing. ... We’re perfectly positioned in the northeastern quadrant of Harris County. Our service area abuts the International Airport. We have I-69. We have I-45. We have Lake Houston’s amenities... Sometimes, we lose sight of the fantastic environment we have, because we see it every day. ... Those are huge elements that really make this community attractive.

START YOUR QUOTE!

Dave Nelson 281-925-6733 ¡Hablamos Español!

LOCAL OFFICE Dave Nelson 281-925-6733 ¡Hablamos Español!

LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION