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Alexander/Ryan Marine, Safety named East End Business of Year
The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region continued its tradition of honoring Best Practice Businesses of the Year as part of its annual Business Excellence Awards Gala, held recently at the beautiful new Cruise Terminal at the Port of Houston Bayport site on the shores of Galveston Bay.
A business from each of the chamber of commerce communities represented by the alliance was honored, and the 2008 honoree, as chosen by the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce to represent the communities of the East End of Harris County is Alexander/Ryan Marine and Safety Co., located at 2000 Wayside Drive.
Alexander Industries Inc. was established in 1968 in New Orleans, La., by William B. Alexander. The Houston branch office opened in 1972 at the Katy Freeway and Shepherd Drive.
Current President John F. Ryan III joined the company in June of 1974, after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans. The company moved to the East End in May of 1976, surviving the industry downturn in May of 1990. Ryan purchased the Houston Branch in November of 1990 with the assistance of a Small Business Administration loan, and in January of 1995 he acquired as well the New Orleans office of Alexander Industries, Inc. – thus completing acquisition of the entire predecessor company.
Alexander/Ryan Marine & Safety Co. is known for being the most diversified marine and offshore safety equipment company, excelling in meeting the regulatory requirements for Lifesaving, Firefighting, and Personal Protection Equipment. The company distributes products worldwide to the oil and gas industry, specializing in offshore drilling contractors and oil production companies. Alexander/Ryan also has several lines of engineered products such as watermakers, sewage treatment units, oily water separators, aluminum heliports, and many more.
Ryan recalls a number of special moments in the history of the firm, including obtaining the SBA commitment letter to purchase the Houston Office in 1990; acquisition of the New Orleans office in 1995; entering the Lifeboat Systems business in 1995 with the Chinese Shipyard; being listed in the Top 100 Small Businesses four times; his personal accomplishment of being appointed by the U.S. Coast Guard as chairman of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee; and, last but not least, being recognized for this prestigious award.
“I have never lost sight of the fact that our customers are the most important thing to our business,” he said. “You have to have sales first, and your employees are your second most important asset.”
Economic Alliance President Jan Lawler notes that through the Business of the Year program, a data source has been established over the past five years to quantify and track attributes of best practice businesses in the Port Region.
That data shows that over 57 percent of the businesses recognized by this program have been in business more than 20 years; 22 percent are noted for excellent customer service and 33 percent for quality and reliability; a full one-quarter of them identify as their proudest accomplishment was a commitment to their original goals; and 38 percent indicate they would tell someone who was starting their own business in the Port Region that it is most important to “know their industry and competition thoroughly before start-up.”
Also, the data shows that 16 percent of those recognized for best practice are strategically targeting their customers’ needs; 11 percent consider a strong relationship with customers s a critical success factor; 11 percent also cite consistent quality and reliability as their secret to success; and a full 40 percent consider their greatest challenge to be surviving major market shifts and changes.
Each of the Businesses of the Year was recognized and honored at a special reception held prior to the gala.
The Economic Alliance provides economic development services and is funded by 12 chambers of commerce; Harris County; the Port of Houston Authority; private sector members; the cities of La Porte, Shoreacres, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, South Houston, Deer Park, Baytown, Seabrook, Pearland, Galena Park, Baytown and Jacinto City; as well as communities of Channelview, Sheldon, South Belt-Ellington and North Shore. Since early 2004 until the current time, the Economic Alliance has helped bring approximately 300 million dollars of capital investment to the area. The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region is also known for its quality of life urban revitalization master plan, named Project Stars™, which has been championed by mayors of the port region, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia many others. For more information about the economic development services or to find out how your company can become a member of the Economic Alliance, contact CEO Jan Lawler at 281-867-1112 or go to its website www.allianceportregion.com.
A business from each of the chamber of commerce communities represented by the alliance was honored, and the 2008 honoree, as chosen by the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce to represent the communities of the East End of Harris County is Alexander/Ryan Marine and Safety Co., located at 2000 Wayside Drive.
Alexander Industries Inc. was established in 1968 in New Orleans, La., by William B. Alexander. The Houston branch office opened in 1972 at the Katy Freeway and Shepherd Drive.
Current President John F. Ryan III joined the company in June of 1974, after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans. The company moved to the East End in May of 1976, surviving the industry downturn in May of 1990. Ryan purchased the Houston Branch in November of 1990 with the assistance of a Small Business Administration loan, and in January of 1995 he acquired as well the New Orleans office of Alexander Industries, Inc. – thus completing acquisition of the entire predecessor company.
Alexander/Ryan Marine & Safety Co. is known for being the most diversified marine and offshore safety equipment company, excelling in meeting the regulatory requirements for Lifesaving, Firefighting, and Personal Protection Equipment. The company distributes products worldwide to the oil and gas industry, specializing in offshore drilling contractors and oil production companies. Alexander/Ryan also has several lines of engineered products such as watermakers, sewage treatment units, oily water separators, aluminum heliports, and many more.
Ryan recalls a number of special moments in the history of the firm, including obtaining the SBA commitment letter to purchase the Houston Office in 1990; acquisition of the New Orleans office in 1995; entering the Lifeboat Systems business in 1995 with the Chinese Shipyard; being listed in the Top 100 Small Businesses four times; his personal accomplishment of being appointed by the U.S. Coast Guard as chairman of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee; and, last but not least, being recognized for this prestigious award.
“I have never lost sight of the fact that our customers are the most important thing to our business,” he said. “You have to have sales first, and your employees are your second most important asset.”
Economic Alliance President Jan Lawler notes that through the Business of the Year program, a data source has been established over the past five years to quantify and track attributes of best practice businesses in the Port Region.
That data shows that over 57 percent of the businesses recognized by this program have been in business more than 20 years; 22 percent are noted for excellent customer service and 33 percent for quality and reliability; a full one-quarter of them identify as their proudest accomplishment was a commitment to their original goals; and 38 percent indicate they would tell someone who was starting their own business in the Port Region that it is most important to “know their industry and competition thoroughly before start-up.”
Also, the data shows that 16 percent of those recognized for best practice are strategically targeting their customers’ needs; 11 percent consider a strong relationship with customers s a critical success factor; 11 percent also cite consistent quality and reliability as their secret to success; and a full 40 percent consider their greatest challenge to be surviving major market shifts and changes.
Each of the Businesses of the Year was recognized and honored at a special reception held prior to the gala.
The Economic Alliance provides economic development services and is funded by 12 chambers of commerce; Harris County; the Port of Houston Authority; private sector members; the cities of La Porte, Shoreacres, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, South Houston, Deer Park, Baytown, Seabrook, Pearland, Galena Park, Baytown and Jacinto City; as well as communities of Channelview, Sheldon, South Belt-Ellington and North Shore. Since early 2004 until the current time, the Economic Alliance has helped bring approximately 300 million dollars of capital investment to the area. The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region is also known for its quality of life urban revitalization master plan, named Project Stars™, which has been championed by mayors of the port region, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia many others. For more information about the economic development services or to find out how your company can become a member of the Economic Alliance, contact CEO Jan Lawler at 281-867-1112 or go to its website www.allianceportregion.com.
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