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Harrison named 2008 Economic Alliance ‘Visionary’
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| Former Economic Alliance Houston Port Region Chairman Thane Harrison (center) is flanked by family members after receiving the 2008 Visionary Award at the Business Excellence Awards Gala held recently on the shores of Galveston Bay, at the beautiful new Cruise Terminal operated by the Port of Houston Authority at its Bayport facility. Harrison is a Deer Park City Councilman and Director of Government Affairs for Waste Management of Texas, Inc. |
The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region honored its former Chairman Thane Harrison with the 2008 Visionary Award at its recent annual Business Excellence Awards Gala held on the shores of Galveston Bay, inside the beautiful new Cruise Terminal operated by the Port of Houston Authority at its Bayport Container Terminal complex.
It was under Harrison’s leadership that the Economic Alliance was reorganized five years ago. His service came at a pivotal time when directors were making key decisions to shape what has turned out to be a successful path during its transformation from the South East Economic Development Council (S.E.E.D.) to the current Economic Alliance Houston Port Region.
The success of the Visionary Award presentation was sealed as members of Harrison’s family surprised him with their attendance. He and wife, Melissa, have five children and five grandchildren.
Thane Harrison is Director of Government Affairs for Waste Management of Texas, Inc. He has also served since 2005 as a member of City Council for the City of Deer Park.
The year 2008 marks the fifth anniversary since the Economic Alliance was reorganized under Harrison’s diligent and visionary leadership. He served as Alliance Chairman during that 2003-04 time frame, and believed that the southeast Harris County communities that were then part of S.E.E.D. should continue to work together to nurture regional economic development approaches, customized for the Port Region’s unique economy.
He recognized the potential of those communities, as they represented some 900,000 citizens working and living in the Port Region. He was clear in his encouragement of fellow civic and business leaders to identify a focus specific to the region. As he once said, “No one has more of a vested interest in growing our highly skilled jobs and workforce than the citizens who live here.”
Harrison inspired the leaders to raise funds to conduct an executive search for a new president of the organization, and that search resulted in the hiring of current President and CEO Jan Lawler. He also led the group through a new branding and reorganization, and most importantly, supported the board and staff in building razor-focused strategies specifically designed to address trends and development in the economic sectors of maritime, petrochemical manufacturing, heritage tourism and related small business.
“Bringing together communities over such a large geographic region occurred because of the trustworthy relationships Thane held with political and economic leaders,” Lawler said. “Those relationships were forged, in part, through his active volunteerism with the Pasadena, Deer Park, Pearland and Baytown chambers of commerce.”
Harrison’s public service hours are beyond measure. He is a also a Lifetime Vice-President and active Director of the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo Association, and a member of the board of directors of both The Bridge Over Troubled Waters and The Wheelhouse Deer Park.
As the recently published Economic Alliance Houston Port Region Membership Report notes, “Thane committed his mind, heart and vision to build a new coalition, a new way of approaching economic development. The Port Region communities have cohesively united and the fruit is evident, ranging from the creation of the San Jacinto Texas Historic District for heritage tourism, to bringing more than $300 million in capital investment to the region in a short period of time.”
It was under Harrison’s leadership that the Economic Alliance was reorganized five years ago. His service came at a pivotal time when directors were making key decisions to shape what has turned out to be a successful path during its transformation from the South East Economic Development Council (S.E.E.D.) to the current Economic Alliance Houston Port Region.
The success of the Visionary Award presentation was sealed as members of Harrison’s family surprised him with their attendance. He and wife, Melissa, have five children and five grandchildren.
Thane Harrison is Director of Government Affairs for Waste Management of Texas, Inc. He has also served since 2005 as a member of City Council for the City of Deer Park.
The year 2008 marks the fifth anniversary since the Economic Alliance was reorganized under Harrison’s diligent and visionary leadership. He served as Alliance Chairman during that 2003-04 time frame, and believed that the southeast Harris County communities that were then part of S.E.E.D. should continue to work together to nurture regional economic development approaches, customized for the Port Region’s unique economy.
He recognized the potential of those communities, as they represented some 900,000 citizens working and living in the Port Region. He was clear in his encouragement of fellow civic and business leaders to identify a focus specific to the region. As he once said, “No one has more of a vested interest in growing our highly skilled jobs and workforce than the citizens who live here.”
Harrison inspired the leaders to raise funds to conduct an executive search for a new president of the organization, and that search resulted in the hiring of current President and CEO Jan Lawler. He also led the group through a new branding and reorganization, and most importantly, supported the board and staff in building razor-focused strategies specifically designed to address trends and development in the economic sectors of maritime, petrochemical manufacturing, heritage tourism and related small business.
“Bringing together communities over such a large geographic region occurred because of the trustworthy relationships Thane held with political and economic leaders,” Lawler said. “Those relationships were forged, in part, through his active volunteerism with the Pasadena, Deer Park, Pearland and Baytown chambers of commerce.”
Harrison’s public service hours are beyond measure. He is a also a Lifetime Vice-President and active Director of the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo Association, and a member of the board of directors of both The Bridge Over Troubled Waters and The Wheelhouse Deer Park.
As the recently published Economic Alliance Houston Port Region Membership Report notes, “Thane committed his mind, heart and vision to build a new coalition, a new way of approaching economic development. The Port Region communities have cohesively united and the fruit is evident, ranging from the creation of the San Jacinto Texas Historic District for heritage tourism, to bringing more than $300 million in capital investment to the region in a short period of time.”
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