You Matter to Houston Airports!

As the central source of contact with civic, business and community leaders, HAS Community & Business Relations promotes and educates the community regarding the Houston Airport System (HAS) and its economic importance to the region.  HAS believes that a well-informed community strengthens relationships with customers and neighbors.  

Reaching out to Business Leaders in the Community

American Heart Association
The American Heart Association - Houston Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Breakfast was held at the Texas Medical Center.  This year’s chair is Denise Castillo-Rhodes, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the Texas Medical Center Corporation in Houston. This power breakfast included women business leaders in the Houston community who are concerned about heart disease and stroke and to provide information and support regarding this critical issue. Some in attendance:  Samina Farid, Suzan Deison, Karen Love, Karen Marshall, Elizabeth Travis, Beth Young, Lisa Holland Nelson and Rhonda Arnold HAS.

Champions of Diversity Awards

Under the leadership of the City of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) Director Carlecia D. Wright, the 3rd Annual Champions of Diversity Awards Ceremony was a memorable occasion. It was held Thursday, December 10, 2015 at the Houston Public Library’s Historic Julia Ideson Building. Awards Ceremony. CEO/Houston Aviation Director Mario C. Diaz received the City Department of the Year Award for the Houston Airport System.  This event honored prime contractors, as well as Minority, Women, Small, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWSDBEs) for their outstanding work on City of Houston contracts. The Ernest B. McGowen, Sr. Champion of Diversity Award was presented to Mr. Richard Huebner, President of the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council. In attendance:  Shelby Scales – Executive Director of the Airport Minority Advisory Council, HAS:  Todd Curry, Rhonda Arnold, Jason Mc Lemore, Justina Mann, Balram Bheodari, Karen Ellis, Janice Ruley, Eduardo Mejia and Steve Anderson. Other included:  Mia Wright, Linda Lorelle, and Phyllis Bailey

Annual Toy Drive - Houston Airport System

Through our combined drives within the airport system, we were able to donate to children in need.  The donations reached children in the Southwest, Central and North Houston neighborhoods. Council Member Mike Laster with District J along with the Police and Clergy Team held its 6th Annual Toy Drive Event on December 12, 2015. Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee’s Toy Drive was held on Saturday, December, 19, 2015. This is the 21st year of this toy drive.   Houston Airports were able to donate to the Military Families at this event. We also provided toys to Mariana Sanchez of Bonding Against Adversity, Inc. whichhelps the economic development in the East and the Aldine Greenspoint area by providing free and low-cost community outreach programs for disadvantaged residents with an emphasis on healthy living, safe living and reducing secondary school dropout rates. Community/Business Relations Director Rhonda Arnold has served on its Board of Directors since 2010. This was their fifth annual toy drive and was held on Thursday, December 17, 2015.  

Through these efforts, the Houston Airport System is able to achieve our mission of connecting the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston. 

To our community neighbors:  “You matter to Houston Airports."

STEAM Jazz Preservation Society (JPS) Board of Directors Announced

Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, Inc., Executive Director, Jan Pink is working with the Community to plan programs that will enhance local and surrounding communities to "Preserve Jazz."  This includes an outreach that will enlighten area youth and students in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) as they engage in innovative, exciting hands-on science experiments, demonstrations and simulations with a touch of JAZZ.  Through jazz education workshops, women empowerment sessions, and outreach to veterans, JPS offers support to local musicians and promote young entreneurship. This is done by engaging the world through the original art form of Jazz.  The JPS Board of Directors was announced and includes: Sam Pink (Founder/Chairman); Ed Sadberry, President, Melvin Williams, Treasurer, Raymond Lewis, Secretary, Gina Spagnola, President of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rhonda Arnold- HAS Community/Business Relations Director,  Vicki Rivers –City of Houston Executive, Steven O’Leary and Vivian Gale – Executive Assistant.

The 2016 Jazz Festival Team was announced: D’Artagnan Babel, Vice President and General Manager of FOX-26, Dr. Richard Watkins, Windsor Village Church, Veterans Ministry, Ronnie Laws – World Renowned Saxophonist, Dr. Simeon L. Queen, Bread of Life, Chief Operating Officer, Christal Mercier, Jose Diaz, Diaz Music Institute. Galveston welcomes the Sixth Annual Red Cat Jazz Festival to Moody Gardens during Mother’s Day weekend 2016. Spagnola is honored to serve as honorary chairperson of the Red Cat Jazz Festival, now in its third year on the island. 

Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum 2015 Annual Awards

Under the management of Milton Thibodeaux, the Monthly Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum has been in existence for over 23 years. Major corporations and governmental diversity managers meet with decision makers and public officials as well as small and minority owned businesses to discuss opportunities and challenges in the areas of contracting and financing. At the year-end awards breakfast, a few our Aviation Executive Community Partners and key stakeholders were given awards: Urban League, Eric Goode; Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, Chair Vernita Harris; Bradlink, President Helen Callier; Gilbreath Communications ‎President & CEO Audrey Gilbreath.