Thank you to our Executive Partners for your long-term
support of the Greater Houston Partnership.
President & CEO
Bob Harvey
Senior Vice President, Workforce Development
Peter Beard
Senior Vice President & Chief Economic Development Officer
Susan Davenport
Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
LaTanya Flix
Senior Vice President, Research
Patrick Jankowski
Senior Vice President & Chief Policy Officer
Taylor Landin
Senior Vice President, Resources
Bonita Lockings
Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications
Clint Pasche
Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
Jenny Philip
Senior Vice President, Member Engagement & Chief Development Officer
Katie Pryor
Senior Vice President, Finance and Accounting & CFO
Gerrie Richards
Vice President, Events & Programs
Cari Broderson
Vice President, Public Policy
Chase Kronzer
Vice President, Regional Economic Development
Bethany Miller
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
A.J. Mistretta
Vice President, Public Policy & Advocacy
Lindsay Munoz
Vice President, Member Acquisition & Engagement
Nichelle Poindexter
It goes without saying that 2020 was a year unlike any other we have experienced. The COVID-19 pandemic combined with the collapse of the energy markets had an outsized impact on Houston, and I was pleased with the work of the Greater Houston Partnership on both of these fronts.
When I took on the role of 2020 Partnership Chair, I wanted to tackle what I saw as the most pressing issue facing our region’s economic future, the global energy transition. I believed then, and still do, that Houston has an obligation to help lead the transition to a low carbon future while simultaneously ensuring the world’s growing energy needs are met.
The question at the beginning of 2020 was not whether a transition would happen, rather just how quickly it would transpire. While the impact of the global pandemic on the energy transition is still to be determined, the energy business has shifted in the last twelve months, making our work more important than ever.
Despite the challenges, we charted some significant energy transition wins in 2020. First, we’ve garnered fantastic support from the energy industry itself and the leadership who understand the issue better than anyone. We used the convening power of the Partnership to pull those leaders together to discuss Houston’s path forward. This group agrees we must leverage Houston’s unique knowledge base, talent and infrastructure to lead the transition. No city can match Houston.
The Partnership supported efforts to grow and develop Houston’s Energy 2.0 ecosystem focused on recruiting companies, start-ups and incubators in energy tech, renewables, carbon capture and the like. We had some tangible success in this respect, including the recruitment of Greentown Labs to Houston, North America’s largest cleantech accelerator. They are opening their first satellite office right here in Houston. At the same time, established operations like Halliburton through its Halliburton Labs, and the large integrated energy companies, are doing incredible R&D work to discover new carbon and non-carbon-based means of producing energy.
The momentum in Houston related to the transition is quite good, and it is essential that our companies continue to attract capital to attack this issue. It will take the continued focus and attention from all of us in the business community to see to it that Houston goes through this energy transition period and comes out of it on the other end with the same global leadership position in energy that we have today. I am very confident that that we will.
As we work to set the stage for our region’s economic success, we must also insist that all Houstonians have equal opportunity to succeed as individuals. The turmoil of the last year laid bare the systemic racism that has permeated our society for too long. I believe the business community has an important role to play as our community pursues racial diversity, equity and inclusion. Meaningful change will not be quick nor easy, but the Partnership is committed to ensuring that a lens of racial equity permeate all facets of our work and that we lead the broader business community in addressing racial equity.
The next few years will be critical to Houston’s long-term future, and I look forward to continuing to support the work of the Partnership.
Bobby Tudor
Chair
For the Partnership and the Houston region, 2020 began with a great deal of optimism and anticipation. We entered the year on a solid trajectory to create more jobs for our region and continue enhancing our innovation ecosystem while simultaneously digging into the hard work of energy transition that would enable Houston to remain the world’s energy capital.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the downturn in the energy markets last spring dealt Houston one of the toughest economic blows in recent memory. We lost an astounding 350,000 jobs in just two months as the region joined the rest of the world in lockdown. Since then, we’ve regained more than half of the jobs lost, but complete recovery won’t be possible until COVID-19 vaccines are fully deployed and the virus’ stranglehold on daily life eliminated.
These have not been easy days for companies in our region, both large and small. But beginning in March, the staff of the Partnership leapt into action to help our members navigate an unprecedented situation. We produced several critical resources, stood up new programs and pivoted to digital programming. I’m proud of the job our staff has done to keep our members informed and engaged throughout this period.
Despite the challenges we faced, there were also major accomplishments. Companies including Amazon and Google announced plans for new operations in the Houston area that will add hundreds of jobs. Tech giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it would relocate its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to Houston, giving our region another Fortune 500 company. And in a move certain to reinvigorate our aerospace sector, Axiom Space announced it will build the world’s first commercial space station at a new headquarters facility it is constructing at the Houston Spaceport.
Our organization also made headway in the effort to lead the global energy transition to a low-carbon future—a bold initiative that began several years ago and took off in earnest in 2020 with a commitment from Bobby Tudor. We also took on a leadership role in working to address racial inequity in the Houston community through the launch of our One Houston Together initiative.
In the months ahead, we will work to continue our collaboration with elected officials, the Texas Medical Center and other groups in the battle to overcome COVID-19. We will help position our region for full economic recovery by creating an environment conducive to growth among existing companies and the attraction of others. We will refocus attention on our Houston Next strategic plan to ensure economic growth is balanced with a strong quality of life and equitable and inclusive opportunity for all residents.
Houston’s can-do spirit has not been more fully tested in any other period since the 1980s, but we can and will rise to the occasion and revitalize this great global city.
Bob Harvey
President and CEO
The arrival of COVID-19 in Houston in March marked a seismic shift in how this region would conduct business through the remainder of 2020. The temporary shutdown of many industries, along with efforts to maintain the health and safety of on-site employees and maneuver through federal relief programs, required guidance and support for companies. The Partnership acted quickly to provide members and other companies in our region regular updates, direction and vital resources. The organization has also worked closely with elected officials and health officials at the state, county and city level, as well as leaders from the Texas Medical Center and local independent school districts to help coordinate response efforts.
Work Safe Company Program: First announced on March 25 and later updated and expanded, the Partnership developed principles designed to support a healthy and safe work environment for employers. To encourage companies to adhere to these principles, a corresponding pledge was developed for leadership to sign, signifying to their employees, customers and the public that they would follow the principles. To date, more than 180 Houston area companies, from small businesses with just a few employees to multinational corporations, have committed to being Work Safe Companies.Responding to the need for a centralized hub containing federal, state and local recovery resources, the Partnership created the Business Recovery Center in April to provide links to key programs and guides on applying for assistance.
To aid companies planning to reopen or expand their operations, the Partnership shared several resources to help businesses develop plans to protect the health of their employees and customers, minimizing the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
Each of the Partnership’s Public Policy Advisory Committees provided ongoing engagement on their industries’ unique challenges, learning and policy solutions during the pandemic.
Employers in the Houston region shed a total of 350,200 jobs early in the pandemic, adding back 202,500 jobs through mid-January 2021, or about 58% of those lost. The majority of the job losses have been in sectors such as restaurants and hospitality, construction, professional services and manufacturing.
In times of uncertainty, information is key. The Partnership began providing regular virtual updates on the economy and the impact of COVID-19 shortly after the pandemic began. Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski continued these updates monthly through the remainder of the year, providing up-to-date information and analysis on the trajectory of the national and local economies. These virtual events were augmented by a new Partnership podcast, Bayou Business Download, as well as written updates.
The Partnership’s COVID-19 Houston Business Forum was a digital series providing the latest information and analysis in the first few months of the crisis. The presentations with local experts and business leaders covered topics including managing COVID-19 cases in the workplace, ensuring safe public transportation and making sense of new federal regulations. Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey also provided regular updates for members on the impact of the virus.
The Partnership’s Small Biz Insider digital program, which includes a podcast and video series, switched gears during the pandemic to help provide key guidance and advice to small businesses in the region facing challenges.
Houston is a city of tremendous opportunity. It’s a city where no idea is too big to realize and no challenge too difficult to address with the right focus and leadership. Houston’s growth and prosperity have accelerated rapidly in recent years, but that positive trajectory is far from guaranteed.
To succeed as a global metro, it is critical that Houstonians focus our efforts on three key areas:
As we pursue these goals, it is critical to view our efforts through the lens of racial equity, advancing bold solutions to strengthen Houston as a diverse, inclusive and equitable city.
These are noble aspirations, but not easy to pursue or sustain. That’s why great cities need exceptional civic leaders to guide success.
Houston Next empowers the region’s business leaders, through the Greater Houston Partnership, to accelerate Houston’s progress across these areas of impact to ensure Houston continues to advance as a great global city.
In implementing the Houston Next strategy, the Partnership is focused on continuously improving Houston’s position among the great global cities.
The Partnership thanks the 37 Houston Next investors who have pledged their support to our strategic efforts. Learn More.
The Partnership has long promoted Houston’s growth through economic development efforts aimed at attracting, retaining and growing leading global companies, creating jobs and growing the region’s GDP. We also provide a platform to connect foreign companies and entities with members of the Houston business community and facilitate initiatives that expand investment and trade opportunities.
Based on recommendations from an economic development tactical plan in 2019, the Partnership identified Aerospace and Aviation as a sixth area of strategic focus due to the growth potential of the commercial space sector in our region. Aerospace and Aviation joins Life Sciences, Energy 2.0, Headquarters recruitment, Digital Technology and Manufacturing and Logistics as the target sectors for recruitment. In addition, the economic development team expanded to include three industry experts tasked with leading strategic ecosystem enhancements and unique recruitment opportunities related to Aerospace, Life Sciences and Energy 2.0.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Partnership’s business attraction and retention efforts adapted to the current economic environment. This included a deeper look at target industries to ensure ongoing attraction efforts aligned with significant shifts in the economy and emerging areas of opportunity, as well as adapting our communications with prospect companies and international partners.
This activity is led by our economic development committees comprised of executives from leading companies and organizations across Houston.
During a time of increased uncertainty, it became even more important to harness strategic partnerships and connections to further regional economic development objectives through:
Houston-based companies raised $715 million in Venture Capital (VC) funding in 2020, up from $702 million in 2019 and a new record.
Despite economically challenging times, the Houston region continued to see both domestic and international business expansions and relocation activity. The Partnership and its regional allies assisted in 21 economic development projects, accounting for over $704 million in capital expenditure and over 3,200 new jobs to the region.
The Houston region further solidified its position as a top U.S. metro for business relocations and expansions, with an estimated total of more than 120 announced projects. Of those projects that disclosed investment and new job creation, the Partnership estimates over $4.3 billion in capital expenditure and more than 9,570 new jobs.
Houston continues to draw interest from companies across the country and around the world thanks to its business-friendly environment, pro-growth policies and exceptional, low-cost, quality of life.
While notable outbound visits took place earlier in the year, travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic quickly shifted business recruitment missions, both domestically and internationally, to a virtual setting.
In January, the Partnership traveled to Israel with Governor Abbott during the first month of the year to discuss synergies in our innovation and startup ecosystems. This visit included a special dinner with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.
In October, the Partnership organized a two-day virtual business recruitment mission to Silicon Valley. The delegation was led by Mayor Turner and included Houston business leaders. Notable company visits included Intel, HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Chevron, Plug and Play Technology Center and The Wesley Group. Meetings focused on Houston’s role to lead the global energy transition, the region’s digital tech and innovation initiatives, as well Houston’s approach to racial equity. The trip concluded with a high-energy virtual marketing event featuring an update on the incredible transformation and investments shaping Houston, including venture capital investment, innovation infrastructure projects and greenspace.
In November, the Partnership hosted a multi-day virtual investment forum in partnership with the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The virtual forum brought together civic leaders, port authorities and subject matter experts to exchange knowledge and stimulate bilateral investment, trade and innovation between Houston and the Netherlands in the area of Energy 2.0. The event highlighted Houston’s commitment to working with our global partners on tackling climate change head on and identifying solutions for the future.
In December, the Partnership and Mayor Turner hosted a virtual multi-day investment and trade mission to Tokyo and Chiba. The mission focused on reinforcing our relationship with key allies, promoting Houston as a great global city and establishing new avenues for cooperation and investment with key government stakeholders and business leaders. Notable meetings included Mitsubishi Corporation, Toshiba, the Mayor of Chiba, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
The economic downturn brought about by the pandemic made it increasingly important to continue building awareness about Houston’s diverse industry base and broad value proposition through an integrated marketing and communications campaign that included:
“While some might have chosen Silicon Valley for their U.S. HQ, Houston has been kind of a hidden gem for us…Our company has been able to grow within the local community and ecosystem…I’d consider Houston’s startup scene to be unique, growing and diverse.” – Marcelo Cordini, co-founder of December Labs
Continuing to play the role of Houston’s Front Door, the Partnership welcomed 86 inbound delegations from 28 countries to further grow the region’s international ties. Despite travel restrictions, the Partnership continued to host key visits with our partners around the globe virtually.
Notable business and governmental delegations included:
“We’ve known for a long time that the digital economy will change how we work, and it’s not a new trend. This crisis has made it a step-change. We have now seen the arrival of that new digital economy at scale, and that will hurt employment, it will put some workers out of a job. We need to be thinking about retraining employees and taking this a lot more seriously.”– Mike Wirth, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Chevron
At the start of 2020, the Partnership prioritized efforts that will position Houston to lead the global energy transition to a more efficient and sustainable, low-carbon future, while also accommodating growing global energy demand.
Key 2020 wins:
The Partnership has dedicated cross-functional industry experts who are working alongside the business community, stakeholders, elected officials and others to:
“In order to meet the urgent challenge of climate change, we must engage the talent and assets of major ecosystems around the country. We look forward to catalyzing the Houston ecosystem’s support for climatetech startups as we work together toward a sustainable future for all.” – Emily Reichert, CEO, Greentown Labs
For Houston to compete for companies and talent on the global stage, we must ensure a great quality of life for our residents. As the primary business advocate for the Houston region, the Partnership has worked to broaden the scope of efforts around quality of life to include issues such as flood resiliency and a robust transportation infrastructure.
Key to the Partnership’s effort to improve the quality of life for residents of our region is our advocacy function. The Partnership works closely with elected officials at all levels of government to advocate for policies that address the most pressing issues facing our community.
Throughout 2020, particularly since COVID-19 hit the Houston region, we have worked closely with officials at the local, regional, state and federal levels to provide policy recommendations that support our region.
Washington, D.C. Fly-In: In February, the Partnership led a delegation of almost 100 business leaders, elected officials and regional partners to Washington, D.C. to discuss federal priorities with members of Congress, the Administration, agency officials and other key stakeholders to advance key priorities including:
“As we move forward through these unprecedented times, the City’s foundation is strong; the City itself is resilient; and the City’s future is bright,” – Mayor Sylvester Turner, State of the City, October 22, 2020
Future of Texas brought together hundreds of members with elected officials and civic leaders who are shaping Texas’ future to discuss perspectives on our state’s most pressing issues. The 2020 series featured conversations with local leaders from the City of Houston and members of the Texas Legislature covering education and industry, the state budget, equity, public health and preparation for the 87th Texas Legislative Session.
In 2020, the Partnership advanced policy priorities through the convening elected officials, subject matter experts and community leaders, including:
The Partnership is committed to sustainable funding and health care access. Prior to the pandemic, the Trump Administration proposed new rules under the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR). The Health Care Advisory Committee evaluated the issue and the Partnership supported a policy to limit disruptions to provider payment rates and state financing of Medicaid.
The City of Houston 50/50 Park Partners presents an opportunity for corporations to support neighborhood parks and their surrounding communities. The initiative includes an equity-based process for determining park selection and park improvements to ensure they are driven by local communities. The Partnership’s Quality of Place Committee provided advisory support to the initiative, which is operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Houston Parks Board.
“The 50/50 Park Partners program is a great example of how corporate partners can come together with the city and our communities to support neighborhood resources and promote park equity across Houston. I’m proud of the role the business community continues to play in making Houston a better place to live and work for everyone.” – Bob Harvey
“Port of Houston international tonnage is still 70% ahead of the next closest U.S. port. Even with a weak year in 2020, the Port of Houston will remain the number one U.S. port for international trade.” – Ric Campo, Chair Port Houston, State of the Port, October 13, 2020
“Our airfields began looking more like aircraft parking lots [in March and April]. And so few passengers meant little revenue was coming in… That was our rock bottom. But it was the point when I believe we found our greatest strength in ourselves, in our essential team and our leadership. We knew we had to adapt. We had to be nimble. We knew we had to come together and act fast.” – Mario Diaz, Houston Aviation Director, State of the Airports, October 2, 2020
The Houston-Galveston Customs District handled 311.3 million metric tons of goods and commodities in the first 11 months of 2020, an 8.6% increase over the comparable period in 2019.
As the Partnership works to support a strong, diverse economy, it is paramount that the growth we achieve is powered by Houstonians – our neighbors who are seeking opportunity to improve their own lives and those of their families. From access to quality education to engaging those often marginalized in underserved and outlying communities, creating a metro region where everyone has a chance to succeed must be a priority.
Preparing for 87th Texas Legislative SessionRecognizing that COVID-19 and the energy downturn has had significant impacts on the state budget, the 2021 legislative session will bring unique challenges for lawmakers to navigate. The Partnership, with the support of the Public Policy Advisory Committees, Steering Committee, and Board of Directors, has approved a focused legislative agenda with two executive priorities – Access and Energy Competitiveness.
The Greater Houston HUB is an initiative that unites higher education and business leaders focused on:
The Higher Education Advisory Committee worked with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on a pilot initiative, GradTX 2.0, which seeks to re-enroll students in college to obtain a degree or credential of value.
“There are a lot of indicators that show that this economy can be strong again and can do so in a short period of time given the opportunity. We’ve got a lot of companies that have streamlined, they’ve looked at how to do things more efficiently, so once we get out of the way and we have a vaccine and this virus is behind us or in the rear-view mirror, I think it’s possible that we could have an even stronger economy.” – Trey Duhon, County Judge of Waller County, State of the Houston Region, September 25, 2020
The Partnership, in collaboration with business and education leaders, launched the Texas Digital Access Coalition. The Public Education Advisory Committee supports this initiative to improve access to reliable and affordable digital connectivity that empowers Texans to meaningfully engage in their education, employment and health care.
“We have all had to adjust with COVID. If you really try to hold onto the way things worked before, it’s going to be really tough. And it’s going to be tough for the people on the front lines of your business. Open things up more.” – Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic, Houston NEXT: An ERG Summit, October 14
The Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative works to strengthen the talent pipeline employers need and to help all Houstonians connect to good careers that increase their economic opportunity and prosperity. UpSkill Houston leaders worked with the Boston Consulting Group in 2019 to create a new strategy – Vision 2025 – to accelerate and scale UpSkill Houston’s impact. Vision 2025 key pillars include:
This effort has become only more urgent with the arrival of COVID-19 and the increase in automation and digital technologies in the workplace; and it will remain more important as the region recovers from the pandemic’s effects. Skills-based hiring practices and charting upskilling pathways to good careers will be key elements in the region’s recovery from the pandemic and its economic downturn. Vision 2025’s focus was informed by two major reports published this year:
Both reports highlight research conducted for the initiative by TEConomy Partners, LLC. in 2019.
Since its founding, UpSkill Houston has been known as a convener of employers, educators and community-based organizations invested in strengthening the region’s talent pipeline. Challenges driven by fluctuations in the economy and global markets, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused greater alignment of workforce development efforts across the region and beyond, with UpSkill Houston serving as a model and a major driver of progress.
UpSkill Houston launched the UpSkill Works Forum Series to elevate and broaden the regional conversation around workforce development. The series delves into key workforce issues and has featured nationally known thinkers from the Brookings Institution, Opportunity America, WorkingNation and regional leaders from local organizations and educational institutions working with employers and individuals in the Houston region.
UpSkill Houston continued its work to promote awareness of the good careers and career pathways available in the regional economy through its popular “My Life As…” series, as well as active participation in career fairs and information sessions, and the promotion of opportunities and pathways offered by its partners.
UpSkill Houston also launched a new skills-focused animated series in partnership with Red+Black to help individuals recognize and develop the foundational skills that can set them up for career success.
In 2020, the Partnership helped host and facilitate the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s prestigious Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy® in Texas with the goal of increasing alignment between workforce development practitioners across the state. The TPM Academy also lays the groundwork for a statewide network focused on addressing skills gaps. The six-month Academy included roughly 30 workforce development leaders from Texas cities and communities large and small, including four from the greater Houston region.
The TPM Academy was supported by an alliance of state workforce and education leaders, including the Partnership, Educate Texas and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Partnership Senior Vice President of Regional Workforce Development Peter Beard served on the faculty of the TPM Academy of Texas.
The Partnership became a founding partner of Aim Hire Texas, a statewide consortium of advocates, employers, non-profit organizations, and education and training providers working to improve the Texas workforce system for the benefit of all Texans and their employers.
The initiative, which launched in October, supports policies and expands programs that provide skills training from traditional and new public and private sources, ensuring that Texans who need a 21st-century job can find one, and employers can access a growing talent pool to meet their needs.
In October, UpSkill Houston’s Peter Beard testified before the Texas Senate Higher Education Committee as it examined innovative programs that assist non-traditional students in completing a degree or credential and considered potential partnerships with higher education institutions to expand successful programs.
In his testimony, Beard concluded that to be successful in its charge, Texas must:
In September, the Partnership joined forces with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and WorkingNation to launch Talent Finance – an initiative aimed at reimagining how we finance and invest in the development and upskilling of a competitive workforce. This groundbreaking initiative explores private sector-led finance solutions and innovations to better invest in people and skills that keep pace with innovation and advance economic opportunity, diversity, inclusion, and competitiveness.
The Partnership co-authored the Talent Finance white paper outlining a framework and opportunities for assessing, measuring and managing risk, and changing incentives for employers and government to work together. UpSkill Houston’s Peter Beard was also featured in the ensuing forum series that examined key themes of the white paper.
“We’ve known for a long time that the digital economy will change how we work, and it’s not a new trend. This crisis has made it a step-change. We have now seen the arrival of that new digital economy at scale, and that will hurt employment, it will put some workers out of a job. We need to be thinking about retraining employees and taking this a lot more seriously.”– Mike Wirth, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Chevron
Stay up to date with UpSkill Houston’s work and the latest workforce development news and information from around the region by subscribing to the UpSkill UpDate newsletter.
With HR professionals being called to swiftly adapt their workforces and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) coming to the forefront in 2020, the Talent Resources Group (TRG) had an active year. Pre-pandemic, this business resource group celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act by hosting ReelWorkplace in collaboration with the JFS Alexander Institute for Inclusion as part of the 8th annual ReelAbilities Houston Film & Arts Festival. The group also hosted the third annual Houston NEXT: An ERG Summit, a three-day event featuring experts discussing distributed work models and how HR and talent professionals can advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Houston-area realtors sold 96,151 single-family homes in 2020, up 10.5% compared to 2019. Sales of all property types (single-family, duplexes, townhomes and condos) totaled 115,523 homes in 2020, up 11.6% from 2019 and a new record high.
While the issues of racial inequity and systemic racism are not unique to Houston, we have an opportunity as Houstonians to lead the way in reforming broken systems, partnering with communities, offering support and removing barriers. We often speak with pride of Houston being “America’s most diverse city,” but that’s not enough. The Partnership and the 1,000 member companies and institutions we represent are committed to making Houston “America’s most inclusive and open city”, one that does truly offer “opportunity for all.”
The co-occurring crises of this past summer have galvanized our nation and our city. The nation responded to acts of police brutality against Black individuals with renewed calls for racial justice and equity. Such acts are unfortunately part of a broader pattern of institutional racism in the American criminal justice system and, more broadly, in American society.
The COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on inequities in our region, from access to quality education for Black and Hispanic students to adequate health care for these communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. As work to rebuild the economy continues, there’s growing concern that the recovery could split along socioeconomic and racial lines, with minority communities suffering the brunt. In this, the fourth-largest city in our nation, real recovery must include all Houstonians. That means eliminating the barriers to opportunity and access for our minority workforce. It also means support for minority entrepreneurs and businesses.
In August, the Partnership announced One Houston Together, our commitment to leverage the power of the business community to address racial inequity in Houston. We launched One Houston Together after holding several listening sessions with local community leaders, underrepresented entrepreneurs, and our members to learn about areas of racial injustice and inequity that need to be addressed as a priority for Houston.
We commit to build a shared understanding of systemic and individual racism, create changes within our organization and prioritize equity as an outcome of our work, and develop relevant programmatic and policy solutions. Racial equity is now an integral component of Houston Next, our strategic plan.
A Racial Equity Committee of the Partnership’s board was established in August to guide our efforts. Following several meetings, the 30-member committee developed a set of core principles that were approved by the Partnership board in December to be promulgated throughout the business community.
The Partnership’s Racial Equity Principles are a framework to communicate the Houston business community’s pledge to reform systems of bias, strengthen underserved communities, advocate inclusion, and remove barriers to achievement. Although many businesses have made their own individual statements and pledges, this unified approach sends an important signal about the Houston business community’s collective commitment. The Principles articulate how the Partnership and individual businesses can commit to advancing racial equity within their organizations and throughout our community. As of mid-January 2021, more than 80 companies representing more than 200,000 local employees had pledged to follow the principles.
The Greater Houston Partnership Racial Equity Committee harnesses the collective commitment and resources of Houston’s businesses and institutions to advance bold solutions to strengthen Houston as the most diverse, inclusive and equitable city in the United States.
Members of the Houston business community commit to addressing, individually and collectively, obstacles to racial equity that impede the fair and open treatment of members of the Houston community. We embrace the opportunity to lead the way in reforming systems of bias, strengthening underserved communities, advocating inclusion, and removing barriers to achievement. We understand that these actions require intentional, systematic and bold efforts to transform our city into a more equitable and inclusive place to live and work.
As leaders of Houston’s businesses and civic institutions, we commit to the following principles:
The effort to address racial inequities is complex and challenging. Nonetheless, we believe that meaningful change requires serious societal commitment and concerted action. A more equitable and inclusive Houston strengthens not only our community, but also positions our region to be more economically competitive as a global city.
In September, the Partnership hosted a series of webinars under One Houston Together to build a shared understanding around local issues in relation to racism and systemic inequities. Topics included Health and Racial Inequities, Understanding Racism, Developing Equitable Communities and more. The five events drew more than 1,830 participants and subsequent viewers. In November, we conducted our first-ever survey to gain a better understanding of the current business community activity surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“There’s a difference between recognizing race, whether someone is African American or Asian for instance, and attaching harmful, negative, destructive racial stereotypes to people who are different from us—that’s where the racism happens. And a lot of that is built on how we understand the narratives that have been created in society.” – Dr. Melanye Price, Endowed Professor of Political Science at Prairie View A&M University, One Houston Together: Understanding Racism, September 1
The Greater Houston Partnership is the region’s premier business organization representing 1,000 member companies that work together to achieve our mission of ensuring Houston’s place as a great global city.
The Partnership has long championed Houston’s growth through economic development efforts aimed at attracting leading global companies to Houston, creating jobs and contributing to the region’s GDP. We also advocate for sound public policy at the local, state and federal levels. And we convene a diverse set of regional leaders on key issues impacting the greater Houston community.
The arrival of COVID-19 in Houston made our work more challenging. Businesses and residents across our region have suffered the unprecedented effects of the pandemic, from lost revenue and jobs to severe illness. During this period, the Partnership has provided critical information and resources to the Houston business community while working to mitigate the impact on the regional economy. The continued commitment of business leaders and the broader community is essential as we work together to rebuild our economy and retain our place as a 21st century leader.
The Partnership’s work is made possible through the investment and active engagement of our 1,000 member companies.
Partnership members demonstrate their commitment to making Houston greater through their support of the organization and engagement in our activities. Connections, meetings, events and programs may have taken new forms in 2020, however member engagement and activity saw all-time highs.
The Partnership hosts regular engagement sessions to provide an overview of the organization’s priorities, initiatives and benefits available to prospective, new and returning member companies and their employees.
A key way in which the Partnership connects members is through Business Resource Groups (BRGs) and Councils. These gatherings bring together like-minded individuals around business trends and topics. Here are just some of the activities these conducted in 2020:
“You may want to be perfect because you want to prove you should be there, but none of us carry the entire weight of womankind. None of us should feel the pressure to have it all the time. Sometimes achieving a work-life balance means putting life first, and we shouldn’t feel guilty about that.” – Gretchen Watkins, President, Shell Oil Company, WBA’s Rise to the Top – March 6
