The North Houston Association will honor business ¡aid community leaders at its Annual Awards Luncheon on March 4. Anthony Chan. PhD., chief economist and managing director. Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, will give an economic development forecast for 1999 and beyond. Chan’s presentation will examine the domestic and international events that shape the overall economy. The focus of his talk will be current events and their economic implications. Within this context, a number of topics will be discussed. Chon will discuss global economic developments and their impact on the overall U.S. domestic economy. He will comment on both the positive and negative aspects of the global financial market meltdown and its ultimate effect.
He will also discuss the current and future path of foreign exchange rates and compare foreign growth and inflation rates to U.S. growth and inflation rates.
In examining the domestic economy. Chan w ill review labor market developments and their relationship to the overall economy; he will also examine the supply and demand forces of interest rates and present his interest rate forecast for the next 12 months. Within this framework, the impact on credit demands and interest-sensitive sectors of the economy will also be discussed. Chan’s presentation will also look at monetary and fiscal government policies and will provide a forecast for the future direction of these policies. Chan will also cover current developments in equity and fixed income markets and will discuss the primary forces affecting these markets. Time will be allotted specifically for a question and answer session.
Also at the luncheon, NHA will present its annual awards to outstanding leaders in north Houston. Roger Gaiatas, senior advisor to executive management of real estate companies with a focus on master- planned communities, will be honored for his longtime service to north Houston. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of The Woodlands Operating Company, L.R, and directed all the company’s real estate activities related to the 26,000-acre community of The Woodlands. Gaiatas also has been directly involved in the creation of several unique elements within the community, including a 13,000 seat performing arts pavilion, an acute care hospital and a private college preparatory school where former President Bush delivered the school’s first commencement address. Gaiatas is actively engaged at the national level in efforts to achieve a balance between important environmental objectives and economic growth. He serves as chair of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) environmental Forum and a trustee and officer of ULI. He is also on the Real Estate Advisory Committee of the Trust for Public Land.He is a board member of the Grand Parkway Association, a transportation agency of the Texas Department of Transportation.
The North Star award is given to an individual who has made a long-term impact on the quality of life in north Houston. Past recipients include Jimmie Schindewolfe, P.E., city of Houston, former Congressman Jack Fields, Chancellor John Pickelman, Ph.D.. North Harris Montgomery’ Community College District, and W.W. Thorne.
The Association’s Compass Award is bestowed on an individual or company that has made a significant contribution to the success of the North Houston Association and its committees. Fast recipients include Jon Strange. P.E., JNS Consulting Engineers, Inc., Jack Drake, Greater Greenspoint District, Jim Royer, Turner, Collie & Braden, Inc., and Mark Froehlich, Pate Engineers.
This year, the NHA Board of Directors felt there were two individuals deserving of this award: David G. Daleiden, director of market research, Weingarten Realty Investors, and Ed Shackelford, precinct engineer, Harris County Precinct Four. Daleiden chaired the Aerial Land Use Map subcommittee in 1997 and 1998. Because of his dedication to the map’s production and his painstaking attention to detail. NHA has updated its most-requested economic development tool. Daleiden also headed up the map project in 1994 and 1989. Ed Shackelford, P.E., is the Boarcfs choice for the second Compass Award this year. Shackelford serves on NHA’s Transportation and Environment Committees, working to keep members updated on county programs and projects. He also advises the Association on steps it can take to assist Harris County on issues that affect north Houston. In addition to serving on these committees, Shackelford takes time to assist the Association on a number of its projects, including NHA’s annual fundraiser and the Aerial Land Use Map. Shackelford has been serving on the Association’s committees since 1991. He has worked as the precinct engineer for Harris County Precinct Four since 1991 and is active in the National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Committee. ■
