BUSINESS to BUSINESS www.bayareahouston.com BAHEP extends its sincere appreciation for the continued support of the Houston Chronicle through this monthly supplement. October 2014 Texas delegation travels to the Netherlands to investigate storm surge suppression at its best

Widespread support for the Houston/Galveston a storm surge suppression region. system for the upper “Everything that we Texas Gulf Coast has learned while on the trip gained momentum and just further strengthened become a force to be our belief that a system like “reckoned with” in south- the Ike Dike concept east Texas. Currently, would safeguard our fami- almost 30 cities and or- lies and industries well into ganizations in the region, the future. Six Texas legis- as well as the Harris lators saw first-hand how County Mayors’ and storm surge suppression is Councils’ Association, being successfully accom- have adopted resolutions plished in one of the most in support of a coastal flood prone countries in barrier concept. the world. I believe that The resolutions have they are fully on-board endorsed the Ike Dike with getting a similar sys- concept, which was devel- tem built here.” oped by Texas A&M Uni- The Houston/ versity at Galveston’s Dr. Galveston area is home to Bill Merrell. This concept the largest and most im- is directly modeled from portant concentration of other technologies suc- petroleum refining and cessfully installed around petrochemical processing the world – including in plants in the United States, The delegation on the late September fact-finding trip to the Netherlands included (l to r) front row: David Rotterdam, the Nether- and the Port of Houston Robinson, council member, City of Houston; State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, Dist. 6; State Rep. Bill Callegari, lands, St. Petersburg, Rus- ranks first in the nation in Dist. 132; Mayor Jon Keeney, City of Taylor Lake Village; State Rep. Ana Hernandez, Dist. 143; State sia, London, England, and exports. It is the tenth Rep. Mary Ann Perez, Dist. 144; Dave Martin, council member, City of Houston; State Sen. Larry Taylor, in New Orleans, Louisi- largest port in the world. Dist. 11. Back row: Bob Mitchell, president, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership; Mayor Mark Den- ana. The region is hit by a ma- man, City of Nassau Bay; Mayor Michel Bechtel, City of Morgan’s Point; Len Waterworth, executive pro- jor hurricane about every fessor, Texas A&M University at Galveston; State Rep. Joe Deshotel, Dist. 22; and Mayor Glenn Royal, Texas delegation 15 years. City of Seabrook. The Texas delegation was comprised of 42 travelers in all. (Photo by Dan Seal) takes fact-finding trip Hurricane Ike caused to the Netherlands approximately $36 billion In late September, a 42- in damages, loss of life and The Perryman Report would cause aggregate amount of damage to the ing barriers, sluices, locks, member delegation from considerable damage to the by The Perryman Group, losses to the Texas econ- economy of the United dikes and levees, to reduce southeast Texas embarked natural environment, yet it an economic and financial omy of $73 billion in gross States, as well. the Dutch coastline’s size on a second fact-finding was not nearly as destruc- analysis firm out of Waco, product, $61.3 billion in and protect the areas within trip to the Netherlands in tive as future hurricanes Texas, estimates that a income and 863,000 jobs The Delta Works and around the Rhine- order to gain a better un- could be. “Katrina-like” storm while causing an enormous project completed Meuse-Scheldt delta from derstanding of how a sys- in 1997 North Sea floods. It in- tem such as the Nether- The Delta Works project cludes 10,250 miles of dikes lands’ Delta Works pro- in the Netherlands is a and about 300 structures. ject could protect the peo- massive chain of flood The Delta Works is the ple and vital industries of protection structures con- largest storm barrier in the the region. structed after the North world. The project was The delegation included Sea flood in February completed in 1997, and the two state senators, four 1953. The project was un- risk of flooding was reduced state representatives, four dertaken by the Depart- to one in 4,000 years. The mayors and two members ment of Waterways and barrier system has worked of Houston City Council. Public Works after the on numerous occasions to Two members of the dele- flood drowned 1,835 peo- protect the delta, which is gation, Sen. Larry Taylor ple, forced 72,000 from especially prone to flooding and Rep. Joe Deshotel, co their homes, killed more during the spring tide. -chair Texas’ Joint Interim than 200,000 livestock and Committee on Coastal damaged over 47,000 Maeslant Barrier draws Barrier Systems. buildings. international crowds Bob Mitchell, president, Revetments covered with sand and natural grass help to prevent flooding and The project is com- Each September before the Bay Area Houston Eco- provide areas for recreation, as well. (Photo by Dan Seal) prised of 13 dams, includ- North Sea sends rough win- nomic Partnership, was ter waves towards shore, the part of the delegation, as Maeslant Storm Surge Bar- well. BAHEP has been rier, one of the largest mov- working closely with ing structures on the planet, Texas A&M University at BAHEP welcomes AEXA Aerospace, LLC undergoes a test to make Galveston for more than sure it is fully operational. four years in order to gar- Each of the two arms of ner support for a coastal and McCormick Stevenson Corporation the Maeslant Barrier is as barrier concept. Mitchell long as the Eiffel Tower is stated, “We were already AEXA Aerospace, tion was formed to pro- sponded, “Blending the tall and both together weigh aware of how well the LLC vide mechanical engineer- talents of our team with about four times as much. Delta Works project is AEXA Aerospace, LLC is ing services in a more those of our customers The Texas delegation timed protecting the Dutch and an emerging engineering / meaningful way than the and long-term partners its arrival specifically to view have been engaging with related services company typical “job shop” or ensures access to a broad the closing of the gates. The engineers in the Nether- in Houston, Texas, which placement firm. set of engineering disci- barrier was the final stage of lands for quite some time has recently joined the Bay McCormick Stevenson plines, while simultane- the Delta Works. to see how such a system Area Houston Economic engineers, develops and ously delivering the depth could be built to protect Partnership. tests products and systems of technical expertise nec- What is ‘Building with AEXA’s services in- on behalf of clients in the essary for success. Nature’? clude aerospace / aviation “We seek to become a aerospace, defense, and “Our value proposition The delegation also toured BUSINESS services, engineering ser- major player in the devel- homeland security indus- is simple: deliver excep- the Sand Motor, which is an to BUSINESS is a vices, scientific research / opment of international tries. Its clients include tional engineering and innovative method for monthly Bay Area technical development, space exploration by pro- General Dynamics, Orbital design capability as a vari- coastal protection. The Sand Houston Economic software development / viding engineering and ATK, and DRS. Bay Area able cost to our clients. We Motor (also known as Sand Partnership publication engineering, and spaceport scientific solutions to fa- Houston Economic Part- stand ready to serve at all Engine) is a huge volume of in partnership with the development. In 2010, cilitate international explo- nership has welcomed the times, but engage only sand that was applied along Houston Chronicle. AEXA Aerospace received ration of space for the company’s Houston area when our talents are re- the coast in 2011. BAHEP is a member- an award from the Discov- United States and its office as one of its newest quired. The result is a valu- Wind, waves and currents driven organization in ery Channel for the crea- neighbors. We look for- members. able combination of tech- spread the sand naturally, southeast Texas that in- tion of the Mexican Space ward to engaging with Bob Mitchell, BAHEP nical strength and afforda- which is called “Building cludes more than 265 Agency. Additionally, the NASA, its prime contrac- president, stated, bility.” with Nature.” The Sand business partners encom- company has supported tors and other government “McCormick Stevenson’s The main office of Motor gradually changes in passing 13 cities, Galves- the Mexican Federal Gov- agencies in support of our reputation as one of the McCormick Stevenson is shape and will eventually ton and Harris counties, ernment telecommunica- mission. By joining BA- best companies in its areas located in Clearwater, Fla., fully incorporate into the the Houston Airport Sys- tions program, MEX-SAT. HEP and getting involved of expertise is widely and its regional office is at dunes and the beach, mak- tem, and the Port of BAHEP President Bob with its Aerospace Advi- known. We are excited to 13723 Queensbury Lane, ing the coast broader, safer, Houston Authority. For Mitchell stated, “As the sory Committee, we hope have McCormick Steven- Houston, Texas 77079. and creating a dynamic area membership information, groundwork continues to to become more familiar son join us as we work For more information, for nature and recreational contact Membership be developed in support of with these organizations.” together to grow the econ- visit www.mccst.com or purposes. Director Harriet Lukee America’s return to human AEXA Aerospace, LLC omy of the region.” call 734.846.9339. BAHEP members Jim at 832.536.3250. space exploration, interna- is located at 1120 NASA Noel McCormick is and Lynda Guidry of Bay Area Houston tional companies like Parkway, Suite 220G, and president of McCor- Guidry News Service joined Economic Partnership AEXA Aerospace recog- can be reached by calling mick Stevenson Cor- the delegation and provided 18045 Saturn Lane nize the importance of 713.260.9624. Visit its poration, and Diana in-depth coverage of the Houston, TX 77058 establishing a presence website at www.aexa.us. Light represents the trip. Visit http:// 832.536.3255 here. We welcome AEXA company within BA- www.guidrynews.com/ “Like” us on Facebook: Aerospace to BAHEP and McCormick HEP as its regional default.aspx? BayAreaHoustonEcon the region.” Stevenson manager. Asked to a=SurgeProtection to learn Follow us on Fernando De La Pena is Corporation briefly profile McCor- more about the Delta Twitter: @BAHEP CEO of AEXA Aero- Founded in 1999, McCor- mick Stevenson Cor- Works project and to view space, LLC. He stated, mick Stevenson Corpora- poration, she re- trip photos.