April 2022 Hybrid Meeting
The April 7th meeting agenda is as listed below. Our Houston area venue is Wyndham Houston Near NRG Park, 8686 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77054. Event parking is available onsite and in the overflow lot across the street.
- 5:30PM - 6:30PM Pre-dinner PDH Workshop, Cybersecurity, AJ Jarrett (online meeting one)
- 6:00PM – 7:00PM In Person Social/Networking Time
- 7:00PM - 8:00PM Dinner, SEFH Awards, STS Announcements & Awards (online meeting two, begins at 7:30pm)
- 8:00PM - 9:00PM Keynote Presentation/Speaker, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, Chad Carson
Please register to attend either the in-person dinner meeting or virtual meeting using the following links:
- In-Person Dinner Meeting: https://stsaiche.regfox.com/2022-april-dinner-meeting
- Virtual Meeting: https://stsaiche.regfox.com/2022-april-virtual-meeting
Keynote Presentation
"Economic Alliance Houston Port Region Initiatives and Overview" by Chad Carson, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, Vice President of Economic Development
The Houston Port region’s make up is so unique that there is not a blueprint out there of how to strategize to improve our economic development activities/assets, transportation infrastructure, workforce development entities and investment protections. For this reason, Economic Alliance has established itself as the convening entity and Chad will discuss how the organization identifies, prioritizes, and promotes issues/initiatives that impact of Houston Port region. Chad will also share the Port of Houston successes in supporting our supply chain.
Chad Carson
Vice President of Economic Development for the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region
Chad Carson returned to the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region as Vice President of Economic Development in mid-2021. His experience includes over 14-years of impactful economic development employment with the Greater Houston Partnership, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region and CenterPoint Energy. Chad brings a project success record that highlights the capture of 80,000 direct/indirect jobs and $3 billion of capital investment in the Houston region.
The Houston Port region’s make up is so unique that there is not a blueprint out there of how to strategize to improve our economic development activities/assets, transportation infrastructure, workforce development entities and investment protections. For this reason, Economic Alliance has established itself as the convening entity in identifying, prioritizing, and promoting issues of Houston Port region significance. Economic Alliance’s efforts in economic development and advocacy continue to eliminate unnecessary procedures so that representatives, government agencies, associations, residents and our members/businesses can work together seamlessly. Our strategic approach directly impacts the growth and maintenance of the 25-Mile Houston Ship Channel, the most sought-after region in the world for petrochemical, manufacturing, maritime and logistics operations. The Economic Alliance consists of 200+ private sector companies, institutions/partners, 11 cities/communities, Port Houston, and Harris County.
Chad’s specific responsibilities are to identify and support companies that want to locate or expand, build a project pipeline, provide professional responses/solutions and strengthen the Economic Alliance’s prospect, member and ally relationships. The economic engine that is the Houston Port region is not only unique to this region but also the state and national economies. We are within one of, if not the largest, growth engines of economic opportunity of anywhere in the world! The ship channel is his priority based on the economic impact and the unique needs that come along with sustaining investment activity.
He is a graduate of the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture & Planning and has resided in Houston for over 14 years. To this day he remains a tortured and lifelong Buffalo Bills fan!
Pre-dinner Cyber-security Workshop (5:30-6:30)
(1 PDH Credit) - “Cyber Threats in the Industrial Setting.” laptops optional
Abstract
Recent high-profile cyber-attacks have crippled entire supply chains and captured public attention to the growing threat cyber poses to critical infrastructure in the United States and abroad. In this talk, Andrew Jarrett, Director of Cyber Defense and Compliance with AMSYS Group will give an overview of the evolution of cyber threats to the energy and chemical sectors including an analysis of recent activity from nation-state actors such as Russia as well as strategies that organizations can implement to reduce risk and increase resiliency as cyber threats continue to evolve.
About the Speaker
Andrew “AJ” Jarrett
Director of Cybersecurity Defense and Compliance
AMSYS Innovative Solutions
Andrew “AJ” Jarrett is the Director of Cybersecurity Defense and Compliance for AMSYS Innovative Solutions in Houston, TX. Mr. Jarrett is an experienced technology and cybersecurity practitioner with over 15 years of technology experience. He previously served as the Applied Cybersecurity Manager at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and as a Program Manager at the Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center. While at the Texas A&M System, Mr. Jarrett founded the Texas A&M Cyber Response Task Force, oversaw the development of the Texas Cyber Range, and founded the Intra-system Cybersecurity Community of Practice. His past projects include developing cybersecurity curriculum as part of the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC), as well as directing technical projects and incident response engagements supporting the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, and various other public and private sector customers.
Mr. Jarrett has a broad background of work experience including roles in cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, fire/EMS, emergency management, and startups. He has previously served as Vice President and Education Director for the central Texas chapter of the Information Systems Security Association, as a guest instructor at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, and as a guest lecturer at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He holds several industry certifications, is a member of both the NIST Public Safety Communications and Research Directorate Stakeholders Group and the NIST Manufacturer Extension Partnership Working Group on Cybersecurity. Mr. Jarrett is also an active member of FBI InfraGard Houston Members Alliance.
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