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Port of Houston's Moseley joins key lineup at Woodlands Economic Outlook Conference

By: Donna Wick Publicity
| Published 01/26/2015

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Business in The Woodlands is booming, and an increasing number of powerful oil companies have migrated north of Houston to this area known for big-time amenities. Along with high-speed telecommunications, infrastructure and close distance to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the region is conveniently accessible to international markets by its proximity to the Port of Houston.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the Port of Houston is one of the pillars of Houston’s economic success. The Houston Ship Channel was built by the Army Corps of Engineers the same year as the Panama Canal, and at present, the Port of Houston generates nearly $180 billion for the state of Texas and encompasses more than 52 miles of waterfront. Every year, more than 200 million tons of cargo come and go by water in Houston; it is the top U.S. port for imports and ranks second for exports.

Because of the Port’s success, John Moseley, senior director of trade development of the Port of Houston Authority, will join a host of key executives at The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce’s 29th-Annual Economic Outlook Conference to discuss upcoming trends in infrastructure, real estate and commerce for businesses big and small. The conference will be held on Feb. 20, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, shining a spotlight on the major business players in the area as well.

Moseley has lived in The Woodlands for eight years and has been with the Port of Houston Authority for five years after a lengthy career in all facets of the shipping business.

“Right now we are undergoing a huge expansion of the physical facilities along the Houston Ship Channel,” Moseley says. “We work with many companies from The Woodlands’ area—Chevron Phillips Chemical, Anadarko, CB&I, Huntsman Corporation, ExxonMobil. All these companies do their work through the Houston Ship Channel, with the execution handled by executive offices domiciled in The Woodlands.”

The Port of Houston Authority manages and leases public terminals and over 150 industrial companies operate facilities along the ship channel. Made possible by the shipping power of the port of Houston, the area has a $15 billion petrochemical complex, rivaled only by a similarly massive Benelux facility in Northern Europe.

Moseley is in charge of increasing Port of Houston Authority’s revenues by attracting more vessel calls, raising cargo volume, and stimulating overall commerce. It’s an international business development challenge that reaches to the far corners of the earth in the hopes of funneling their trade through the Port of Houston.

“One of our biggest challenges is managing growth and staying in front of the growth curve,” Moseley says. “We are spending $1 billion in capital expenditures over a five-year period to make sure our docks and wharves are state of the art, ahead of the demand curve. Ships are getting bigger every day. We make sure that we’ve got the right width and depth, the right kind of equipment in place to handle a new generation of oceangoing vessels.”

The Port of Houston Authority is of critical importance to the national economy and as such strives for safety excellence. It is the first port in the country and world to be ISO certified for its security-management system, which includes a joint plan with local law enforcement, the Coast Guard and private industry to keep the port safe, open and navigable and governed by a state-of-the-art security system. There are cameras and constant patrols along the 25-mile stretch of the Houston ship channel, as well as restrictive controls for entry and egress from waterside facilities. The Port of Houston Authority combines monitoring centers, an advanced response system, fire and protection capabilities and emergency watercraft to make it one of the safest ports in the United States.

“The Port of Houston is a big economic driver for The Woodlands area. Texas is the nation’s top exporting state and many of our area companies rely on access to the port facilities for the growth of their business,” says Daniel Schroeder, chairman of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. “The port allows them to readily ship and receive goods internationally in a timely manner from one of the largest and most sophisticated ports in the world. In addition, many port employees live in The Woodlands area. The port of Houston has been vital for the growth of large and small businesses alike that call The Woodlands area and South Montgomery County home.”

For more information on the Economic Outlook Conference, visit eoc.woodlandschamber.org.

To learn about The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, go to www.edpartnership.net or visit The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce web site at www.woodlandschamber.org.

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