Renu Khator Named Keynote Speaker at Economic Outlook Conference 2020

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in Greater Houston, is pleased to announce today that University of Houston System Chancellor and University of Houston President Renu Khator will be this year's keynote speaker at The Chamber's 34th Annual Economic Outlook Conference taking place on Friday, February 21, 2020, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

Widely known as the area’s economic forecasting event of the year, the conference will provide insights into the projected growth of the economy in Montgomery County and Texas. The theme of this year’s conference is “Innovative Solutions in a Diverse Community.”

Renu Khator is the UH System’s first woman Chancellor and the first Indian immigrant to head a comprehensive research university in the United States, she assumed her post in January 2008. As chancellor of the UH System, Khator oversees a four-university organization that serves nearly 71,000 students, has an annual budget that exceeds $1.7 billion, and produces a $6 billion-plus economic impact on the Greater Houston area each year. As president of the University of Houston, she is the chief executive officer of the largest and oldest of the four UH System universities. As the system’s flagship institution, UH enrolls approximately 44,000 students, offers 280 undergraduate and graduate programs and awards more than 9,200 degrees each year.

During her tenure, UH has experienced record-breaking research funding, enrollment and private support. As part of an ongoing $1-billion campus construction program, UH launched its 74-acre Energy Research Park, which is now home to several start-up companies, research enterprises and academic programs. UH also opened its 40,000-seat TDECU Stadium, home of the Cougar football team, and increased student residence hall capacity to 8,000, the second highest in Texas. In addition, UH has completed an $80 million expansion and renovation of its Student Center.

A highlight of this year's event includes an Innovation Panel. Panelists Ashok Gowda, Biotex, Inc. president and CEO; Tony Nash, Complete Intelligence founder and CEO; and Gabriella 'Gaby' Rowe, The Ion executive director will discuss how the latest trends in innovation are helping businesses to solve economic issues.

U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady of the 8th District of Texas will deliver a National Update sharing local and global economic priorities that we will face in 2020. Additionally, Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, will provide a regional update detailing the job growth and economic vitality of The Woodlands area.

For more information and to register for this event, please visit woodlandschamber.org/EOC.