Greater Houston Growth & Development Outlook: How will today's political, economic, and policy decisions shape Greater Houston's growth - and what does that mean for firms that design and build our communities?

Join us as our speakers share insights in the Greater Houston Growth & Development Outlook:

Moderator: Mark P. Jones - James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy/Rice University

Jones is the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy’s Fellow in Political Science and Presidential Elections Program Co-Director, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, and a professor in the Department of Political Science at Rice University. Jones is also a senior research associate at the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs. His articles have appeared in publications such as the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, The Houston Chronicle, Texas Monthly, The Hill and the Texas Tribune. 

Jones is among the most-quoted commentators on Texas politics in both the state and national media, and his research on the Texas Legislature and on public opinion and elections in Texas is widely cited by media outlets and political campaigns. Jones received his B.A. from Tulane University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Professor Jones is co-author of Texas Politics Today and editor of Voting and Political Representation in America

Panelist: Ed Emmett - Fellow in Energy and Transportation at James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy

Edward M. Emmett is a Fellow in Energy and Transportation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.  Currently, his research efforts are focused on future fuels for the transportation industry, freight mobility, building a resilient global supply chain and understanding the past, present and future role of highways.  

Emmett’s background in transportation policy spans decades.  A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Judge Emmett was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy. From 1986 to 1989, Emmett was Executive Director of the Texas Association to Improve Distribution, an advocacy group for shippers of freight of all types.

In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate, Judge Emmett served on the commission for three years where he was viewed as a strong advocate for economic deregulation of the trucking industry.

Following his service at the Interstate Commerce Commission, Emmett was president of The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) from 1992 until 2003. During his tenure there he was instrumental in forming the Tripartite Commission to coordinate the efforts of shippers from North America, Asia and Europe. He played a pivotal role in deregulating the global maritime industry to benefit freight shippers and was a key figure in passing the U. S. Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998. As NITL president, Emmett appeared numerous times before U.S. Congressional committees, federal agencies, the European Commission and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

In 2005, Emmett formed The Emmett Company, a Houston based international transportation consulting firm with clients that included federal and state agencies, port authorities, Class 1 railroads and other transportation interests.

From 2007 until 2019, Emmett served as the elected County Judge of Harris County, Texas.  In that role he was the chief executive officer of the nation’s third largest county and was the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. His actions in dealing with Hurrican Ike, the floods of Hurricane Harvey and other community disasters garnered national and international recognition. As County Judge, Emmett maintained a focus on transportation. He was chairman of the Houston/Galveston Area Council and he chaired the Transportation Policy Council.

Emmett has received international recognition for his work in transportation and logistics policy. He was named Transportation Person of the Year by Transportation Clubs International and one of the Top 20 Logistics Professionals by Logistics Forum. The Texas Transportation Institute gave Emmett the Russell Perry Award and the Texas Department of Transporttion bestowed its Road Hand Award on him.

Emmett has had several key roles in the development of transportation policy.  He chaired the Texas Department of Transportation Freight Advisory Committee for 13 years until 2025 and has served  on numerous transportation related advisory boards, including the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the Amerian Society of Transportation and Logistics, San Jacinto College, the University of Denver Transportation and Supply Chain Institute, Northwestern University Transportation Center and the Eno Center for Transportation.

Emmett attended Bellaire High School. He graduated from Rice University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a Master of Public Affairs degree.

Emmett has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Presidential Call to Service Award. In addition, he was given an honorary degree by Houston Community College and was named a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute.

 Panelist: Sallie Alcorn - Houston City Council

Alcorn was re-elected to a second term on Houston City Council in November 2023. As an at-large representative, she focuses primarily on citywide issues – budget and finance, transportation, infrastructure, and public safety. She currently serves as chair of the city’s Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee. During her first term, she chaired the Regulatory and Neighborhood Affairs Committee and she worked to strengthen the city’s noise and animal welfare ordinances. 

Sallie also works on regional issues, serving on the board of the Houston-Galveston Area Council and on the Transportation Policy Council.

Sallie has over fifteen years of City Hall experience working in the housing department, the mayor’s flood recovery office, and as a city council staffer. She has a degree in finance from the University of Texas and a master’s in public administration from the University of Houston. Sallie and her husband George have been married 38 years and have four grown children. 

11:30 Registration and Networking

12-1:00 Speaker and Lunch

No fault cancellation 48 hours in advance via email to [email protected]. Please register by 8/21 by 5 PM. Late and walk-in registration accepted depending on availability of space for a $10 upcharge to the regular registration rate.