For the past six years, the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance’s Fort Bend Regional Infrastructure Conference has maintained a steady pattern of positive growth. A major reason for the conference’s success has been the quality of its speakers and panelists.
If the quality of the 2011 speaker line-up is any indication, that success should continue into year seven. The Seventh Annual Fort Bend Regional Infrastructure Conference, which is presented by HCSS Construction Software and S&B Infrastructure, is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center at Sugar Land Town Square.
The conference is a comprehensive resource for updates, forecasts, technical information, project leads on area roads, highways, rail lines and ports and environmental issues. It offers attendees first-hand information from some of the area’s most respected authorities on varying aspects of infrastructure throughout the region.
Limited premium sponsor opportunities and vendor booths are still available, with an unlimited number of general conference sponsorships. Registration for individuals has already begun, and is $150 for Chamber members and $225 for non-members. For information on sponsorships or registration, contact the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance at 281-342-5464, www.CFBCA.org or email Angie Sanders at asanders@CFBCA.org.
“The Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance Infrastructure Conference has been instrumental in educating the public about current infrastructure needs in Fort Bend County and the greater Houston area, as well as providing information to the public which will help to shape future infrastructure policy,” said Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ & Associates’ Justin Ring, P.E., Infrastructure Department Co-Chair. “Each year, the Chamber works hard to ensure that the speakers and presenters at the conference are informative and that their information is timely to today’s issues.”
Three keynote speakers will anchor the event. Fort Bend County Judge Robert “Bob” Hebert will open the conference with the breakfast keynote. Houston METRO President/CEO George Greanias will provide the lunch keynote, and State Senator Tommy Williams, Dist. 4, will close the conference. Williams is the chairperson of the Senate’s Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security.
State Senator Glenn Hegar, Dist. 18, will provide a legislative update. Matt Breazeale, Scott Elmer, Tom Michel and Barry Beard will comprise a panel focused on surface water issues in Fort Bend County. Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council President Jeff Wiley will address the state of the local economy. Vice President of Amegy Bank Mark Magee will discuss bank lending and commercial financing as it relates to construction projects. Thomas Stoner, VP/Director for H. W. Lochner, Inc. and Ed. Pensock Jr., Director of Corridor Systems for TxDOT will provide information on public-private partnerships. Kerry Williams, P.E., J.D., & Julia Calnek, J.D., of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin, will offer a session on professional ethics. Gulf Coast Rail District Executive Director Maureen Crocker will present on rail issues.
Conference attendees will receive comprehensive printed conference information, breakfast, lunch, snacks and admittance to the cocktail reception immediately following the closing keynote address. Attendees who stay for the cocktail reception will be eligible for door prizes. Professional engineers who register for continuing education credits will receive three PDH units for attending the conference, plus one additional if they select the Ethics class as a break-out session option.