During its annual meeting and partner celebration Aug. 8, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership announced new board members for the 2017-18 term.

The Woodlands EDP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the economic development of The Woodlands Area through the support of existing businesses and the recruitment of new businesses.

The Aug. 8 event honored Debra Sukin, outgoing chairman and CEO of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital.

Effective Sept. 1, the new board members will include Chairman Heidi Carney from First Financial Bank, Vice Chair Jim Calvetti with Calvetti Ferguson, Secretary Ron Roberson with Caldwell Companies, Treasurer Brad Thompson with Wells Fargo and Immediate Past Chair Debra Sukin, with Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital.

“As mentioned in my annual report, EDP is the only member-based economic development organization in Montgomery County,” EDP CEO Gil Staley said. “We would not be able to successfully enhance the economic vitality of our community without the support of our public and private partners. Our achievements this past year and going forward are a result of our outstanding leadership and the dedication and commitment of our partners.”

Additional board members include the following local leaders:

Gold Partners
• Gordy Bunch, The Woodlands Township
• JJ Hollie, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce
• Don Norrell, The Woodlands Township
• Steve Pate, Strike, LLC
• Alex Sutton, The Woodlands Development Company

Silver Partners
• David Argueta, CHI St. Luke’s Health
• Ryan Edone, Petroleum Wholesale
• Dr. Steve Head, Lone Star College System
• Scott Kitchen, Consolidated Communications
• Nick Loporcaro, McKesson Specialty Health
• Steve Pilgrim, Entergy Texas
• Josh Urban, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital

Public Partners
• Danny Gallant, Stephen F. Austin State University
• Frank Holmes, Sam Houston State University
• Mayor James Kuykendall, City of Oak Ridge North
• Commissioner James Noack, Montgomery County Precinct 3
• Mayor Ritch Wheeler, City of Shenandoah

Bronze Partners
• Paul Carroll, Efficient Wealth Management
• John Frere, Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
• Jud Miller, Bank of Texas
• Virgil Yoakum, Woodforest Development, Inc.

For more information about The Woodlands Area EDP, visit www.edpartnership.net.