Brawner, Phillips named Stanley Award winners at January Katy Area EDC GA

The Katy ISD Robert R. Shaw Center for STEAM played host to the first Katy Area Economic Development Council meeting of 2019.  Roughly 100 members and guests gathered for the meeting which was headlined by the announcement of the recipients of the 3^rd Annual Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Awards.

With friends and family of Stan Stanley in attendance, Katy Area EDC was honored to announce the winners of the Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Award as Dick Phillips (University of Houston Vice President of Community Engagement) in the volunteer category and Chuck Brawner (City of Katy Mayor) in the elected official category.  Phillips and Brawner were selected from a pool of finalists which included Mark and Terri Rodriguez (Krysta’s Karing Angels), Monty Ballard (The Ballard House), Rhedonda Cox (Johnson Controls) and Thom Polvogt (ISU Caleb Insurance Group).

The winners and nominees were recognized at the meeting for their tremendous contributions to the Katy area and its success.  For a full profile of each nominee, you can view the presentation here.

The Stan Stanley awards were created to recognize a volunteer and elected official in the Katy area that have made contributions in leadership and economic development to the Katy area.  Selections were made by a committee of Katy area leaders.  All Katy area residents were eligible and selected based on criteria including but not limited to, years of service, leadership skills demonstrated, special achievements, and qualities Stan so greatly exhibited such as being faithful, conscientious, unselfish and committed to the Katy area community. 

“Stan meant so much to our organization and the Katy area community,” said Katy Area EDC President/CEO Lance LaCour.  “It is truly an honor to continue his memory through the presentation of the awards in his name each year.”

The host venue, Robert R. Shaw Center for STEAM, is managed by veteran educator Steve Adams.  Adams took time to share information on the cutting-edge facility which provides students a space to bring ideas from conception through design to production, and allows students to work with professional mentors and volunteers representing STEAM-related occupations on authentic activities and with authentic applications.  Projects at the Shaw Center are developed around interdisciplinary learning with an emphasis on inspiring students to be innovators in the areas of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. For more information on the KISD Robert R. Shaw Center for STEAM, visit katyisd.org/dept/rsc.

One such authentic STEAM activity which takes place at the center is the Katy ISD Robotics Program.  Mike Outlaw, volunteer mentor of Cinco Ranch Robotics Team, shared information about the program and its value to students.  The Robotics program gives its members hands on experiences in engineering, problem solving and teamwork while providing an appreciation for science and technology.  Four Katy ISD students involved in the program explained the importance of the program and the positive impact which it had on their educational experience. 

New members introduced at the meeting included Associate members Amerant Bank (formerly Mercantil Bank), Arthur J. Gallagher, Experis Manpower Group and Listo Translating Services.  Members recognized for renewal included Board of Governors member Newland Communities, Strategic Partner Elizabeth Pratt, LLC., and Associate members Addicks Utility District, Bob Miles Real Estate, Inc., Guaranty Bank, Igloo, Interstate MUD, Network Funding, R.G. Miller Engineers, Inc. and Raba Kistner Consultants.