Houston Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) provides tailored professional development opportunities for the next generation of business and community leaders at member companies through unique, regular engagements throughout the year and a curated bimonthly newsletter geared towards building their skills and enhancing their leadership potential. Carly Bylund, Vice President at Frost Bank, and HYPE Champion. Bylund shares her insights on the value of HYPE for young professionals and recaps the latest HYPE Summit, an annual conference that connects HYPE members with Houston's top leaders How has your involvement with HYPE helped you build meaningful connections within Houston’s business community? Being a member of HYPE has been a wonderful way to stay connected to the Houston community. Since HYPE is a young professional group, it has been so beneficial to connect with like-minded people in similar career stages. HYPE has made meeting others easy, and it’s been a natural way to build my network. What do you find most valuable about being a HYPE Champion, and how does it motivate you to continue participating in events? As a HYPE Champion, I look forward to seeing familiar faces at every event. It is motivating to be surrounded by people committed to the opportunities Houston presents us with. There is such a diverse group of attendees to every HYPE event that I know I’ll leave each event learning something new about an industry, company, or even Houston itself. Can you share a memorable moment from a recent HYPE event that had a significant impact on your career or perspective on Houston's opportunities? The HYPE Summit was such a fun day! Having the opportunity to hear the stories and advice of successful Houston professionals is invaluable. I especially loved the breakout discussions, where we connected in small groups with each speaker. It was inspiring to hear from people like Trevor Best, CEO, Syzygy, Andrea Alexander, SVP and CHRO, Coterra and Steve Kean, President and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership. How do you think HYPE’s diverse group of attendees contributes to your professional growth and understanding of different industries in Houston? The diversity of attendees at every HYPE event is something I truly value. It creates opportunities to learn something new about a different industry or company every time. I always leave these events with a broader perspective on Houston’s business landscape and new connections that contribute to my personal and professional growth. The HYPE Summit features insights from successful professionals. What was the most inspiring piece of advice or story you heard at the event? I enjoy hearing about people’s specific career paths and how they got to their current positions because success looks different for everyone. One of the most inspiring takeaways was how many opportunities there are for young professionals in Houston to become leaders as we transition across generations. Listening to entrepreneurs like Trevor Best and executives like Andrea Alexander and Steve Kean was truly inspiring. Their stories reminded me that success comes in many forms and often through unconventional paths. It has encouraged me to be open to new opportunities and to think more strategically about how I can shape my own career. HYPE events bring together people from a wide variety of industries. How have these interactions broadened your understanding of Houston’s economic landscape? Every HYPE event I attend broadens my understanding of Houston’s economic landscape. Meeting professionals from different sectors and learning about their companies opens my eyes to new possibilities. These interactions have been a great way to stay informed about what’s happening across industries in the city. Looking ahead, what are you most excited about in terms of future HYPE events and how they contribute to Houston’s thriving young professional community? I’m already looking forward to the next HYPE event! These gatherings are a great way to stay connected, learn from others, and grow my professional network. I’m excited about the future of HYPE because it keeps young professionals engaged and invested in Houston’s success, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of. HYPE is a member-based program, to subscribe you must be employed at a current member company. Learn more about this program here.

The Greater Houston Partnership received a 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Bronze Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award was bestowed specifically for the Partnership’s work in the regional or cross-border partnership for regions with 500,000 or more residents.  The strategy formed in partnership with regional allies, as elaborated in the regional playbook, aims to enhance regional economic development in greater Houston by fostering collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. This involved creating a framework for the Houston Regional Economic Development Alliance (HREDA) to maximize engagement and support.  Formed in 2006, HREDA is comprised of economic development organizations and municipalities interested in creating jobs and investment to maintain a positive business environment. HREDA meets monthly at Partnership Tower, and often at other locations around the region. Hosted monthly at Partnership Tower and other regional sites, HREDA meetings include members from 98 economic development organizations, representing over 160 full-time economic development professionals.  The project's uniqueness and innovation reside in member involvement at every stage, ensuring ownership of the final playbook. It addressed previous collaboration deficits noted in studies, aiming to leverage regional resources for economic growth. The scale of marketing the region is no small feat. Covering 8,838 square miles, the 12-county Greater Houston region, with its centerpiece, the 10-county Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands MSA, surpasses an area the size of New Jersey,  Despite this vast expanse, the region's stakeholders have rallied together as allies, streamlining processes to attract prospective companies. This collective effort reflects a shared commitment to securing victories for the region's economic growth. “I am proud to be a part of an organization, such as HREDA, that exemplifies how regionalism and collaboration can drive economic success and set high standards for regional development,” HREDA Chair and Chief Economic Development Officer at Partnership Lake Houston Stephanie Wiggins said. “By uniting various stakeholders under a common goal, HREDA leverages the strengths of the Houston region to create a prosperous and sustainable economic environment." Every year IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development. “This group understands what it means to succeed together," Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean said. “When we work together as one to combine the expertise, assets and capabilities of our regional partners, the Houston region is unmatched in potential. Through this mindset of regionalism, we can create a more prosperous and inclusive future for all of our citizens.” Learn more about the 12-county region the Partnership represents.