Governor Greg Abbott has officially put his stamp on the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) by reappointing several key figures and naming a new chair for the Board of Directors. As detailed in a recent announcement from the governor's office, Roger Guenther will now lead as chair of the GCPD Board, where he's joined by returning members Sally Bakko, Michel Bechtel, Sharon Hulgan, and Lori Traweek. Their terms are to extend through June 16, 2029, a substantial commitment to sustain the long-term coastal resilience efforts.
Roger Guenther, the newly appointed chair, comes with a hefty resume that includes over three decades at the Port of Houston Authority, a tenure now culminating in a pivot to directly oversee coastal protection strategies. His background in engineering and business, drawn from his studies at Texas A&M University and the University of St. Thomas, harnesses a blend of technical savvy and strategic grasp, as noted in the Office of the Texas Governor press release.
The team supporting Guenther is as seasoned as he is. Sally Bakko's directorial position in Galveston's policy and government relations sector is a testament to her deep involvement in regional planning and governmental coordination. Her academic credentials hail from Mount Vernon College at George Washington University, complemented by a dual Master's degree in Business and Public Administration.
Much like Guenther, Michel Bechtel carries a geology background into his GCPD role, pairing it with extensive public service, including five terms as Mayor of the City of Morgan’s Point. The oil and gas industry know-how and geological insight he brings have roots planted in the education he received at Louisiana State University, an expertise also split between board roles that span the gamut from port commissions to economic partnerships, according to the same press release.
Adding to the collective expertise, Sharon Hulgan draws from a reservoir of manufacturing experience from her time directing operations at Dow Houston Hub. Her LSU Chemical Engineering degree is not just an academic accolade but a foundation for her substantial contributions on boards across the East Harris County Manufacturers Association.
Finally, Lori Traweek rounds out the board with over 27 years at the Gulf Coast Authority. Now retired, her experience continues to ripple through her continued engagement in water conservation initiatives and environmental stewardship programs. This is underpinned by her educational background in Aquatic and Fisheries Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, formerly known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana, as per the Office of the Texas Governor.
With these reappointments and the introduction of Guenther as chair, the GCPD Board of Directors is set to continue its mission of forging a resilient coastal defense strategy for Texas's upper coast, a critical task given the region's vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change effects.
