Board of Directors

PRESIDENT
Term: June 16, 2025

Michel Bechtel of Morgan’s Point was appointed to the Gulf Coast Protection Board of Directors by Governor Greg Abbott in 2021. He was unanimously elected as Board president. He is the President of Bechtel Exploration Company, and currently serves as the Mayor of the City of Morgan’s Point and on the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Ports of Harris County. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the New Orleans Geological Society, member and past president of the Harris County Mayors and Council Association and a board member of the Bay Area Coastal Protection Alliance, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, and the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region. Additionally, he is a member of the Chambers County Mayors Coalition and Port of Houston Commissioners Community Advisory Council.

Bechtel received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Geophysics from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of New Orleans.

VICE PRESIDENT
Term: June 16, 2025

Bob Mitchell joined the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership in 2001 to direct the organization’s Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program. In 2007 he was assigned responsibility for BAHEP’s day-to-day operations and became president in January 2008. As BAHEP president, Mitchell has taken a leadership role in numerous initiatives affecting Bay Area Houston which have included recovery efforts following Hurricane Ike in 2008, working to reinstate adequate funding for NASA’s human spaceflight program in 2010, meetings that assisted in the passing of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Act of 2014, which had a huge impact on the region, and, since 2009, ongoing advocacy to build a coastal spine to protect the upper Texas Gulf Coast from hurricane storm surge.

On June 22, 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his appointment of Mitchell to the Board of Directors of the newly-created Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD). The GCPD was created by the legislature to operate and leverage funding to build the unique flood control and surge protection needs for coastal communities. When completed, the Coastal Texas study will be the largest civil works project in US history.

Mitchell believes in giving back to the community and has actively donated his time in numerous capacities. In recognition of his work and partnerships on behalf of NASA Johnson Space Center, its many contractor companies and the Houston Airport System, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Mitchell to the Texas Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee where he is currently serving his third term. Mitchell also serves on numerous boards including that of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, UTMB Health System Advisory Board, HCA Gulf Coast Regional Advisory Board, the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Board of Advisors, the International Center for Law Enforcement Studies, and Gulf Coast Limestone, Inc.

SECRETARY
Term: June 16, 2025

Sally Bakko of League City is the Director of Policy and Governmental Relations for the City of Galveston. For over 20 years, Ms. Bakko has served in several policy and government relations roles including Senior Policy Analyst for the Harris County Commissioner’s Court Analyst’s Office, Legislative Coordinator for the City of Galveston Attorney Office, Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Arlington County, Virginia, and Federal Funds Analyst for the Texas Legislative Budget Board. Ms. Bakko received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Mount Vernon College at George Washington University in Washington DC, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Public Administration from University of Phoenix.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2025

Roger Guenther was named the Executive Director of Port Houston in January 2014. With 34 years of experience at the port, Guenther brings operational leadership and a proven track record to the position. He oversees the efficient and effective operations of Port Houston’s public facilities, which handle a diverse range of imports and exports including container, general cargo, breakbulk, and bulk commodities and include the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the nation. Mr. Guenther is also responsible for advocating for ongoing improvements and maintenance of the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The HSC is the busiest federal waterway in the U.S. and ranked number one for waterborne tonnage. More than 200 public and private terminals conduct business alongside the HSC and together support \$802 billion in annual economic value.

Prior to becoming Executive Director, he served as Deputy Executive Director of Operations and was responsible for all container and breakbulk cargo operations, management and construction of capital development projects, facility and asset maintenance, and real estate interests.

Since joining Port Houston in 1988, Mr. Guenther has served in various capacities related to facilities management, including master planning of the Bayport Container Terminal, redevelopment of the existing Barbours Cut Terminal, and procurement of all container handling cranes and equipment over the last three decades.

In 2016, Mr. Guenther was elected president of the Texas Ports Association and served through September of 2020. He currently serves on numerous boards and committees including the Texas Department of Transportation’s Texas Freight Advisory Committee, the Port Authority Advisory Committee, the Board of Visitors of Texas A&M University at Galveston, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Advisory Council, the Port Terminal Railroad Association, the Greater Houston Port Bureau, and the Board of Directors of the National Association of Waterfront Employees. In 2021, he was appointed by Governor Gregg Abbott to the board of the Gulf Coast Protection District. Most recently, he was appointed to the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee by Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation.

His awards and honors include: 2017 Bronze Award Recipient-Houston International Seafarers, 2018 Humanitarian Award (Philanthropic Male)-Latino Learning Center, and 2018 Most Admired CEO-Houston Business Journal.

Mr. Guenther earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and has an MBA in International Trade and Finance from the University of St. Thomas.

A native of Baytown, Texas, he grew up close to the Houston Ship Channel and Port Houston. Mr. Guenther currently resides in Galveston along with his wife Fabiana, and has two children, Tyler and Emily.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2025

Sharon Hulgan of Friendswood, Texas, is the Lead Site Manufacturing Director for Dow Houston Hub Operations. Ms. Hulgan has worked for Dow since 1991, serving in various roles in Research & Development, Environmental, Health and Safety Operations, Supply Chain Operations, Small Site Leadership, and Large Integrated Site Production Plant Leadership. Ms. Hulgan has made major contributions in her areas of responsibility as well as to Dow Operations as a whole. Her ability to partner a results-driven mindset with compassionate leadership has resulted in top notch asset performance and a high level of employee engagement.

Ms. Hulgan currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the East Harris County Manufacturers Association. She has formerly served as a board member of the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce, as Treasurer for the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council, and as a member of the Louisiana State University Chemical Engineering Industrial Advisory Committee.

Ms. Hulgan received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from LSU, occasionally serving as a guest lecturer on chemical process safety for chemical engineering undergraduates. She attributes her data driven approach to her early career experience as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Ms. Hulgan is passionate about process safety, value contribution, and leadership development, serving as both a Coach and Presenter for Dow’s Talent Development programs Lead to Exceed and Inspire to Serve.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2025

Ms. Traweek received a B.S. in Aquatic and Fisheries Biology from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Following graduation, she was involved in the management of biomonitoring laboratories in Louisiana and Texas until 1993 when she began her employment with Gulf Coast Authority (GCA). After serving in several senior management roles at GCA including Manager of Operations and Assistant General Manager, Lori was promoted to CEO/General Manager in 2017 and retired in November 2020 after 27 years of service.

Lori was recently appointed by Governor Abbott to the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Protection District. She also serves as the current Chair of the Galveston Bay Foundation’s Board of Directors and is Vice Chair of Texas Water Trade. She is the longtime President of the Texas Conservation Fund board which manages the annual River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash® (Trash Bash) where she has been involved since its inception in 1994.

Prior to these current responsibilities, Ms. Traweek represented GCA on the Galveston Bay Council, the governing body of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, since 1999 and is a past chair. She also served on the boards of the Economic Alliance of Houston – Port Region, the Baytown-West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation, the Texas Water Conservation Association, and the Texas Water Conservation Association Risk Management Fund. In 2008, She was appointed by the Texas Environmental Flows Advisory Group of the Texas Senate to the Trinity-San Jacinto Rivers and Galveston Bay Basin and Bay Area Stakeholders Committee and still participates in that capacity. She has a strong connection to water issues and lives in Seabrook, Texas.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2027

Billy Combs of Beach City is the founder and co-owner of Combs Commercial Investment Properties LLC, and the former Chambers County Precinct 4 Commissioner. He currently serves on the executive board for the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, on the executive board for the Baytown/West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation and represents Chambers County on the Transportation Policy Board of HGAC. He is the former Mayor of Beach City, served on the Board of Trustees for BHISD and as a Commissioner for Chambers/Liberty County Navigation District. Starting his first business at the age of 22, Mr. Combs is a life-long entrepreneur and has formed and managed several business.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Term: June 16, 2027

A resident of Friendswood, Texas, Senator Taylor served with distinction for two decades in the Texas Legislature. Most recently, from 2013 to 2023, he represented Senate District 11, which is composed of parts of Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris counties. Among many other accomplishments, Senator Taylor authored Senate Bill 1160 which created the Gulf Coast Protection District in 2021. A longtime advocate for the Texas coast, Senator Taylor is a leading proponent of local, state, and federal efforts to protect the Texas coast from the devastating impacts of coastal storm surge. Senator Taylor is a lifelong Texan and Baylor University graduate.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2027

Dr. Christina “Tina” Petersen, Ph.D., P.E., Executive Director, Harris County Flood Control District

Tina Petersen, Ph.D., P.E., was appointed to the Gulf Coast Protection District Board of Directors by Harris County Commissioners Court in 2024.

She is the Executive Director for the Harris County Flood Control District in Harris County, Texas, serving the nation's third-largest county with a population of more than 4.5 million residents. Under Dr. Petersen’s direction, the Flood Control District carries out its mission to plan, implement and maintain projects that reduce the risk of flooding, ultimately improving the quality of life for Harris County residents.

Prior to joining HCFCD, she graduated from Baylor University with a degree in biology and environmental studies, and went on to complete her master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental engineering at the University of Houston.

Dr. Petersen serves as on the Executive Committee of the San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group, and is also a board member of the National Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Management Agencies and the Texas Water Conservation Association.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2027

Mr. Ritter is President and Chairman of the board Of Triple R Brothers LTD which owns and operates Ritter Lumber Co., Montalbano Lumber Co., Ritter Forest Products and multiple partnerships for the family. The company has 11 operations located in multiple states.

First elected to The Texas House of Representatives in 1998, Ritter spent 16 years as a member serving on over ten different committees Mr. Ritter served as chairman of the Pension and Investments, Economic Development, and Natural Resources Committees before Retiring in 2014. Mr. Ritter served as Senior Adviser to Speaker Strauss during the 85th legislative session

Mr. Ritter has served on multiple Boards related to our community, and the company’s industry. Mr. Ritter was appointed to the Port Authority Advisory committee for the state of Texas by the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives in 2017

Allan and his wife Peggy reside in Nederland TX. They spend as much time as possible with their four children, their spouses, and 7 Grandchildren. While they still have a home in Nederland as much time as possible is spent at their lake home, or traveling to new sites.

DIRECTOR
Term: June 16, 2027

Orange County Commissioner Precinct 3, 2019 to present. Resident Bridge City Tx., Born in Groves, Tx. Graduated Bishop Byrne High School 1971. Employed by Texaco Inc.,1974 to 1983. President of Bridge City Radiator & Auto Inc.,1984 to 2019 A combined total of 27 years experience in public service, 1994 to 2021. Bridge City Council, combined 15 years Bridge City Mayor 10 years.

Member: St. Henry’s Catholic Church; Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee, past president current board; Bridge City Chamber of Commerce, board member; Bridge City/Orangefield Rotary Club, past president, board member; Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD), board member.