March 2019 Luncheon

March 14th Luncheon

Morton's Steakhouse       11:30 AM

Speaker: Ed Emmett, The Emmett Company

Edward M. Emmett is a professor in the practice at Rice University.  His area of focus is public policy.  He is also a senior fellow at the Rice University/Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a fellow at the Rice University/Doerr Institute for New Leaders.

In addition to his duties at Rice University, Emmett is the owner of The Emmett Company, a consulting firm advising public and private entities in transportation policy, emergency management, international marketing and strategic development.

From 2007 until 2019, Emmett served as County Judge of Harris County, Texas.  As County Judge, Emmett was the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a role which established him as a national leader in emergency response and community resilience. 

A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Judge Emmett was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy.

In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate, Judge Emmett served on the commission for three years.

Emmett has received international recognition for his work in transportation and logistics policy. He was named Transportation Person of the Year by Transportation Clubs International and one of the Top 20 Logistics Professionals by Logistics Forum.

Emmett attended Bellaire High School. He graduated from Rice University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a Master of Public Affairs degree.

Emmett has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Presidential Call to Service Award.

Emmett and his wife, Gwen, have been married for 44 years and have four children and 13 grandchildren.