The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority named Houston businessman Alec G. Dreyer the new PHA executive director at its Sept. 29 meeting, it was announced by Chairman James T. Edmonds. Dreyer will be Houston’s 11th port director in 90 years and the first to come from outside the maritime industry. “We are so fortunate that Alec Dreyer has accepted our offer to serve as the new PHA executive director,” Edmonds said. “He not only has an exemplary business track record but also brings a fresh, new perspective to the port authority. The Port Commission believes that his business acumen will further advance PHA’s mandate to create economic development and jobs through maritime commerce.” A leader in the energy, green energy and finance fields, Dreyer was most recently chief executive officer of Horizon Wind Energy, LLC, a Houston-based wind energy developer. Prior to that, Dreyer was an executive vice president of Dynegy, Inc., in charge of the generation division. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Comverge, Inc., a leading clean energy company, which provides demand response and advanced metering solutions to electric utilities and their customers. He also served on the board of EcoSecurities Group PLC, which is in the business of sourcing, developing and trading carbon credits. "I am looking forward to using my background in business to help advance the port and to serve the community,” said Dreyer. “I want to thank the port commissioners for their confidence in me and for the opportunity to work with them, port authority staff and our stakeholders.” A certified public accountant in Illinois and Missouri, Dreyer has also served in executive positions at Illinova Corporation, Illinois Power Co., Illinova Generating Company and Price Waterhouse. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois; Dreyer earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.
The Port Commission initiated a national search for the position through DHR International, following former PHA Executive Director H. Thomas Kornegay’s retirement on Feb. 1 after 17 years of leadership. Wade Battles, who has been PHA managing director since 1999, served as acting executive director while the search was under way. The Port of Houston ranks first in the US in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in overall total tonnage. The Port of Houston Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade.
