Plant manager to serve on Economic Alliance board

CLEAR LAKE, Texas (Feb. 4, 2010) – A LyondellBasell plant manager and Clear Lake resident has joined the board of directors for the nonprofit Economic Alliance Houston Port Region.

Doug Mathera is the plant manager at the LyondellBasell Bayport Choate Plant on Bay Area Boulevard, overseeing operations with more than 400 employees and contractors. The 280-acre plant is the world’s largest producer of propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol.

"I am delighted to be on the board of the Economic Alliance," Mathera said. "In the 20 years I have lived in the greater Houston area, I have always found it to be a place that recognizes the importance of business and quality of life. The Economic Alliance works to continue that balance for all of us."

The Economic Alliance was created in 1985 and provides professional economic development services on behalf of 16 communities surrounding the 25-mile Houston Ship Channel – home to one of the world’s most influential energy corridor and trade ports. In addition to the port region cities, the Economic Alliance services also are funded by 12 chambers of commerce, Harris County, the Port of Houston Authority and private businesses. Since 2004 alone, the Economic Alliance has facilitated activities to help bring approximately $320 million of capital investment to the area.

"The petrochemical and maritime industries are our region's two main clusters and drive the economy that we all enjoy," said Chad Burke, President & CEO of the Economic Alliance. "It is essential that companies like LyondellBasell play a key role in the ongoing development of our region, and we at the Economic Alliance are proud to have it as a stakeholder and are looking forward to working with Doug as a member of our board.

With more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing, Mathera has held numerous leadership positions with LyondellBasell or its predecessor companies. Mathera is a past chairman and current board member of the Texas Chemical Council, and a member of the Clear Creek ISD District Education Improvement Committee, the Association of Bayport Companies, the East Harris County Manufacturers Association and the La Porte Plant Managers Network, where he once served as chairman. Former community involvement includes the boards of directors for Armand Bayou Nature Center and the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce; the University of Houston–Clear Lake’s Development and Advisory Board; and chairman of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council.

Mathera received his bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1973 and a master’s of science in business from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1975. He and his wife, Johanna, live in Clear Lake and have three children.