Postponed Houston investor conference set for next week

Phillip Oettle

Houston's 10th annual investor conference, which was postponed last fall, is back on for March 17 with a slate of city speakers and a past controversy resolved.

City Controller Chris Hollins said the event will showcase Houston and other Texas cities, counties, and school districts.

"As always, we'll be talking about the city of Houston's credit and all of the big things we have going on across the city," he said, pointing to bond-financed expansions at the George R. Brown Convention Center and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Officials from Houston Mayor John Whitmire's administration, including Finance Director Melissa Dubowski and chief financial officers for the airport system and public works, are on a panel. 

Administration officials did not participate in the controller's 2024 conference after controversy erupted over the event's corporate sponsorships by municipal bond and law firms, with the proceeds earmarked for a non-profit organization.

Raising "pay-to-play" concerns, the mayor requested a probe by the city's inspector general. The Houston Chronicle reported last week the investigation was closed in October and listed as "not sustained." 

Hollins said the probe's outcome demonstrates the baseless nature of Whitmire's claims.

"As was clear at the time, we followed the same sponsorship model that is used in other major civic events — including the mayor's own State of the City address," he said. "Moving forward, our focus remains where it belongs: financial accountability, transparency, and protecting Houston's long-term economic stability." 

It was not clear what happened to Hollins' call in 2024 for the inspector general to look into sponsorships for the mayor's address. The two officials have feuded over various matters, including the city's structural budget deficit, since they both took office in January 2024.

Other speakers at the upcoming investor conference include Houston City Treasurer Vernon Middleton Lewis; Brian Daniels, president of the Dallas-based New York Stock Exchange Texas; and John Coppins, vice president of operations, FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host City Committee. Mayor Whitmire declined an invitation to participate.

The conference's opening and closing reception costs are being covered by law firms Bracewell and Greenberg Traurig, and Masterson Advisors, according to the controller's office.

The event, which was originally scheduled for Oct. 1, was postponed due to a labor strike at its hotel location.