HOUSTON, Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas will induct three laureates at the 2015 JA Hall of Achievement presented by RBC Capital Markets. The induction ceremony will be held on March 26, 2015 at the Hilton Americas - Downtown.
The honorees were selected by a committee comprised of previous inductees and members of the Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas Board of Directors. The laureates are exceptional community leaders who exemplify the highest level of ethical standards, advocate for the free enterprise system, and value the importance of education.
The 2015 inductees are:
- Barbara Bush, First Lady of the United States of America
- Albert Chao, President and CEO, Westlake Chemical Corporation
- James L. Gallogly, Retired CEO, LyondellBasell Industries
Rick Franke, president of JA of Southeast Texas, noted, "These laureates epitomize the best of our free enterprise system and are exceptional role models for young people."
A tireless advocate of volunteerism, Mrs. Barbara Bush helped countless charities and humanitarian causes during her years in public life. In 1989, she founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy which supports programs where parents and children can learn and read together. Since leaving the White House in 1993, she continues to serve others with the same energy, goodwill and humor that endear her to so many people around the world.
Mr. Albert Chao, along with his brother and father, help found Westlake Chemical in 1986 after acquiring a Lake Charles, Louisiana, polyethylene plant from Occidental Petroleum. The Chaos expanded Westlake through acquisitions, having purchased 21 plants in the last 29 years. Albert worked as Westlake's first Executive Vice President before becoming CEO in 2004. Albert's optimism, combined with strategic perspective and strong fiscal management, helped lead the company's success. Today, Westlake Chemical is North America's largest producer of low density polyethylene.
In 2014, Mr. James L. Gallogly announced his retirement from LyondellBasell. When Jim became CEO of LyondellBasell, the chemical company was 20 million dollars in debt. Through Jim's leadership, LyondellBasell exited Chapter 11 within 12 months, and 18 months later, the company held cash equivalent to 1.5 times its debt. Its stock appreciated 400% in four years and Forbes magazine referred to the transaction as "The Greatest Deal of All Time."
For more information about the event, visit www.jahouston.org.
About Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas
Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas is the greater Houston area's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network of 13,000 adult role models, JA of Southeast Texas provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12 which focus on entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. Today, JA of Southeast Texas reaches 310,000 students in more than 900 schools. For more information, visit www.jahouston.org.