The Woodlands, TX (April 2, 2008) The Woodlands Development Company participated as a major sponsor of the recent 13th Annual Public Safety Heroes Awards Banquet.

Presented by The Woodlands Township, this annual event recognizes public safety personnel who have gone the extra mile to make The Woodlands Town Center and South Montgomery County a safe community to shop, dine, stay and play.

Held Friday, March 28th at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, the special event themed “Recognizing Honor & Valor” paid tribute to ten individual men and women in public safety from different jurisdictions and agencies in South Montgomery County.

Tim Welbes and Alex Sutton, Co-Presidents of The Woodlands Development Company, said, “We are proud to support this event which provides special recognition to our public safety personnel for their outstanding efforts every day to help make our community a safe place to live and work.”

Stephen P. Sumner, Sr., Vice President of Operations and Public Safety for The Woodlands Township, added, “Thanks to the support from such generous companies such as The Woodlands Development Company, we are able to once again pay a special tribute to the men and women who day in and day out dedicate their lives and careers to protecting our community.

“This awards banquet means so much to the person on duty who is out there doing their job. It provides a moment in which they can bring their family and receive the proud recognition they so truly deserve. We appreciate the sponsorships from the many organizations and individuals who participated this year.”

Nominated by their peers and superiors for outstanding community service, this year’s awardees included:

•Lieutenant David Dottei of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office – Town Center
•Deputy David Everton of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office – The Woodlands
•Deputy Constable Joshua Hansen of the Montgomery County Constable, Precinct 3
•Lieutenant A. Bryan Carlisle of the Shenandoah Police Department
•Officer Elizabeth McLaughlin of the Oak Ridge North Police Department
•Trooper Michael Wheless of the Texas Department of Public Safety – Highway Patrol Division
•Officer Christina Greenwood of the Conroe ISD Police Department
•Captain Charlie Soliz of the Lone Star College Police Department
•Captain Robert Moore of The Woodlands Fire Department
•Paramedic III Paul Schoenemann of the Montgomery County Hospital District

Photo Caption:

(From left:) The Woodlands Township’s Stephen P. Sumner, Sr., Vice President of Operations and Public Safety, Jennifer Bourne-Poland, Business Development Manager, and Nick Wolda, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs, thank The Woodlands Development Company’s Presidents Alex Sutton and Tim Welbes for their major sponsorship of the 13th Annual Public Safety Heroes Awards Banquet, which honors outstanding service of select public safety personnel.

Media Contact:

Nick Wolda, The Woodlands Township
(281) 363-2447