September 20, 2006

Acclaimed book about The Woodlands approaching sellout of initial printing

Barnes & Noble to host book signing reception with Roger Galatas, author of The Woodlands: The Inside Story of Creating a Better Hometown on Nov. 4 th at 4 p.m.

Roger Galatas, who wrote The Woodlands: The Inside Story of Creating a Better Hometown with Jim Barlow, will be featured at a special book signing and discussion event at Barnes & Noble Book Sellers in The Woodlands Mall on Saturday, Nov. 4 th at 4 p.m.

Roger Galatas wanted to recognize and celebrate the visionary role and commitment of George Mitchell in creating The Woodlands. So, he wrote a book. And what a tale is told by The Woodlands: The Inside Story of Creating a Better Hometown.

Authored by Galatas with Jim Barlow, the book tells the story of how The Woodlands was built from the ground up beginning in the 1960’s, and how various community and business leaders along with key residents helped it evolve into the ‘hometown’ it is today, where people live, work, shop and become involved in a way not often seen in modern-day America.

On Saturday, November 4 th at 4 p.m., Barnes & Noble Book Sellers in The Woodlands Mall will host a book signing and discussion reception with Roger Galatas with refreshments.

Galatas served as president and chief executive officer of The Woodlands Operating Company during the 20 years he directed all the company’s real estate activities related to the 27,000-acre community, helping grow The Woodlands from a vision to a reality. This informative and engaging book divulges a 40-year chronicle, from land acquisition to the current status, with lessons learned and a glimpse at the future of The Woodlands.

“More than just an account of a real estate development, it provides the in-depth truth about the fact that while planning and money are vital parts of any human endeavor, in the end it all came down to the people and the decisions that they made throughout the course of The Woodlands’ march to success,” said Galatas.

The Woodlands pays particular tribute to the outstanding volunteer contributions of the many residents and business leaders who established quality community institutions that resulted in a better place to live, such as Interfaith, governance, health care and education. Several key productive relationships are covered, including housing, affirmative action, transportation and mobility, golf, Hometown Heroes, as well as the YMCA, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Research Forest, and Town Center Improvement District.

The book concludes with a discussion about lessons learned along the way and the proposed options for future of The Woodlands and the possibilities for the future of its governance.

Tim Welbes, president of The Woodlands Operating Company, noted, “As we embrace the issues surrounding the future of The Woodlands and how it can be governed, it is important to have an in-depth understanding of the history and human element of our wonderful community. Roger’s book certainly provides the reader with such knowledge and it serves as a great resource. Everybody is always looking for the ‘real’ story as told by an ‘insider.’ As such, Roger is the ultimate insider.”

Published and distributed nationally by the Urban Land Institute, The Woodlands has become a resource book for urban planners and developers that focus on master-planned communities across the U.S. The book retails for $34.95 and is currently available at Barnes & Noble Book Sellers in The Woodlands Mall and online through Amazon at www.Amazon.com and Urban Land Institute at www.bookstore.uli.org.

Local realtor Cherylé Sanderson, CRS, ABR, GRI, who is currently ranked as the number one realtor in Texas with Prudential, said "Roger has written a wonderful tribute to the history of The Woodlands in the making.  I've given the book to several of my clients as a special gift.  Whether they are new to our community or longtime locals, the book is always appreciated for its description of how so many residents and businesses played a role in making The Woodlands one of the best places to live."   

For the past 25 years, he has been actively involved in the development of major communities in the Houston regions, including Kingwood, The Woodlands, and Woodlake. He has also been involved in resort development on Galveston Island and at Aspen and Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

His community service and leadership contributions have included serving as a board director on the Town Center Improvement District, a founding director of The Woodlands Hospital (now Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital), a former trustee and president of the Conroe Independent School District, and he has been honored with an elementary school in his name.

Today, he is president and chief executive officer of Roger Galatas Interests, LLC, a Woodlands-based firm that provides advisory and development services for real estate ventures specializing in master-planned communities.