Meet Alan Steinberg | President/CEO – West Houston Association

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alan Steinberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alan, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Collaboration! I have always been the type of person who seeks to network others together. I enjoy solving problems, and find that one of the most successful ways to do that is by bringing people together so that they can build off of each other’s strengths. Everyone has something they can bring to the table when it comes to getting things done. The challenge is often identifying what it a particular person can bring to the table, and then matching them up with others at the right time and in the right place to make the most of their contributions. I would not be where I am today if not for the people in my orbit; supporters to push me forward as well as the antagonists who force me to grow. I believe that everyone I meet can help me be more successful, I just haven’t quite figured out how with some of them yet.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut. However, I have never been the type to set my sites on something and endlessly work through it. Instead, I follow a meandering path through life that allows me to change directions as I go and provides plenty of opportunity for me to explore things that peak my interests. I enjoy leaning about new things and challenging myself. This means spending a lot of time in school, reading, listening, and just being open to whatever comes my way. Today I’m nowhere near being an astronaut, and while going to space still seems really cool, I have since discovered that I am much more passionate about being part of the community down here on Earth. Community service was something instilled in me at an early age, and I’ve been winding my way back towards that route ever since. In my current position with the West Houston Association I get to be part of so many complex issues full of interdependencies that allow me to always be learning new things and constantly getting to explore, all while improving quality of life for the people around me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The two things anyone who comes to Houston has to experience is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Space Center Houston. Both of these things are part of the fabric of Houston, and both have major impacts on the economy and culture of our community. The Rodeo has been a part of Houston’s history since 1932 and continues to remind us of our history and the original economic drivers of the region. It is also that one time of year a visitor to Houston actually gets the cowboy hat and boots experience that they have as an image of Texans. This is totally juxtaposed with the way Space Center Houston inspires us to think about the future. What they both have in common is the idea of exploration, the west vs the final frontiers. The other part of Houston to consider is our food. We have it all, but the must try places for me are some of the BBQ joints and Asian cuisine in Chinatown/International District.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s a lot of people, but the group on my mind right now that deserves credit for where I am at today is my Leadership Houston cohort. The people I met during that journey have been instrumental in my current success. I’ve learned from them, grown from our discussions, been encouraged to push myself further, and leaned on them when I’ve needed help.

Website: https://www.westhouston.org/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansteinberg/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanSteinberg

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=fQcfRZkcOO-MXFYD5umf2w