The Dallas-Fort Worth area has been famously dubbed as the Metroplex, symbolizing its interconnected growth, prosperity and influence, though many North Texans reject the moniker. And while Texans are familiar with this term and all it entails, there’s another region of the state that’s experiencing a similar pattern of fast development, exponential population growth and increased economic significance — the region between San Antonio and Austin.Â
Join us for a conversation on the interconnected future of Central Texas, Texas’ next hot spot for growth and development. We’ll talk through the buffet of tax and regulatory incentives that are driving the favorable business climate from San Antonio to Austin, how area affordability is impacting population change in New Braunfels and San Marcos, the impact growth is having along I-35 and on local roads, and what is both exciting elected officials and giving them pause.
Join us at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Tribune's Studio 919 and online for this journalist roundtable. Moderated by Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the panel will feature Mike Kamerlander, president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership; Ed Latson, CEO of Opportunity Austin; Jonathan Packer, president and CEO, Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce; and Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, president and CEO, greater: SATX.Â
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Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. at the Tribune’s Studio 919, located at 919 Congress Ave., Sixth Floor, in Austin. The hourlong conversation will begin at 9 a.m. Parking will not be provided; street and garage parking as well as ride-sharing are recommended.
This in-person event will be livestreamed for virtual attendees and will be available to watch on demand afterward at texastribune.org/events.
Saucedo-Herrera is the president and CEO of greater:SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. During her seven-year tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over 23,000 jobs for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include work with Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar and Aisin.
Kamerlander is president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. He formerly served as director of Lockhart Economic Development, where he developed the city’s first economic development strategic plan to promote Lockhart as a destination for job creation and investment. The successful program saw the development of a LEDC-owned 75 acre-acre industrial park housing Lockhart’s most recent announcement, The Ziegenfelder Company, a frozen treat manufacturer. The project included a $46 million investment and is creating 100 new jobs.
Latson is the CEO of Opportunity Austin. Previously, he founded and served as executive director for ARMA, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, a business group focused on strengthening the advanced manufacturing community through advocacy, workforce development and networking. Latson is also a member of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Semiconductor Taskforce.
Packer is president and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber, a membership organization representing more than 1,600 businesses. The chamber advocates for sound public policy, serves as the destination marketing organization for New Braunfels and manages Confluence, a public-private economic development initiative.
Cisneros is chair of the infrastructure investment firm American Triple I. He is also vice chair of the board of directors and equity owner of Shank Williams Cisneros & Co. LLC and principal of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC. He was mayor of San Antonio from 1981-89 and secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1993-97.
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism.
Find a complete list of them here.
Email us at events@texastribune.org
Sab Pell is senior director of product marketing at Openform, where her goal is to help people unlock the power of in-person events. Prior to Openform, she led global product marketing teams. Sab Pell is senior director of product marketing at Openform, where her goal is to help people unlock the power of in-person events. Prior to Openform, she led global product marketing teams.
