Glenn Allbritton

District Engineer
Texas Department of Transportation

Glenn Allbritton, P.E., was appointed district engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation’s Houston District on Dec. 1, 2024, marking an important leadership transition for one of Texas' busiest transportation hubs. With more than 26 years of experience, Allbritton takes on this role at a critical time for one of the state’s most dynamic regions.
Allbritton’s career is marked by strong leadership in various capacities within TxDOT. Most recently, he served as district engineer for the Abilene District, where he oversaw all transportation operations, including design, construction, traffic management, and emergency response. His leadership during statewide disaster responses, such as Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Beryl, highlights his ability to manage complex situations and prepare for the challenges of the Houston District.
Focused on innovation, Allbritton spearheaded the creation of the first Rural Planning Organization (RPO) for the Abilene area – a collaborative effort bringing together regional stakeholders to address transportation needs. This experience will be invaluable as he leads the Houston District, known for its rapid population growth, expansive roadway network, and ambitious infrastructure projects.
A licensed professional engineer since 2009, Allbritton graduated from Midwestern State University. In his new role, he will oversee the Houston District’s extensive transportation network, which includes nearly 12,000 lane miles and serves over 7 million residents.

 Lesley Briones '13

Commissioner
HGAC/Harris County Precinct 4

Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones is a proud Latina and native Texan who grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border. She is the first woman to lead Precinct 4, and the first mother elected in her own right to the Harris County Commissioners Court. Commissioner Briones oversees county services for Precinct 4, which is larger than eight U.S. states and is home to over 1.2 million residents. Precinct 4 includes five cities, 55 parks,
and 10 community centers. On the Commissioners Court, she plays a significant role in shaping countywide policies and delivering progress on infrastructure, disaster readiness, public safety, justice, health, and more. Commissioner Briones has championed initiatives to make Harris County safer and more inclusive. She spearheaded adding new criminal district courts and the expansion of the Sheriff's Office TeleDeputy program to reduce call times, secured significant investments for flood mitigation projects and domestic violence resources, drove efforts to install lactation pods in county facilities, and led the creation of the county’s first LGBTQIA+ Commission. Her signature initiative, Call 4 Projects: Places 4 People, focuses on leveraging partnerships to improve safety and connectivity through transformative infrastructure projects. Commissioner Briones graduated with honors from Harvard University and began her career teaching in low-income public schools. She later earned her law degree from Yale, practiced law, and served as a Harris County Civil Court at Law Judge. Commissioner Briones lives in Houston with her husband, Adán, and their three daughters.

Ryan Collins 

Interim Executive Director
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)

Ryan Collins currently serves as the Interim Executive Director for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). Prior to leading the agency, he served as the Short-Range Planning Manager where he managed the financial management process for the MPO including regional programming, project evaluation, funding distribution, and direct oversight of individual project implementation. Before calling Texas home, Ryan worked for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He has a graduate degree in Environmental Resource Management and a bachelor’s degree in English, both from the University of South Carolina.

Edward M. Emmett

Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Center for Energy Studies
Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy

Edward M. Emmett is a Fellow in Energy and Transportation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Formerly, as a professor in the practice, Emmett taught classes in transportation economics and policy as well as social policy. In addition, Emmett is a Distinguished Senior Fellow within Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute and a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Strategic Risk Management.
From 2007 until 2019, Emmett served as County Judge of Harris County, Texas. As County Judge, Emmett was the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a role which established him as a national leader in emergency response and community resilience.
A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Judge Emmett was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate, Judge Emmett served on the commission for three years.
Emmett has received international recognition for his work in transportation and logistics policy. He was named Transportation Person of the Year by Transportation Clubs International and one of the Top 20 Logistics Professionals by Logistics Forum.
Emmett attended Bellaire High School. He graduated from Rice University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a Master of Public Affairs degree.
Emmett has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Presidential Call to Service Award.
Emmett and his wife, Gwen, have been married for 50 years and have four children and 13 grandchildren.

Liz Fazio-Hale '23

CEO General Manager
Gulf Coast Authority

Liz Fazio Hale is the CEO/General Manager of the Gulf Coast Authority (GCA), which manages wastewater and water reuse systems across the State of Texas. Prior to joining GCA, Liz served as the Executive Director/CEO for Riverbend Water Resources District in Northeast Texas and served as the Director for Natural Resources in the Texas House of Representatives under Chairman Allan Ritter. There, she played an instrumental leadership role in the development of the State Water Infrastructure Fund and Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIFT/SWIRFT), and she worked on the prioritization and enactment of numerous financial, legal, environmental, conservation, and special district policy measures during her tenure with the legislature from 2001 – 2015.

Liz is a dual-degree graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Government and a B.S. in Communications. She holds her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family: Caleb (husband), Rosie (sister), Kenzi (bonus daughter), Holt and JJ (her two sons).

Ramon Flores '18

SVP, Strategic Design, Development and Construction
Port San Antonio

Ramon Flores is Senior Vice President, Strategic Design, Development, and Construction for Port San Antonio. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, Mr. Flores is responsible for delivering new real estate development projects, including new construction and renovated facilities, infrastructure improvements and other projects that achieve the Port’s long-term goals.

Since 2013, Mr. Flores and his team have overseen a variety of projects and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, including new office buildings, complex tenant improvement projects, redevelopment of former industrial and aeronautical use buildings, a new K-12 public charter school campus, and extensive road and drainage projects to expand the Port’s available sites and capacity for future growth.

Prior to this position, Mr. Flores served for 6 years as Executive Director of the Westside Development Corporation (WDC) and worked for 9 years for Fannie Mae, in various roles in Dallas and San Antonio.

Mr. Flores is active in civic activities, including as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Keystone School, Trustee and Executive Committee Member of VIA Metropolitan Transit, Development Committee Member of the San Antonio Area Foundation, Board Member and Schools Committee Chair of the Harvard Club of San Antonio, and a Member of the Facilities Committee for the Girl Scouts of SW Texas.

In addition, Mr. Flores is an alumnus of the Texas Lyceum Class 2018, Leadership San Antonio Class 39 and LSA Steering Committee for Class 42. He was honored to be named the “Nonprofit Board Member of the Year” by the SA Business Journal in 2018.

Mr. Flores received his AB from Harvard and MBA from SMU. 

Rudy Garza

General Manager & Chief Executive Officer
LCRA

Thomas J. Gleeson

Chairman
Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT)

Thomas Gleeson was appointed Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) by Gov. Greg Abbott on January 19, 2024. He previously served as the Executive Director of the PUCT, a position he held since December 2020. Thomas has worked for the PUCT for over 15 years in various roles, including chief operating officer, director of finance and administration, and as a fiscal project manager. Gleeson also worked as a legislative analyst for the Texas Senate and a budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Board.

Gleeson is a graduate of the Governor's Executive Development Program at The University of Texas at Austin and served as the former chairman of both the City of Pflugerville Finance and Budget Committee and the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock Finance Committee. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwestern University and a Master of Public Administration from The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. Gleeson lives in Pflugerville with his wife, Elisa, and their three sons.

David Green

Senior Deputy Coastal Protection Department
GLO

David Green is the Senior Deputy Director of Texas General Land Office Coastal Protection Department. At the GLO, he manages the state’s oil spill prevention and response, coastal grants, leasing of structures on submerged lands, coastal management act, coastal planning and permitting, beach and dune regulatory, coastal water resources, adopt-a-beach, and the Natural Resources Damage Assessment programs. Prior to managing the Coastal Department, David represented the agency as an attorney in Office of General Counsel. Prior to his service at the GLO, David served as an Assistant Attorney General at the Texas Attorney General’s Office in the Environmental Protection Division and was an associate attorney at Sutherland and Baron & Budd. David has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Baylor University.

Marc Henry

County Judge
Galveston County

First elected in 2010, Judge Henry is the 28th County Judge in Galveston County history, dating back to 1838 and is only the 5th County Judge since World War II. Judge Henry has cut the county’s tax rate every year he’s been in office totaling a reduction of 48.6% while paying off 63% of the bonded debt.  As a 21-year USAF Veteran, Judge Henry is committed to veteran issues and in 2013 created, at that time, the only all-veteran staffed Veterans Treatment Court in the United States. Judge Henry is in his fourth term as County Judge.

Scott Hill

Chief Infrastructure Officer
Houston Airport System

Scott Hill, A.A.E. is the Chief Infrastructure Officer for the Houston Airport System (HAS). He provides leadership for the Infrastructure Division, which oversees contracts, fleet and asset management, project controls, design management and project delivery across George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD)/Houston Spaceport.

Hill has over 20 years of aviation industry experience, gained through his service in the United States Air Force and tenure with HAS. He is a certified Project Management Professional, Certified Facility Manager and an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) of the American Association of Airport Executives.

Courtney Hjaltman

Commissioner
Public Utility Commission of Texas

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Courtney Hjaltman to serve as a commissioner on the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on June 24, 2024. Commissioner Hjaltman was confirmed by the Texas Senate on May 21, 2025. 
Hjaltman previously served as the chief executive and public counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) by appointment of Governor Abbott. At OPUC, she led the agency's representation of residential and small commercial customers in proceedings before the PUCT, State Office of Administrative Hearings, state courts, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
Hjaltman has extensive policy experience including in the electric, water, and telecommunication industries and has worked for the State of Texas in a variety of roles throughout her career.
Prior to her appointment at OPUC, Hjaltman served as deputy legislative director for Governor Abbott, working with members of the Texas Legislature and other stakeholders on various policy issues, which in the 87th Legislative Session included landmark legislation to improve the reliability of the ERCOT grid and institute first-ever weatherization requirements for ERCOT generation resources.
Hjaltman graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Government. She earned her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law.

Charlie Jenkins

Chief Executive Officer
Port Houston

Charlie Jenkins was appointed CEO of Port Houston in April 2024, bringing more than 35 years of experience with the organization. He oversees port operations and advocates for the growth and competitiveness of the Houston Ship Channel, a vital contributor to the Texas and U.S. economies. Previously, as Chief Channel Infrastructure Officer, he led Port Houston’s portion of the Houston Ship Channel expansion, completing the project on time and within budget.

Jenkins serves on several industry and regional advisory boards, including the Texas Ports Association and the Greater Houston Port Bureau. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marine sciences from Texas A&M University at Galveston and an MBA from the University of Houston. He lives in the Clear Lake area with his wife and their family.

Carl L. Johnson P.E

Carl L. Johnson, P.E., serves as Chief Engineer. In his role as Chief Engineer, he is responsible for overseeing the management and control of Engineering & Safety Operations and District Operations.

A 1989 graduate of the Construction Engineering program at Texas Tech University, Johnson started his career working for two heavy highway contractors in the DFW and Central Texas regions. Johnson is a 30-year TxDOT veteran. He started with TxDOT in 1995 as a General Engineering Technician IV at the Lampasas Area Office of the Brownwood District. Since then, Johnson has been promoted to key positions and worked on many critical statewide initiatives.

Johnson earned his license as a Professional Engineer in 2007, and in 2012 was promoted to Director of Operations for the Brownwood District where he oversaw maintenance, traffic and emergency operations for the nine-county district.

In August of 2017, he became the Abilene District Engineer overseeing design, maintenance and construction for the 13-county district; and in September 2020, Johnson was promoted to Fort Worth District Engineer overseeing more than $4 billion in construction including major projects such as I-35W, the I-30/SH 360 Interchange, and the Southeast Connector.

In September 2022, he became the Director of District Operations overseeing TxDOT’s 25 districts. In this role, he spent many hours visiting the districts, driving the roads, and engaging with district staff. Over the last several years, he has partnered with districts, industry partners, legislators and community leaders which contributed to the successful delivery of record project lettings. He has worked with the Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT Administration on various projects to advance strategic goals of the department.

William E. Bill King

Fellow, Baker Institute
Rice - Baker Institute

Bill King is a lifelong resident of the Houston area.  He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Houston.  His varied business and legal career included serving as the managing partner of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, Of Counsel to Bracewell, and the president of Southwest Airport Services, Inc.  He is currently a Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute.
He wrote for the Houston Chronicle from 2005 to 2015, where he authored a bi-weekly column and served on the editorial board.  He has also authored three books.  His most recent is Depopulation: Our New Demographic Reality. 
Mr. served in various positions with the City of Kemah, including two terms as Mayor.  In the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Ike, Mr. King served on gubernatorial commissions and chaired a regional task force on the disastrous Rita evacuation.  For that work, he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the National Hurricane Conference.
He has served in many capacities with charitable and civic organizations, including Interfaith Ministries, HISD Foundation, Galveston Bay Foundation, Methodist Retirement Communities, Trees for Houston, and many others.  He currently serves on the board of the Memorial Herman Healthcare System. 

John Listowski

Mayor (Galveston)

Randall V. Macchi

Director of Houston Public Works
City of Houston

Randall V. (Randy) Macchi, JD serves as Director of Houston Public Works, leading the largest accredited public works agency in the North America. He oversees a 3.5 billion dollar organization of nearly 4,000 employees delivering critical infrastructure services that support the safety, resiliency, and quality of life for the City of Houston. Randy joined Houston Public Works in 2023 as Chief Operating Officer and was named Director in November 2024. He was unanimously appointed to the role, bringing a multidisciplinary leadership approach that expands traditional infrastructure leadership and has since led a transformation of the department through strategic planning, performance management, and operational excellence. Randy holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston and is an accomplished public speaker, certified mediator, and adjunct professor. He is also a dedicated husband to his wife Kayla and a proud father of four sons.

Alex Meade '14

Member, Texas Transportation Commission
Executive Vice President, Texas Regional Bank

Alex Meade is a member of the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees statewide activities of the Texas Department of Transportation. He has served on the TxDOT Commission since March 21, 2023, when Governor Greg Abbott appointed him. He serves as Executive Vice President for Texas Regional Bank (TRB), where he manages their public policy strategy and economic development division. Meade is an alumnus of the Texas Lyceum and a former board of regent for Texas State Technical College System, and a former member of the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Evan Mintz

Editor of Opinion and Community Engagement
Houston Chronicle

Evan Mintz is the editor of opinion and community engagement for the Houston Chronicle.

Mintz previously served as deputy opinion editor at the Chronicle, where he was a 2017 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing for his contributions to a series on gun laws and violence. He graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Rice University. A licensed attorney, Mintz is married to Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz, a psychologist and author of Has Your Child Been Traumatized, has two children and in his free time enjoys gardening.

Ashley Morgan

Ashley Morgan joined the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on October 6, 2025.

Prior to her service at the TWDB, Morgan served as an attorney at Erben & Yarbrough, an Austin-based legal and governmental affairs firm, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Attorney General, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Morgan is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the UT System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, and serves as a docent with the Docents of the Governor’s Mansion.

An East Texas native, Morgan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1998 and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 2007.

Dade Phelan '19

Former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

Dade Phelan represents Texas House District 21 in Southeast Texas and served as the 76th Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2021 to 2024. First elected in 2014, he has championed legislation supporting flood mitigation, education, infrastructure, healthcare, workforce development, and property tax relief. He also helped secure significant state funding for Southeast Texas ports, transportation, and higher education.

Before serving as Speaker, Phelan held several key committee leadership roles and served as president of the Lower Neches Valley Authority. In addition to his public service, he works in his family’s fourth-generation commercial real estate development firm. A Southeast Texas native and University of Texas at Austin graduate, he resides in the region with his wife, Kim, and their four sons.

Matt Phillips

Deputy General Manager
Brazos River Authority

Matt Phillips joined the Brazos River Authority in 2009, serving as Legislative and Government Affairs Manager for the organization for 15 years before being named Deputy General Manager in 2024.

He joined the BRA after working for several years as a legislative aide for former State Senator Steve Ogden. Matt also served as an assistant clerk for the Senate Finance Committee under the chairmanship of former State Senator Rodney Ellis.

Matt has a long history with the BRA. Before beginning his professional career, he grew up living on Lake Limestone, where he worked for the BRA as a part-time maintenance worker before college. He received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Government from The University of Texas.

Matt and his wife, Kari, live in Liberty Hill with their children, Sadler, Parker and Whitton.

Robert R. Puente

San Antonio Water System
President/Chief Executive Officer

Robert R. Puente, San Antonio Water System's (SAWS) President and CEO since May 2008, leads one of the nation's largest utilities delivering water and wastewater services to 2 million customers. He is the longest serving President/CEO in SAWS history and is widely recognized as a leading authority on water issues throughout Texas.
Under Puente’s leadership, SAWS has diversified its water sources, significantly reducing dependence on the Edwards Aquifer, which is no longer the sole source of water for the service area. Since taking the helm at SAWS Puente has led the entity through many historic financial and operational successes and is often called on to share these successes throughout the United States and abroad. Puente has also led the entity to achieve the highest bond ratings in its history.
Additionally, the utility has earned several state and national recognitions and awards, including: induction to the Leading Utilities of the World; the National Association Of Clean Water Agencies' 2016 Public Information and Education Agency Achievement Award - Educational Program; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's 2016 Texas Environmental Excellence Award – Education; Water Environment Federation's 2015 Public Education Award; and the Top Workplace Award 11 times since 2011, as well as the national 2025 Energy & Utilities Top Workplace.
Prior to SAWS, Puente served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991-2008 and was Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. During his tenure, Puente authored and led the charge in passing several historic bills related to water which continue to serve as model legislation throughout the U.S.

Sanjay Ramabhadran' 13

Former Board Chariman
Consor

Caroll Robinson

Associate Professor
Texas Southern University - Faculty

Carroll G. Robinson is an Associate Professor of Public Administration and Political Science at Texas Southern University, in Houston, Texas. 
He has also been a member of the faculty at Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and an Adjunct faculty member at South Texas College of Law.
Professor Robinson has formerly served as an At-Large Houston City Council Member and a Houston Community College Trustee.
Professor Robinson is a graduate of Stockton State College, (BA) and The National Law Center at George Washington University, in Washington, DC (J.D.).

Gerry Schwebel

President
Rail/Landport - IBC Bank

Gerry Schwebel is a leading authority on North American trade and finance, with deep expertise in U.S.-Mexico commerce, transportation, logistics, and international finance. As President and Director of IBC Bank’s International Division, he has testified before Congress on NAFTA, USMCA and cross-border trade issues, and directly participated in NAFTA and USMCA negotiations. He remains active in advancing North American trade through leadership roles with the U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-Mexico Economic Council and CEO Dialogue, where he directs the Trade Policy Working Group and serves on the Trade Facilitation Working Group. He remains active in several other trade and infrastructure organizations such the Border Trade Alliance, NASCO, the Border Trade Advisory Committee, and the I-69 Alliance, and has recently been appointed Chair of the Texas Freight Advisory Committee.

Chad V. Seely

Senior Vice President, Regulatory Policy, General Counsel,
Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary
ERCOT

Chad V. Seely is Senior Vice President, Regulatory Policy, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary for ERCOT (GC since 2016). He oversees state/federal policy, litigation strategy, and leads Compliance, Public Affairs, Corporate Communications, Client Services, and the ERCOT Reliability Monitor function. With ERCOT since 2005, he previously served as an attorney at the Texas Department of Insurance. Raised in Irving, he earned degrees in Political Science and French from Texas Tech University (1999) and a law degree from South Texas College of Law (2002). He has lived in Austin since 2002 with his wife and two daughters.

Rob Thomas

Chief Program Manager
Gulf Coast Protection District

Rob Thomas is the Chief Program Manager of the Gulf Coast Protection District. Rob oversees the technical and engineering of large-scale coastal resilience initiatives designed to protect Texas’s upper Gulf Coast from hurricane storm surge and flooding. Rob is responsible for managing the design, construction, and integration of critical infrastructure projects, including the Coastal Texas Project and the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project.

Career Highlights
– Chief, Engineering and Construction Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District.
– Chief, Project Management Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District.
– Chief, Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District.
– Research Coastal Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering Research and Development Center
– Coastal Engineer, HDR Engineering, Inc.

Professional Certifications
– Professional Engineer (P.E.)
– Board Certified Coastal Engineer (BC.CE)
– Board Certified Navigation Engineer (BC.NE)

Education
– M.S., Texas A&M University
– B.S., Texas A&M University at Galveston

Residence
League City, Texas

Candace M. Wilson

Candace M. Wilson, a Florida native, graduated from Texas Southern University with an Executive Master of Public Administration. Her capstone research analyzed how legal and political networks shape leadership pipelines and institutional power between PWIs and HBCUs.

Wilson’s background is rooted in advocacy; her grandfather was a plaintiff in Blalock v. School Board of Lee County, challenging school segregation in Fort Myers, Florida. Drawing from this legacy, she examines how systems allocate access, influence, and authority.

Wilson is pursuing a master’s in Administrative Law, preparing to become an attorney focused on reforming prison system and mental health policy.