Andrea J. Barefield

President
Texas Municipal League (TML)

Andrea J. Barefield was elected to serve on the Waco City Council representing District 1 in 2018 and is currently serving her fifth term. She has twice been selected by her peers to serve as Mayor Pro Tem, in 2019 and again in 2025. Improving her community’s access to economic, educational, and housing opportunities continues to be the driving force behind her public service.

Andrea currently serves as President of the Texas Municipal League (TML), representing cities of all sizes across the state and helping strengthen regional collaboration and local leadership. She also serves on numerous boards and commissions, including the Texas Association of Black City Council Members (President), National League of Cities Board of Directors and 2026 Executive Committee, NLC REAL—Race, Equity and Leadership Council (Member), NLC University & College Council (Board Liaison), Prosper Waco Board (Chair), NAACP (Vice President), and the proud Alum of the Texas Lyceum.

In addition to her elected service, Andrea launched and serves as Principal of Barefield Impact Strategies, a community engagement and strategic consulting firm focused on helping organizations and municipalities build equitable and sustainable impact. Prior to that, she worked for the Ardurra Group as a Client Services Manager, connecting infrastructure, people, and progress.

Andrea is a proud member of the Waco Central Texas Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the Waco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. A graduate of Sam Houston State University, Andrea met her husband, Elijah, during their time there, and together they have been happily married for 23 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, Drew and Jaxon.

Carlos J. Contreras, III

President & CEO
Goodwill Industries of San Antonio

Carlos Contreras is President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio, leading the nonprofit social enterprise’s operations across a 24-county region in Southwest Texas and a workforce of approximately 1,800 employees. During his tenure, Goodwill has grown revenue by approximately 50% from about $90M in 2020 (prior to his arrival) to over $148M budget this year—while increasing starting hourly pay for team members by more than 50%. Over the same period, Goodwill’s Academy and Career Services unit trained and/or placed nearly 8,000 residents in high demand occupations at no cost.

Previously, Carlos served as Assistant City Manager for the City of San Antonio (2012–March 2021), with oversight responsibility for multiple city departments, including aviation, convention and sports facilities, economic development, government and public affairs, and Pre-K 4 SA. Earlier in his career, he led government affairs for KB Home’s San Antonio division and practiced law for 18 years, advising clients on administrative, legislative, regulatory, and corporate matters.

Carlos earned a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

He remains active in civic and regional leadership, including board and advisory service with the Federal Reserve System and regional education and economic development initiatives.

Community Advisory Council, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (2023-present)
Community Advisory Council, Federal Reserve Board of Governors (Past Chair, 2025)
Executive Committee, greater:SATX (2024–present) — a regional economic development partnership focused on accelerating inclusive growth and strengthening regional competitiveness
Board Member, VelocityTX (May 2025–present) — a nonprofit innovation hub focused on advancing bioscience and technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and workforce development
Advisory/Board Service, Early Matters San Antonio (August 2025–present) — an early childhood initiative focused on improving kindergarten readiness and long-term student outcomes

Goodwill Industries of San Antonio was named the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2024 Impact Award Honoree of the Year.

Carlos was named to the San Antonio Business Journal’s Texas 100 and South Texas Power Players (2024).

Roberto Coronado

Senior Vice President and Senior Economist
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Roberto Coronado is a senior vice president and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He is responsible for the bank’s community engagement and development function.

Coronado leads the team that builds deep, strategic partnerships with community and business leaders to help shape the Dallas Fed’s understanding of the economy in Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Louisiana. The team’s conversations with people in the region inform the Dallas Fed’s policy views. The Dallas Fed also relies on these relationships to support community development initiatives focused on breaking down barriers to education and employment, particularly in low- and moderate-income communities.

As an economist, Coronado focuses his research on the Mexican economy, U.S.–Mexico economic integration, and the border economy, and he has written articles for Federal Reserve publications and academic journals in both the U.S. and Mexico. With this expertise, Coronado is a key adviser on regional economic conditions and a liaison between the Bank and stakeholders in Texas and Mexico.

Coronado serves as a board member for the National Association for Business Economics, Texas 2036 and the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence.

He earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Houston, and he holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at El Paso.

John Hryhorchuk

Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
Texas 2036

John leads policy development and advocacy at Texas 2036, directing a team of subject-matter experts who use data to identify challenges Texas will face over the coming decades, help lawmakers build effective solutions, support agency implementation, and track whether the reforms are working.

That work includes the 2021 law formalizing the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, the 2023 move to outcomes-based community college funding, and 2025 legislation to improve connectivity within state education, postsecondary, and workforce systems.

Before joining Texas 2036, John held budget and policy roles for Governor Greg Abbott and former Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.

Larry Peterson

Executive Director
Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities

Larry Peterson is a serial tech entrepreneur, Executive Director of the Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities (TFIC), Chair for the UTeach Advisory Board, and past-Chair, Texas Lyceum. TFIC advises governments worldwide on innovation and entrepreneurship policy.

UTeach is the nation’s largest university-based STEM teacher development program, encompassing 55 universities, placing STEM-degreed teachers into K-12 classrooms. Independent evaluations rank UTeach #1 in STEM teacher quality in the US. The University of Texas has recently launched the National Center for STEM Education, focused on reimaging the STEM pipeline aided by the latest immersive and AI-assisted technology for personalized, adaptive instruction.

Meloni Raney

President / CEO
TEXO

Meloni Raney is the genuine, authentic leader of one of the largest construction associations in the country, an advocate for women, and passionate about advancing the construction industry.

Meloni graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Architecture and minor in Construction Science. She attained her architecture license while working at The Beck Group.

In 2013, she joined TEXO, the largest commercial contractor’s association in Texas, with members combined annual revenues of more than $45 billion.

In 2015, Meloni was promoted to President / CEO after the board recognized her passion to serve the entire construction industry.

Carlton Schwab

President/CEO
Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC)

Carlton Schwab has been President/CEO of the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) since February 1st, 1999. During that time, the 1,000-member TEDC has developed into a recognized leader in the professional development of its members and a powerful voice for economic development policy in the state of Texas.

In his role as President/CEO of the TEDC, Mr. Schwab has served on numerous boards and commissions. In 2012, he was named by Governor Perry to the Select Committee on Economic Development – a committee created by the 83rd Texas Legislature to review economic development policy for the state of Texas. In 2015 and 2016 he was the Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Texas Legislative Conference.

In 2017, Mr. Schwab was named an Honorary Life Member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and in November 2022 received the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Prior to his tenure at the TEDC, Mr. Schwab was Director of Development at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin (1996-1999). From 1989 to 1996, Mr. Schwab was a Director with Deloitte Consulting where he specialized in corporate site location analysis and economic development strategic planning. Mr. Schwab also spent time working in economic development at the local level, having served as Vice President of the Lubbock Board of City Development from 1986 to 1989.

Mr. Schwab raises registered Texas Longhorn cattle and is a Texas Certified Master Naturalist, affiliated with the Balcones Canyonlands Chapter in Austin, Texas.

Emma Grace Thomas

2026 Texas Lyceum Fellow
Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University

Emma Grace Thomas is a recent graduate of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. She earned her Master of Public Service and Administration in May 2026 with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Education Policy. She previously received her bachelor's degree in International Studies with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Emma Grace serves as the 2026 Texas Lyceum Fellow for the Bush School of Government and Public Service and the Mosbacher Institute at Texas A&M University.

Justin Yancy

President & CEO
Texas Business Leadership Council

Justin Yancy joined the Texas Business Leadership Council (TBLC) as its President & CEO in July 2001. Yancy is responsible for all aspects of the TBLC’s mission including managing membership involvement and overseeing policy work and general operations. Yancy is also Executive Director of the Foundation for a Globally Competitive Texas.

Yancy previously served in the administrations of Governors’ George W. Bush and Rick Perry. From February 1995 to February 2001, he served as Director of International Protocol to the Governor and Secretary of State. During the 77th Legislative Session, Yancy worked as an analyst in the Governor’s Policy Office.