TEXAS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Texas Economic Development & Tourism
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- Deputy Director, Business & Community Development
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- Communications Specialist
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- Community Relations Specialist - East
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- Business Assistance Specialist
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- Office Administrator
- Office Administrator for the Governor 's Committee on People With Disabilities
Carolyn is the Office Administrator for the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. She is a native Texan and graduate from the University of North Texas in Denton with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Rehabilitation Services. She served people with disabilities for several years working in State Vocational Rehabilitation assessment services, and Behavioral and Intellectual Developmental Disability vocational evaluation services in Waco, Texas. Carolyn joined the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities with extensive administrative experience in Austin, Texas.
She worked at the University of Texas in the VP for Student Affairs and the Dean's Office in the College of Liberal Arts providing administrative support. Recently, she served as Executive Assistant to a busy CEO of an Architecture firm. All of these experiences has given her a broad perspective of life's challenges and quality of life for all people.
Carolyn is honored to be on the staff of the Governor's Committee of People with Disabilities serving fellow Texans. In her spare time, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, friends, pets, classic film, reading, gardening, traveling and entertaining.
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- Executive Vice President and Managing Partner of GRACO Real Estate Development, Inc
Christy McClendon of Lubbock is executive vice president and managing partner of GRACO Real Estate Development, Inc. She is a member of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health National Advisory Board, member and former chairman of the Lubbock Independent School District Talkington School for Young Women Leaders Advisory Council, member and treasurer of the Lubbock Young Women's Leader Foundation Board, and member of the Texas Tech University Research Park, Inc., Board of Directors. She is a former member and finance chairman for the Covenant Health System Board of Directors and a former member of the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts Board of Trustees. McClendon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Tech University.
Finance Specialist | Governor's University Research Initiative
Finance Specialist │Texas Enterprise Fund, Governor's University Research Initiative
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- Program Manager Texas Small Business Credit Initiative
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- Member of the International Marketing Trade Team
- US Trade & Canada
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- Medical Director of Family Health Center
Dr. Antonio Falcon of Rio Grande City is medical director of Family Health Center, L.L.P. He is a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, American Academy of Family Practice, Texas Academy of Family Practice, Texas Medical Foundation, Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society, and the Health and Human Services Council. Additionally, he is a former member of the Parks and Wildlife Commission, United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, and the Nursing Facility Administrators Advisory Committee. Falcon received a Bachelor of Science from Baylor University and a Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine.
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- Member of the International Marketing Trade Team
- Marketing Specialist - Latin America
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- Higher Education Coordinating Board )
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- Project Development Coordinator
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- President and Chief Executive Officer for BalyProjects
Jacquie Baly of Sugar Land is president and chief executive officer for BalyProjects, a former member of the Sugar Land City Council, and former adjunct professor at the University of Houston. She is the Public Policy Director for the National Association of Women Business Owners Board and PAC Board member of the Houston Contractors Association. Previously, she served as a national delegate for the Women in Commercial Real Estate, and is a member of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's Transportation Policy Council and the Greater Houston Partnership's Transportation Infrastructure Advisory Committee. She is also past president of both the Fort Bend Professional Women's Group and the River Oaks Women's Breakfast Club. Her awards include University of Houston's Alumni Association's "Rising Star Award," Texas Executive Women's "Woman on the Move" and KTRK-13 "Woman of Distinction." Baly received a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Houston and a master's degree in city planning from Texas Southern University.
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- International Investment & Trade Representative, Asia / Pacific
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- Community Relations Specialist - North
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- Project Development Coordinator
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- Business Retention & Industry Specialist
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- Founder and Executive Chairman of Family ER
John Goodman of Frisco is founder and executive chairman of Family ER + Urgent Care Centers, and is a board member, co-founder, former executive chairman, and former chief executive officer of Goodman Networks. Previously, he held leadership positions at Bell Atlantic, GTE, and Verizon. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, board member of the Way of Grace Community Church, and former chairman of Friends of Scouting Circle Ten Boy Scouts. Additionally, he serves as a volunteer for Foodstep Uganda and Serving His Children Uganda, and he is a volunteer youth basketball coach for YMCA. Goodman received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University.
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- Director, Business & Community Development
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- Marketing & Communications Team Lead
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- Marketing & Creative Media Specialist
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- EDA / Cooperativ E Specialist
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- Community Relations Specialist - South
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- Accessibility and Disability Rights Coordinator
Matt Dickens is the Accessibility and Disability Rights Coordinator for the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. Originally from Oklahoma, Matt attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas to obtain an extensive education in business administration. After achieving multiple degrees, Matt moved to Houston, Texas to start a career in supporting people with disabilities. As a person who was born Deaf to a Deaf family, the collaborative nature of the Deaf community is integral to his approach.
His previous employment history includes work as Program Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services at a non-profit organization, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Specialist contractor for the Texas HHSC's Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Texas Workforce Commission. In addition to his work, Matt is proud to have served for two terms on the Houston Commission on People with Disabilities as the Employment Committee Chair. He also has served on the boards of multiple other organizations to support the community.
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- Federal Affairs Section Director
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- Vice President of Development for Paso Del Norte Community Foundation
Mica Espinoza Short of El Paso is Vice President of Development for Paso del Norte Community Foundation. She previously served as the Community Relations Manager for Texas Gas Service and the Executive Vice President at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. She is secretary of the El Paso Children's Hospital Board, member and past chair of the Workforce Solutions Borderplex, board member of the FirstLight Community Foundation, and a graduate of Leadership El Paso - Class 28 and Leadership Texas - Class 2016. Additionally, she is a former board member of the Borderplex Alliance and the El Paso ISD Education Foundation and former vice president of the YWCA Paso del Norte. Short received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at El Paso. Additionally, she received a Certificate in Leadership Development from the U.S. Army War College's National Security Seminar.
Mike Fernandez Shaw of Fredericksburg is owner and operator of Mike Shaw Automotive, which includes two dealerships in Texas. He is the former vice president of the Toyota National Minority Dealer Council and a former member of the Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, Gulf States Toyota Dealer Council, Toyota National Dealer Council on Dealer Diversity, General Motors Hispanic Dealer Advisory Board, General Motors and Chevrolet National Dealer Councils, and the Toyota Lexus Dealer Advisory Network. He is a former board member of the Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation Board of Trustees and the South Texas Charity Quail Hunt Benefit and a trustee of the Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he is a member of the Texas A&M Athletic Ambassadors and the Texas A&M Champions Century Council and a life member and former board member of the National Western Stock Show Association. Shaw received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
Job Titles:
- Business Assistance Specialist
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- Community Outreach and Information Coordinator
A native of Austin, Texas and proud graduate of the University of Texas/Austin, top accomplishments include a loving and devoted spouse and one son with a fantastic family. After a post-college ten-year grind at a career in music, the college degree evolved into a rewarding career of thirty-eight years in the service of people with disabilities. Employment included United Cerebral Palsy of the Capitol Area as Executive Director, then at Disability Assistance of the Capital Area as Executive Director. Non-profit work was followed by thirteen years in the Architectural Barriers Program with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as Program Specialist V. After a mis-guided venture into semi-retirement, a return to full-time employment presented itself and became reality with a position with the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities as Community Outreach and Information Specialist.
This career track offered a variety of opportunities: teaching at state and national events; providing day-to-day information on multiple programs and services for people with disabilities; grant writing and implementation/oversight of programs borne of successful grant applications; volunteer recruitment and management; employee hiring, management and mentoring; compliance oversight for programs including ADA compliance, accessibility, employment, independent living, case management, provision of Medicaid services, adult day care; fiscal accountability; advocacy and more. Certain jobs brought rewards in the challenges of special events, fund raising and (early-on) driving a 40-passenger bus! Variety is also represented in leisure time with volunteer involvement in fields including disability information and advocacy, theatre, bocce, human service coalitions, nature conservancy and an undeniable draw to bodies of water whether a lake or an ocean.
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- Member of the International Marketing Trade Team
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- Business Retention & Industry Specialist
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- Existing Industry & International Specialist
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- Research Specialist
- Research Specialist for the Governor 's Committee on People With Disabilities
Rebecca Lopez is the Research Specialist for the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. A native New Yorker, Rebecca grew up on Long Island before heading to Boston for college. Rebecca is a proud double Terrier, receiving both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston University. After completing her Masters in Deaf Education, Rebecca moved to Texas to teach at Texas School for the Deaf.
During her five-year tenure, Rebecca was actively involved in the school: she was a member of the Five-Year Strategic Plan Team, a Class sponsor for three years, and a volunteer for numerous school committees and events. Rebecca then made the exciting leap from teaching to policy work. She became the Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities policy specialist at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. While there, she expanded her knowledge of policy development and was introduced to many advocacy organizations.
Continuing her journey into governmental and disability work, Rebecca joined the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities where she uses her extensive research skills to support the Committee's policy recommendations, coordinate and execute research projects, and compile relevant data to meet the Committee's goals.
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- Community Relations Specialist - Central
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- Executive Director
- Executive Director of the Texas Governor 's Committee
Ron Lucey is the Executive Director of the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. Mr. Lucey, previously served as the manager of the Accessibility and Web Support Unit for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and has held several positions at DARS and its legacy agency, the Texas Commission for the Blind, which included the establishment of an statewide information and referral system and the creation of a blindness prevention program. He is a graduate of the University of Texas with degrees in government and communications. His perspective as a person with a vision disability has helped him effectively advocate for accessibility and the rights of Texans with disabilities. Lucey served as an Austin city commissioner and as chair of the Austin Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, providing accessibility policy recommendations to the City Council and Austin's previous five mayors. His experience with the Austin Mayor's Committee gives him a focused perspective to support the mayors' and county committees through GCPD, as well as disability organizations throughout the state. Mr. Lucey comes with a wealth of knowledge on disability issues as well as effective leadership skills. In 2010, in recognition of his passion and commitment to achieving full inclusion of people with disabilities in the community, he was selected as the recipient of Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities Governor's Trophy, the highest honor awarded in our Lex Frieden Employment Awards.
Chair, Sam L. Susser of Dallas has served on the GURI Advisory Board since September 2015. He is chairman of BancAffiliated, Inc., chairman of the Corpus Christi Athletic Club and a director of National Retail Properties. He previously served as chairman of Susser Petroleum/Sunoco, L.P. and Stripes, L.L.C. He currently is chair of the University Development Board at the University of Texas, a member of the Advisory Board of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, co-chair of Governmental Relations Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the MD Anderson Board of Visitors, and a director of the Board of Southwestern Medical Foundation. He also serves on the Executive Committee as the immediate past chair of the Driscoll Children's Hospital System in South Texas and on the Board of Texas 2036. Susser received a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. Appointed Chair by Governor Abbott in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Coordinator
Finance Specialist | Texas Small Business Credit Initiative
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- International & Industry Team Lead / International Investment & Trade Representative, Americas / Europe
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- Project Development Coordinator
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- Advertising Project Coordinator
Finance Specialist | Texas Enterprise Zone, Opportunity Zone, Defense Economic Readjustment Zone
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- Member of the International Marketing Trade Team
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- President of Pickering Energy Partners
Walker N. Moody of Houston is the president of Pickering Energy Partners. He was previously with Goldman, Sachs & Co., and prior a Captain in the US Air Force with international affairs and strategic planning duties in the Middle East, the Pentagon, and was a Social Aide-de-Camp at the White House (under President Bush). He is a member of the M.D. Anderson Executive Committee Board of Visitors and a board member of the M.D. Anderson Leadership Institute and the M.D. Anderson Clinical Operations and Competitive Assessment Advisory Group. He previously served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee and the Texas Public Finance Authority. Moody received a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from Texas Christian University and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University.
Finance Specialist | Texas Enterprise Fund, Industrial Revenue Bond