The Austin Chamber of Commerce recently held its 146th annual meeting at the JW Marriott on Feb. 13. The event served as a platform to acknowledge the 2023 Austinite of the Year and honor its volunteers of the year.
As per the Austin Chamber's website, Dr. Richard Rhodes was conferred with the title of Austinite of the Year. Rhodes, who formerly held the position of chancellor at Austin Community College District, has been instrumental in shaping the workforce for Austin's industries and surrounding region. Under his leadership, ACC expanded to include 11 campuses, created educational environments for the community, and secured two general obligation bonds valued at approximately $1 billion. During Rhodes' tenure, ACC witnessed a significant increase in graduation rates, earning it multiple Star Awards from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The event also saw Austin Mayor Kirk Watson delivering a speech outlining his objectives for the city in the upcoming year. The chamber's CEO Jeremy Martin expressed gratitude towards departing Board Chair Ali Khataw during his address reflecting on his year of service. Subsequently, Martin welcomed Rudy Garza, president and CEO of Garza EMC, as the incoming board chair.
In his annual meeting address, Garza stated: "First and foremost, my number one priority is for the Chamber to be the voice of the business community. What does that mean? Well it means we can no longer silence ourselves on the big issues facing our city and region. Simply put: we have to show up and speak up," according to information available on Austin Chamber's website.
The chamber's volunteers of the year were announced as Christi Hester, Kathleen Lucente, and Gail Watson on their official website.
According to its website, The Austin Chamber is a nonprofit organization comprised of local businesses dedicated to fostering business development, advancing economic growth, and enhancing community resilience. The chamber works closely with businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence in the Austin region, assisting them in creating additional employment opportunities.