The Austin Chamber of Commerce held its 146th Annual Meeting on February 13th at the JW Marriott. The event was attended by many, celebrating Dr. Richard Rhodes as the 2023 Austinite of the Year and honoring Volunteers of the Year: Christi Hester, Kathleen Lucente, and Gail Watson.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson addressed attendees, discussing his priorities for the city in the coming year. CEO Jeremy Martin expressed gratitude to outgoing Board Chair Ali Khataw and welcomed incoming Board Chair Rudy Garza, President and CEO of Garza EMC.
"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," said Rudy Garza during his address.
The event was supported by sponsors including Dell Technologies, St. David's HealthCare, Philip Morris International, and Ascension Seton. The Chamber acknowledged their business community's dedication over the past year while looking forward to a significant impact in 2024.
Congratulations were extended once again to Volunteers of the Year: Christi Hester, Kathleen Lucente, and Gail Watson.