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Join us for an engaging lunch panel event featuring two distinguished county judges from Central Texas. Judge Andy Brown of Travis County, Judge Hoppy Haden of Caldwell County and Russ Boles, Williamson County Commissioner will delve into the dynamic growth of their respective counties and share their invaluable experiences with pursuing large-scale construction projects on a national level. Learn about the rapid development and economic expansion in these counties, and how these changes are shaping the future of Central Texas. Hear firsthand how these leaders navigate the demands of growth while balancing the needs of their communities, providing a unique perspective on the interplay between local governance and global business ventures.

Judge Brown cannot join us for the VIP Pre-Lunch at 11am, but Judge Hoppy Haden will be in attendance.

Panelists Include:

Judge Andy Brown

County Judge of Travis County

Andy serves as the Travis County Judge. The County Judge presides over the Travis County Commissioners Court which oversees the county’s $1.4 billion annual budget, acts as the County’s chief administrator, and is the Director of Emergency Management for the County.
Since taking office, Judge Brown has significantly increased resources to historically underserved communities, including starting a mass COVID-19 vaccination effort prioritizing communities of color. During winter storm Uri, Judge Brown directed additional food, water, and utility support to the hardest hit areas in Travis County. Judge Brown focuses on investing in mental and behavioral health to help people receive care outside of the jail system, improving access to affordable housing, and increasing transparency and community participation in County business. Under Judge Brown’s leadership, the Commissioners Court voted to fund $110 million for housing for people experiencing homelessness which is anticipated to create as many as 3,000 additional housing units in Austin and Travis County through models like the Community First Village.

Hoppy Haden

County Judge of Caldwell County
 

Judge Hoppy Haven is currently the Caldwell County Judge and former County Commissioner for Caldwell County. As judge, Hoppy has actively participated in multiple economic development projects which include well over 1 billion dollars’ worth of business attraction for Caldwell County. Mr. Haden owns and operates Clear Creek, Inc. Construction, Loan Oak Construction Management and Los Piasanos Ranch along with his wife Linda. Mr. Haden has over 40 years of project management, marketing and analytical experience in the construction, environmental laboratory, environmental consulting and farm and ranch industries. He is passionate about economic development in Caldwell County and the region with a focus on managing positive growth throughout the county while maintaining quality of life for the residents of Caldwell County.  

Russ Boles

Williamson County Commissioner 
 

Russ Boles is an elected Williamson County Commissioner in 2018 and again in 2022. As a businessman, Russ operates Summit Commercial, a commercial real estate brokerage firm and other successful ventures and runs his family’s commercial real estate business and has located countless businesses and new jobs to Williamson County and Central Texas.  Russ knows that without a job, there is no quality of life. Russ was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia at an early age, and he learned to work twice as hard and twice as long to keep up in school. Russ attended Austin Community College and graduated from Texas State University with a business degree. Despite his diagnoses, he learned to navigate the world of academia and ultimately earned his Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Upon returning home, Russ began to volunteer with the Williamson County Literacy Council, where he taught jail inmates how to read. Because reading was so difficult for him, Russ was able to use his own life as a testimony to the kind of strong character that comes from hard work and determination. Russ was appointed as an advocate in courts of law for battered women, abused and neglected children, and the elderly.

Moderator:

Mike Martinez

Co-Founder, Adams Martinez Consulting Group
 

Mike has contributed 30 years of public service in Austin, TX. Beginning his public service as a firefighter with the Austin Fire Department, he quickly became a leader within the Austin Firefighters Association, ultimately becoming President of the organization in 2003. Elected to the Austin City Council in 2006, Mike served as a Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem until 2015, during which he also chaired the board at Cap Metro and played pivotal leadership roles in numerous city council sub-committees and policy advocacy groups. Mike is an experienced government affairs advocate with a demonstrated history of effective leadership in various public and private roles. His experience and skills include: Public Policy, Management Development and Leadership, Economic Development, Strategic Planning, Policy Formulation/Analysis, Transportation Agencies (Public Service Organizations), Public-Private Partnership Projects as well as Regulatory Affairs Compliance Review. Over the last decade, he has leveraged these skills to benefit over 20 clients, driving growth in business development, strategic policy initiatives, economic development, community engagement, and compliance.

Thank you to our Diamond Sponsor:

Thank you to our Sapphire Sponsors: