Making Names
Conversations with the people who
run Texas.
Making Names is a Texas public affairs interview series produced by DSE Media in Austin, Texas. Guests include economic development directors, city and county staff, current and former elected officials, association and advocacy leaders, and Texas business operators.
Economic development directors, city staff, officials, and the people building Texas communities.
Hosted and produced by DSE Media in Austin.
Episodes
Economic Development
James Dickey
Founder & Principal · JD Key Consulting
“The industry owes it to themselves and to the public to make their case.”
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Government Communications
Jerrod Kingery
Communications Manager · City of Taylor
“We don't take any aspect of commentary away from the people, because that's who we work for.”
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Healthcare & Wellness
Brittney Majefski
Program Director · Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses
“That's one of the biggest barriers, I think, to referrals is fear.”
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Economic Development
Laura Huffman
Co-Founder & CEO · CivicSol
“So what that also means is economic development has to become a team sport.”
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Economic Development
Randall Malik
Director of Economic Development · City of Leander
“And to build trust, you've got to have a proven ability to execute and deliver.”
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Media & Technology
Walt Maciborski
CBS Austin Anchor · Creator & Host, Tech This Out
“But we transitioned from that economy into a builder economy.”
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Nonprofit & Community
Brandon Wollerson
Senior Director, Philanthropy & Community Engagement · Vivent Health
“We want people to have a good experience.”
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Infrastructure & Community
John-Michael Cortez
Head of Government & Community Affairs, South and Southwest · GFiber
“You know, I think that trust is the most critical foundation to doing anything big and meaningful.”
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Real Estate Development
Tim Dowling
Co-Founder, Buda Capital Partners
“Everybody is so involved in creating the community that we all want.”
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Higher Education
Bryan Ashton
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Trellis · Head of Trellis Strategies
“And so, I always kind of push people to say, you have a degree, but what are the skills that are underneath that degree and how are they transferable?”
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Government Communications
Thomas Reeves
Director of Public Affairs, City of Baytown
“And it really does have to do with listening and being open to the fact that you may be wrong.”
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County Government
Steve Snell
County Judge, Williamson County
“But you don't want to react to it, you want to lead it.”
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City Government
Kirk Watson
Mayor, City of Austin
“But as I've said, great cities build great skylines, but the best cities build great childhoods.”
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Economic Development
Susan Davenport
President and CEO, Opportunity Austin
“Economic development is a team sport and we've got a great team.”
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Economic Development
Amy Madison
Interim Executive Director, Schertz Economic Development Corporation
“because it's all about the people. It truly is.”
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Public Relations
Jed Buie
Founder and President, Buie & Co.
“we believe that people support what they help create.”
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Economic Development
A.J. Rodriguez
Chief Executive Officer, Central Texas Alliance
“We're responding to it.”
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Economic Development
Lynn Spencer
Director of Economic Development, Waller Economic Development Corporation
“It's a private property rights state.”
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Fitness & Business
Ryan Clarke & Blake Beltram
Ryan Clarke, Founder & COO · Blake Beltram, Co-Founder & CEO · Goer
“So I reached out to Blake on LinkedIn and asked for some advice”
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Economic Development
Clancy Hardin
Assistant Director of Economic Development, City of Cibolo
“But I-10 is really our future.”
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Manufacturing
Wroe Jackson
Executive Vice President and General Counsel at recording, Texas Association of Manufacturers
“So it's a long-lasting, staying power kind of industry in the community.”
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Government Affairs
A.J. Bingham
Founder and CEO, The Bingham Group, LLC
“Local government also is year-round.”
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Business & Public Policy
Justin Yancy
President and CEO, Texas Business Leadership Council
“But these leaders who are members want to give back.”
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Business & Community
Al Arreola Jr.
President and CEO, United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
“we don't know what we don't know.”
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Architecture
Tim Derrington
Founding Principal, Derrington Building Studio
“All things have to stand on a solid foundation first and then be embellished.”
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Economic Development
Mike Kamerlander
President and CEO, Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership
“Software is not really our sweet spot, but building things is.”
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Marketing & Business
Jessica Scanlon
Founder and CEO, Hot Dog Marketing
“You just have to figure out your way around it or through it or over it.”
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Economic Development
Jeffrey Rosas
Economic Development Coordinator, City of Los Fresnos
“Communication is big.”
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Business Journalism
Justin Sayers
Senior Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal
“So, there's no shortage of stuff that we have to write about.”
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Tourism
Tom Noonan
President and CEO, Visit Austin
“Well, think of us as the sales and marketing firm for Austin, Texas.”
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Business
Ed Curtis
Founder and CEO, YTexas
“And in order to make that happen, you need to build a network with people that you trust.”
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Government Affairs
Denise Davis
Partner, Davis Kaufman PLLC
“So having a partner that shares your vision, I think is really important.”
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Economic Development
Helen Ramirez
Director of Economic & Local Business Development, City of San Marcos
“So I always look at ecosystems.”
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Public Service
Dennis Bonnen
Former Speaker, Texas House; Founding Partner, Second Floor Strategies
“I was just the kid raised to serve the community.”
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Economic Development
Carlton Schwab
President and CEO, Texas Economic Development Council
“So we needed to be good at the local level to succeed, and that was the beginning of that.”
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Education
Richard Tagle
President and Executive Director, E3 Alliance
“So to me, it's like every data point has a human story behind it.”
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Public Relations
Kristin Marcum
Owner and CEO, ECPR Texas
“You can help someone when there's nothing in it for you.”
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Economic Development
Cheney Gamboa
Director of Economic Development, City of Hutto
“Economic development is really about community development.”
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Economic Development
Scott Jones
Economic Development Director, City of Manor
“You can just see buildings rising out of the ground everywhere.”
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Economic Development
Jerry Jones
Executive Director, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation
“You never give a reformed politician a microphone.”
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Economic Development
Holly Malish
Executive Director, Lockhart Economic Development Corporation
“Tourism is economic development.”
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Economic Development
Christian Fletcher
Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation
“It's just enough of everything and not too much of anything.”
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City Government
Brenda Eivens
City Manager, City of Cedar Park
“We weren't going to be just like the other cities around.”
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City Government
Dean Huard
Former City Manager · Government consulting, SPI
“I spent 34 years in the army.”
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Business
Bobby Jenkins
ABC Home & Commercial Services
“Talking about good stuff is good for everybody.”
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Government Affairs
Paul Saldaña
Saldaña Public Relations
“They provide wrap-around services to support their residents.”
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Nonprofit & Community
Elizabeth Baker
Executive Director, The Other Ones Foundation
“How many other systems have failed them?”
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Business
Haynes Dallas
CEO & Owner, Managed Facility Solutions
“We put ourselves in the customer's shoes and we want to make a stressful time easier.”
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Government Affairs
David Butts
Austin political consultant
“I've been involved in politics in Austin, in Texas, ever since I was very young.”
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Business
Chris Almendarez
President, Round Rock Express
“The Dell Diamond is the front porch of the community.”
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Business
Jeremiah Bentley
Vice President, Marketing & Community Affairs, Texas Mutual
“I will move from this cube into that office for a month. I'll do that job.”
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Philanthropy
Khib Kugler
Interim President & Trustee, Jedel Family Foundation
“The origin of my name was kept secret until I was 25 years old.”
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Real Estate
Brooke Harlander
Regional Partner, St. John Properties
“Keep your side of the street clean.”
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Business
Chris Turnley
“What's your best yes?”
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Education
Joe DeMedeiros
St. Edward's University
“More than 750 plus students has a donor-funded scholarship of some kind.”
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Nonprofit & Community
Daniel Septimus
Shalom Austin
“We call ourselves the hub of Jewish life in Central Texas.”
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Education
Geronimo Rodriguez
Trustee, St. Edward's University
“You can't hide from the world.”
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Business
Patrick Terry
Founder, P. Terry's
“The business becomes a reflection of the guy running it.”
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Nonprofit & Community
Johanna Moya Fábregas
Chief of Strategy, Innovation and Impact, El Buen Samaritano
“What we do in one word is generational impact.”
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Infrastructure
Rashed Islam
HDR
“We always had congestion and lack of infrastructure as an issue.”
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Business
Tamara Fields
Accenture
“Your value system changes over time.”
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Public Affairs
Alejandro Garcia
Founder and CEO of AG Public Affairs
“Best place to live and work, best place to raise a family.”
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Business
Kathy Terry
Co-Founder, P. Terry’s Burger Stand
“We’re in the human connection business. We just happen to sell really good burgers.”
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Food & Business
Evan LeRoy
Co-Owner, Chef & Pitmaster, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
“Good food is universal.”
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Economic Development
Jacey Jetton
Founder & President, Jetton Solutions
“AI doesn’t know the blind spots.”
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Economic Development
Tom Manskey
Director of Economic Development, Odessa Chamber of Commerce
“We help power the globe.”
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Economic Development
Steven Pedigo
Co-Founder & Partner, CivicSol
“People kind of see economic development happening to them, not with them.”
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Economic Development
Ben McDaniel
Vice President of Economic Development, Development Authority of Walton County
“We are in the relationship business.”
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Economic Development
EC Chi
CEO & President, KoreaTexas Forum
“Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.”
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Creators & Business
Matt Cisneros
Founder & CEO, Backyard Ventures · Partner, Cisco’s
“If we hire somebody, it's for scale and for need, not for vanity.”
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Economic Development
Kelly Violette
Executive Director, Tomball Economic Development Corporation
“It’s not really a job anymore. It becomes a mission.”
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Nonprofit & Community
Liz Schoenfeld
Chief Executive Officer, LifeWorks Austin
“You are not defined by your housing situation.”
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Faith & Community
Scott Reeves
Community Engagement Pastor & Executive, Riverbend
“The best way to get involved is to show up.”
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Nonprofit & Community
Aaron DeLaO
Chief Early Childhood and Advocacy Officer, United Way for Greater Austin
“No organization is perfect.”
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Education
Julie Lessiter
Vice President, Texas State University Round Rock
“We fuel the talent and workforce pipeline for Central Texas.”
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