Board of Directors

Arun Agarwal of Dallas, CEO of Nextt, and has business interests in textiles, cotton trading and real estate. He is chair of the India American CEO Council, president of the Dallas Parks & Recreation Board, and a board member of the US India Friendship Council, US India Chamber of Commerce DFW, and the Texas Tech Innovation HUB at Research Park. He is a volunteer and board member of Gift of Life and a volunteer for CHETNA and the Living Dreams Foundation. Agarwal received a Master’s in Business Administration from IMT, Ghaziabad, a Master’s in Computer Information Systems from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Master’s in International Business from Harvard University.

S. David Deanda Jr. of Mission, President of Lone Star National Bank. He is a board member of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance and president of the Mission Economic Development Corporation. He serves on the board of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Texas A&M University Foundation Board of Trustees, and Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS). He is an active member of Palm Valley Church in Mission. Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority for over five years. Deanda received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&I University and studied at the Bank Operations Institute at East Texas State University and the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

Adrian Cannady of Temple is President and CEO of the Temple Economic Development Corporation. He is a member and Treasurer of the Texas Economic Development Council and a member of the International Economic Development Council. Additionally, he is a member and former Chairman of Team Texas. He added the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Cannady received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences and a Master of Science in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship from the University of Houston — Victoria and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Dr. Larry Coben has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of NRG Energy since November 2023, bringing over 40 years of experience in the energy sector, spanning both renewable and conventional energy, sustainable development, and energy policy. Larry has served as Chair of the NRG Board of Directors since 2017 and has been a member of the Board since 2003. From 2003 to 2017, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of various affiliates of Tremisis Energy.

L. Frederick “Rick” Francis of El Paso, Executive Chairman for WestStar. He is a member of The Borderplex Alliance, Texas Business Leadership Council, Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council, Federal Reserve Board – Dallas, and the Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association. He is chair of the Medical Center of the Americas Board of Directors, board member of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation and El Paso Electric, president of the Pioneer Association of El Paso, and a member of the Hospitals of Providence Advisory Board. He is a former regent for the Texas Tech University System, having served from 2003-2019, former chairman of the Executive Committee for the Texas Hospital Trustees, and former board member of Western Refining, Inc. Additionally, he is former president of Area 5 (Rocky Mountain States) Boy Scouts of America, the Young Presidents Organization, the Yucca Council Boy Scouts of America, the Sunturians, and Crime Stoppers of El Paso. He has been active with the Business Advisory Council at the El Paso Community College, the Rotary Club of El Paso, the Better Business Bureau, and the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. Francis received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Tech University and a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

George “Trey” Henderson, III of Lufkin is Manager and Owner of Henderson Community Ltd. Previously, he served as Vice President of the Lufkin Division of Overseas Hardwood Company, and as President and formerly Vice President of Angelina Hardwood Sales Company for over 30 years. He is a board member of the 12th Man Foundation. Additionally, he is a former board member of Governor Perry’s Task Force on Evacuation, Angelina College Board of Trustees, Texas Ethics Commission, and the Parks and Wildlife Commission Private Land Advisory Board. Henderson received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from Texas A&M University.

Peter J. Holt of San Antonio is CEO and General Manager of HOLT CAT. He is a board member of the University of the Incarnate Word, SA Ready to Work Advisory Board, Early Matters Advisory Board, and the United Way of San Antonio, Chairman of the San Antonio Spurs, and a former board member of the San Antonio Strategic Planning Committee. He serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County and the Executive Committee of the Texas Wildlife Association. Holt received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Eduardo Margain of Austin is CEO and Founder of Pixiu Investments and Co-Founder and Alternate Governor of Austin FC. He previously served as Co-Founder of Brightstar Retail, Founder and CEO of Momentum Mobile Phones, and as the Corporate Financing Coordinator for Vitro. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization and the Austin Council on Foreign Affairs and a board member of the 4ATX Foundation and the Greater Austin Crime Commission. Margain received a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Information Systems from Tecnologico De Monterrey, Mexico.

Tom Mason is an Executive Vice President of Energy Transfer with responsibilities for liquefied natural gas and alternative energy projects. He joined Energy Transfer as General Counsel in 2007 and, prior to this role, he was a partner of the Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Andrews Kurth LLP law firms. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a board member of Family Legacy and the Clean Air Action Corporation. Mason received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.

Bruce L. Niemeyer, 63, is president, Americas Exploration & Production, Chevron Corporation, a role he assumed in 2022. He oversees Chevron’s exploration and production activities throughout the Americas, including the company’s significant portfolio of assets in California, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions of the United States, Canada, and Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Suriname, and Venezuela in Latin America.

Adriana Cruz is Executive Director, Economic Development and Tourism, Office of Governor Greg Abbott. In October 2019, Adriana Cruz was appointed to lead the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Office. The Office markets Texas as one of the world’s premier business and travel destinations. As Executive Director, Cruz provides leadership to Business and Community Development, Texas Tourism, Texas Workforce Investment Council, Texas Music Office, and the Texas Film Commission. Cruz has more than 20 years of leadership experience in economic development, marketing, and international business. Prior to her appointment to lead the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, Cruz was President of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, the regional economic development organization established to encourage and nurture economic growth in San Marcos, and Hays and Caldwell counties. Previously, Cruz was the Vice President of Global Corporate Recruitment for the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Aaron Demerson currently serves as the President and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC). TxEDC is an independently funded and operated 501 (c) (3) organization that markets Texas both domestically and internationally as a premier business destination for companies looking to locate, relocate and/or expand their existing business footprint. Prior to joining TxEDC, Demerson served as the Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission. Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the three-member Commission on August 20, 2019 and reappointed him in February 2021. He was confirmed by the Texas Senate in April 2021. In this role Commissioner Demerson served as an advocate for employers and small businesses in Texas. He also lead efforts as the Director of the Office of Employer Initiatives at the Texas Workforce Commission. Demerson was appointed Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Cultural Affairs by Governor Abbott in November 2019. This advisory council is charged with raising public awareness of major issues affecting the state due to the rapid growth of the state’s Hispanic population and other issues resulting from changes in demographics. Prior to employment at the Texas Workforce Commission, he served as a Senior Advisor to then Governor Rick Perry and Executive Director of the Economic Development & Tourism Division in the Governor’s Office, leading a team that marketed the State of Texas as a premier destination for both business and travel. He has also served as the Director of Business Development, the Director of Administration, and managed the Finance Division for the Texas Economic Development Agency. In addition, Demerson managed the state’s innovative prepaid tuition program (formerly-The Texas Tomorrow Fund) at the State Comptroller’s Office and was employed as a Commercial Finance Analyst and Loan Administration Officer with Texas Bank (former name) in San Antonio, Texas. Demerson has been and continues to be involved in numerous social and civic organizations including the Board for the Austin Lyric Opera, the Austin Area Urban League, Chair of the Capitol Credit Union Nominating Committee, membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, the Texas Economic Development Council, the 100 Black Men of America (Austin Chapter) and is a member of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation Board of Directors. Demerson has a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He also received a general banking diploma from the American Institute of Banking, is a graduate of Leadership Austin, and had the distinct pleasure of completing the Army War College Commandants National Security Program for civilians and participating in the civilian program for the Army National Training Center (NTC).