Board of Directors
Dynamic Business Leaders With Purpose
Our Board of Directors is comprised of a powerful group of dynamic business leaders, all appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) connects a network of business leaders to drive economic development in the state, led by our Governor-appointed Board of Directors. This board serves the organization by spearheading global marketing and business collaboration initiatives, and by serving as ambassadors for TxEDC in their own communities and beyond.
Drayton McLane, Jr.
Chairman
McLane Group
Drayton McLane, Jr. of Temple is chairman of the McLane Group. He is board chairman of Texas Central Partners, board member emeritus of the Baylor University Board of Regents, and a board member for the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare Board of Trustees, Cooper Institute, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors. Additionally, he is a member of the Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees, board director of Happy State Bank, and a board member of the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance. McLane received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University.
Vicki Hollub
President and CEO
Occidental Petroleum
Vicki Hollub is president and CEO of Occidental Petroleum, an international oil and gas exploration and production company, and one of the largest U.S. oil and gas companies based on equity market capitalization. She joined Occidental’s Board of Directors in 2015. During her 35-year career with Occidental, she has held management and technical positions in the United States, Russia, Venezuela and Ecuador. She has extensive operations and leadership experience and, most recently, was president and COO, overseeing oil and gas, chemical and midstream operations. She serves on the boards of Lockheed Martin, the American Petroleum Institute and Khalifa University for Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi. She is the U.S. chair for the U.S.-Colombia Business Council and a member of the World Economic Forum and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. Hollub received a Bachelor of Science in mineral engineering the University of Alabama. She was inducted into the University of Alabama College of Engineering 2016 class of Distinguished Engineering Fellows.
Pat Hickman
Chairman of the Board, Chairman and President
Happy State Bank
Pat Hickman of Canyon is chairman and CEO of Happy Bancshares, Inc. He previously served as chairman and vice chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), director of the IBAT Education Foundation, and as chairman of IBAT Services. He is a former member of the Texas Department of Banking Commissioners Council, the Independent Community Bankers of America Government Affairs and Education Committee, and the Independent Community Bankers of America Federal Legislative Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Amarillo Community Prayer Breakfast Committee, Texas Tech Foundation Board of Directors, and the West Texas A&M University Executive Advisory Committee and chairman of the Faith City Mission Chairman of Capital Campaign. He is former chairman and vice chairman of the United Way of Amarillo and Canyon and a former member of the Canyon Main Street Economic Development Committee. Hickman studied marketing at Texas Tech University.
Abid Neemuchwala
Former CEO and Board Director
Wipro Limited
Abid Neemuchwala of Coppell is the former CEO and board director of Wipro Limited. He is a board member of the DFW World Affairs Council. Neemuchwala received a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication from NIT, Raipur, India, and a master’s degree in industrial management from IIT Mumbai, India.
Woody Hunt
Senior Chairman
Hunt Companies, Inc.
Woody Hunt of El Paso is senior chairman of Hunt Companies, Inc. He is a member of the Complete College America Board of Directors and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, a trustee of the Texas Higher Education Foundation, and founding chairman and board member of the Borderplex Alliance in El Paso. He is a member and former chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council, vice chairman for Texas Aspires and the Council for Regional Economic Expansion and Educational Development, and an advisory director for WestStar Bank. Additionally, he is former chairman of the Texas Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee and The University of Texas Investment Management Company Board of Directors, former vice chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents, and was founding chairman and a board member of the Medical Centers of the Americas Foundation in El Paso. Hunt received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in management from the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.
Jim Lentz
Former CEO
Toyota Motor North America
Jim Lentz of Westlake is the former CEO of Toyota Motor North America. In this role, Lentz oversaw all business for Toyota’s North America region, including Manufacturing, Research and Development, Sales, Marketing, Product Support and Corporate. He is a member and former chairman of the Alliance Resources of Automobile Manufacturers, secretary of The Association of Global Automakers, and a member of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Advisory Board. Additionally, he is a member of the University of Denver Executive Advisory Board and the Dallas Stars Advisory Board. Lentz received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver.
Bryan Sheffield
Executive Chairman
Parsley Energy, Inc.
Bryan Sheffield of Austin is the Executive Chairman of Parsley Energy, Inc. Sheffield founded Parsley in 2008 and quickly set the stage for the successful growth of the publicly-traded independent oil and gas company. He is a member of the Texas Business Leadership Council and serves on the board of the Greater Austin Crime Commission. Sheffield received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Southern Methodist University.
Robert Allen
President and CEO
Texas Economic Development Corporation
Robert Allen of Austin is President and CEO of Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC). Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Greg Abbott, during which time he worked closely with the Director of the Economic Development and Tourism Division to further Governor Abbott's mission to position Texas as a global leader in economic development and as the best state for business innovation, job creation and continuing economic expansion. Prior to his role at the Office of the Governor, Allen served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the Attorney General, where he assisted with the administration of the more than 4,000-employee agency. A native Texan, Robert earned a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Adriana Cruz
Executive Director, Economic Development and Tourism
Office of Governor Greg Abbott
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.