By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members have confirmed the appointment of Orestes Hubbard as the city’s new economic development director.
City council members took the action during their regular meeting on Aug. 12.
Hubbard comes to Del Rio from San Antonio, where he was the executive director of underserved business services at The University of Texas at San Antonio, a position he had held since August 2006.
After City Secretary Mari Acosta read the heading of the agenda item, Mayor Al Arreola recognized City Human Resources Director Mario Garcia.
Garcia told the council, “It gives me great honor to introduce our new economic development director, Mr. Orestes Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard is an economic development executive with over 25 years of experience in leadership and program management. He has experience in federal grant administration, underserved business support.
“He has also been recognized for scaling business service centers and launching four national MBDA (Minority Business Development Agency) programs with award-winning results. He also is an expert in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, public-private partnership development and has a proven track record of delivering measurable outcomes and has facilitated over $1 billion in contracts and capital for clients,” Garcia said.
Garcia also told the council, “He is adept at aligning program goals with institutional objectives, influencing policy and driving sustainable growth in underserved communities.”
Garcia reviewed Hubbard’s most recent employment history with the council, saying he has been working as executive director of underserved business services at The University of Texas at San Antonio from August 2006.
“There, he led and oversaw a team of 11 professionals, managed hiring, coaching and professional development. He administered multi-million dollar grants with full compliance and measurable outcomes, collaborated with federal agencies, serving as primary spokesperson and advocate.
“He grew the program from one to four centers and expanded (its) national reach and funding by 500 percent. He earned 18 consecutive years of national excellence awards and facilitated over $1 billion in contracts and capital access for minority-owned businesses,” Garcia said.
Hubbard also worked as vice president of lending for Intercontinental Bank of San Antonio from January 2004 to August 2006, as a business banker for Bank of America in San Antonio from 2001 to 2004, director of the small business development center for San Juan College in Farmington, N.M., from 2000 to 2001, and as a business counselor for the small business development center in San Antonio from 1996 to 2000.
Garcia also went over Hubbard’s education, which includes a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and management from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico, and a master of business administration from Texas A&M International University.
“He is also an economic development finance professional recognized by the National Development Council,” Garcia said.
He then introduced Hubbard, who was in the audience and joined Garcia at the podium to address the council.
As Hubbard made his way to the podium, Arreola called for a motion on the resolution, which was given by Councilman Randy Quiñones, with a second by Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr.
The council unanimously approved the resolution, and Arreola invited Hubbard to speak.
Hubbard said, “Before you ask any questions, I want to say that I’m delighted to be part of Del Rio. I haven’t moved just yet. I’m kind of working on that. This is going to be a very challenging position for me. It’s a little bit of a change of scope of what I’ve done before, but, as Mr. Mario said, I have more than 25 years of economic development experience, so I think I bring a lot to the community.
“I am very excited about the potential and the possibilities that can arise in this vibrant town, and I would love to be part of this, and that’s why I’m interested in moving here from San Antonio and bringing my wife and being part of the community,” Hubbard added.
After Hubbard finished speaking, Arreola asked if there were any questions or comments from the dais.
City Manager Shawna Burkhart told the council, “I have to say, as we interviewed multiple candidates for this position, Mr. Hubbard stands out with great knowledge and skills in binational relations and certainly brings to the table a different viewpoint on economic development from the finance world, the finance side, and so we will begin the process of giving the training for 4B sales tax, and I will get him up and running very quickly, meeting Retail Coach and all of those entities here locally and all of those major players that play into economic development here in the city of Del Rio.”
“Thank you so much for being here,” Burkhart added, to Hubbard.
He replied, “Thank you. I really appreciate you trusting in me, and, like I told you, I’m not going to disappoint you. I’m here to get the job done.”
Arreola said, “Thank you, sir, and welcome to Del Rio.”
Councilman J.P. Sanchez said, “Mr. Hubbard, sir, welcome to Del Rio.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Hubbard replied.
Hubbard returned to his seat in a round of applause from audience members.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
