First let me say that it has been an honor to serve as your 2023 RECSA President. Thank you for allowing me to lead the organization over the past 12 months. The experience has been challenging, fulfilling, and humbling. 2023 was a very successful year for us on all fronts and I feel the organization is in a great position to move into the future.

As you know, we were at the forefront of numerous policy and government affairs related issues during the year. Some we won and some we lost but just by having a seat at the table we made each and every policy challenge better than it would have been if we had been silent. We had a successful year in programs, membership recruitment, organized and completed our first community service event, and will end the year within budget on both expenses and income. So, all in all, a resoundingly successful year for RECSA. But these successes are not for me to claim and are not because I am your President. The organization owes these successes to all the fantastic volunteers who spent countless hours and donated time and money to make each and every success a reality.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and members. Without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today. You all deserve a standing ovation for your dedication to the industry and RECSA. In January I will no longer be your RECSA President, but I will continue to stay involved in some way within the organization. I believe in the organization and what it stands for and together we can continue to fight the good fight! Congratulations to Carrie Caesar your incoming President. I’m confident that you will take the organization to new heights over the next 12 months and will leave it in a better place than where it is today.

Thank you again for your confidence in me over the past year, it has been an incredible experience. I look forward to seeing you all soon and most of all, I look forward to sitting in the back of the room at the January Executive Committee Meeting.

As my two-year Vice President of Government Affairs term comes to an end, I am grateful for the support our many committee members have shown to the organization. Our committee is powerful, knowledgeable, and well respected. We are these things because we are a diverse group of professionals with a wide range of expertise. RECSA can lead the way we do because all our volunteers are very different. This diversity brings a wide range of expertise to the table in times of need. Whether you are an engineer, contractor, banker, broker, attorney, or other…We are powerful because everyone in the room brings a unique perspective to every issue. It is important that everyone gives back to this organization so that we can maintain this diversity which ensures nothing sneaks by us.

We had a successful Government Affairs Update event on December 5^th at the Botanical Gardens. At this event two panels highlighted the accomplishments of the year. We also received City of San Antonio and Bexar County updates, as well as a state legislative update from our consultant Mignon McGarry. We hope that you had a chance to join us and share in all of the recent success.

As I transition into the role of President-Elect, I will pass the Government Affairs torch to Aaron Parenica with Kimley-Horn. Over the last 10 years Aaron has become a good friend and is a very capable engineer who will be able to lead this committee into the future.

See you next year!

2023 marks my 3^rd and final (for now!) year as RECSA’s Program Chair and I could not have asked to go out on a better note. I would like to say a special thank you to the 2023 committee for making it a stellar year.

We are thrilled to have welcomed a record 37 new members to RECSA in 2023 and we are ending the year strong with 282 member organizations. This year we held two very successful Membership 101 luncheons and our first-annual New Member Mixer. Also, as part of RECSA’s strategic plan, the Membership Committee collaborated with executive leadership to evaluate member benefits and ensure current and future members are getting the best value for their dollar.

C.E.O.