ABOUT THE EVENT
Welcome to our 2025 launch event titled: Business & Education in Texas!
The theme for our 2025 YTexas event series is “Education, Legislation, Innovation,” each addressing the critical question: Why is Texas positioned to lead the nation in business expansion and relocations in 2025?
Texas is the perfect launchpad for growth across any industry. With world-class educational institutions, cutting-edge research hubs producing a highly skilled workforce, business-friendly regulations, and a dynamic start-up ecosystem tackling the technology challenges of tomorrow, the state offers unparalleled opportunities for companies to thrive.
At the heart of it all is education—a cornerstone of Texas’s innovation and workforce development success. Meet top academic leaders, industry trailblazers, and government experts from across the state to discuss the future of workforce development and innovation as we move rapidly into the era of AI and automation.
FEATURED GUESTS
Dr. Justin Lonon
Chancellor
Dallas College
Norman Garza, Jr.
Executive Director
Texas Space Commission
Lauren Harper
Chief of Staff
Kodiak
Ollie Chandhok
Publisher
Dallas Business Journal
Christina Robinson
Executive Director
Houston Community College
Robert Ahdieh
Chief Operating Officer
Texas A&M - Fort Worth
Kathleen Otto
Chief Executive Officer
BioNTX
Brian Korgel
Professor
University of Texas at Austin
Peter O'Neill
Chief Innovation Officer
Texas A&M University
Jason Day
Director - UAS
Department of Public Safety
John Goodman
Chief Executive Officer
Goodman Institute for Public Policy
Jeremy Vickers
Associate VP - Innovation & Eco Dev.
Baylor University
Lee Bratcher
President
Texas Blockchain Council
Byron Williams
NFLPA President - Dallas Chapter
NFL Players Association
Deirdre Prince
Vice Chancellor
Lone Star Community College
Ernest Huffman
Aviation Planning Manager
North Texas Council of Governments
David Foster
CEO
Island Pharmaceuticals
Joseph Kopser
President
Grayline Group
Dr. Veronique Tran
Vice Provost
Dallas College
Crystal Latham-Alford
Executive Director
SkillsUSA
AGENDA
8:00am – 8:45am: Registration
- Registration
- Coffee & Breakfast
- Networking
8:45am: Opening Keynote Address
- Welcome Remarks
- Fireside Chat: Regional Collaboration
- Dr. Justin Lonon and Robert Ahdieh
9:30am – 10:00am: Breakout Sessions
- Room 1: Advanced Manufacturing
- Room 2: Energy: Powering Texas
10:00am – 10:15am: NETWORKING BREAK
10:15am – 10:45am: Breakout Sessions
- Room 1: Space, National Security & Defense
- Room 2: Healthcare & Biosciences
10:45am – 11:00am: NETWORKING BREAK
11:00am – 11:30am: Breakout Sessions
- Room 1: Transportation & Logistics
- Room 2: Sports & Entertainment
11:45am – 1:00pm – Luncheon: Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas – Featuring Baylor University & Texas A&M with a Keynote Presentation from Texas Instruments
- Fireside chat: Jeremy Vickers, Baylor University & Peter O’Neill, Texas A&M
- Keynote presentation: Texas Instruments: Lauren Alder
SPONSORS ONLY: Reception, Tuesday June 18: 6-8pm
HOTEL ROOM BLOCK: Hilton at The Harbor, Rockwall, Texas
Sponsor Reception
Tour of HATCO manufacturing plant * includes steamed and fitted Stetson or Resistol cowboy hat for all sponsoring organizations
Sponsor reception (TBD)
Sponsors receive branding and VIP access at all 2025 events. For sponsorship options, reach out to us at info@ytexas.com.
JOIN THE YTEXAS EVENT EXPERIENCE
