ABOUT THE EVENT
Welcome to our 2026 regional event in Brownsville, Texas!
The theme for our 2026 YTexas event series is “Powering the Future of Texas” addressing the critical question: Why is Texas positioned to lead the nation in business expansion in 2026?
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.
AGENDA
8:00am – 8:45am: Registration
- Registration
- Coffee & Breakfast
- Networking
8:45am – Welcome Address
- Welcome Remarks from Cori Pena, CEO at Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
- Regional Collaboration & Corporate Spotlights
9:00am – OPENING KEYNOTE
- Why Texas. Why Brownsville?
- Keynote: Mayor John Cowen, Jr.
9:45am – 10:00am: NETWORKING BREAK
10:00am – 10:45am: Breakout Sessions
- Roundtable: Infrastructure: Building a secure & connected city with Jorge Cardenas, CIO of City of Brownsville, David Elcock, President of Cyversity, and David Stedman, CEO of Laredo EDC
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Roundtable: Education/Workforce: Connecting entrepreneurial communities with Roberto Rodriguez, President of Texas Southmost College, Linda Leto Head, President of Leto Consultants, Sean Herrity of STAMP (South Texas Advanced Manufacturing Partnership) and Liz Suarez, CEO of McAllen EDC.
10:45am – 11:00am: NETWORKING BREAK
11:00am – 11:45am: Breakout Sessions
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Keynote: How energy production, oil refining and LNG will power the future of Texas with William Dietrich, CEO of Port of Brownsville, Tom Ramsey, CCO of America First Refining, and Tracye McDaniel, President of TIP Strategies.
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Keynote: Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas
- The Global Impact of the Space Industry in Texas featuring Gilberto Salinas, CEO of Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation
2:00pm – 3:30pm – SpaceX Bus Tour & Port of Brownsville Tour
SPONSORS ONLY: Reception
JOIN THE YTEXAS EVENT EXPERIENCE
