9:00am

Event Kickoff: Exhibit floor and VIP Lounge open

• NVIDIA AI and High Compute Technology Center with live tech demos
• International Business Lounge with Food & Beverage
• Texas Regional Showcases: Bryan/College Station, Houston, Brownsville, Austin/Bastrop, Dallas/Ft. Worth
• Sports & Entertainment : 2026 World Cup + Film Production + Upcoming teams and events in Texas
• YTexas CEO Insider Podcast Booth: Live-streamed interviews + Texas stories + Digital Ethnographic surveys with PCSI

9:30am

Welcome Remarks: Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas

• • Joe Elabd, Vice Chancellor – Texas A&M University System
  • Ed Curtis, CEO – YTexas
  • Bobby Gutierrez, Mayor – City of Bryan
  • John Nichols, Mayor – City of College Station

10:00am

Presentation: Why companies will continue to expand into Texas (featuring the YTexas Rēlo Tracker brought to you by Ryan) 

Join this interactive discussion on corporate migration trends. Topics include: Site Selection, Texas business courts, emerging capital markets, and more.

• • Robert Ahdieh, Chief Operating Officer – Texas A&M Fort Worth School of Law
  • Liz Hocker, Head of Capital Markets – NYSE Texas
  • Charlie Vogt, Director – Bowen
  • Special guests who have relocated to Texas

TOUR: Bus Tour to RELLIS Campus (by registration only)

• • Guided bus tour with an overview of the Texas A&M RELLIS Campus in Bryan, TX
  • Presentation and photos at the (RIC) Research Integration Center – Bush Combat Development Complex
  • Demonstration at the (BAM) Ballistic, Aero-optics and Materials Range. Use cases: Hypersonic flight and explosions, directed energy and materials and structures.

10:30am

INTERATIVE SURVEY: Texas at a Glance: Regional economics, cultures and perceptions (featuring a Digital Ethnographic Study by Feedback)

• • Study results: Presented by Dean Browell, Chief Behavioral Officer – Feedback (sponsored by PCSI)
  • Feedback and 0pen mic with executives, educators, economic developers and students
  • Post-event analysis and Summit attendee Feedback presented in January 2026

11:00am

PRESENTATION: Powering the Future of Texas (presented by NVIDIA)

Learn about the ground-breaking partnerships being made in Texas with some of the largest enterprises on the planet. Topics: AI, datacenters, energy sources, land developments and education.

• • Marc Spieler, Senior Managing Director – NVIDIA
  • Nate Sharp, Dean of the Texas A&M Mays School of Business
  • Special guests from: Oracle, Intel, Lone Star College and others

11:30am

PRESENTATION: The Global Impact of Manufacturing in Texas

Texas has a deep bench of manufacturers who fuel a supply chain of products serving sectors such as the automotive, agriculture, chemical, electronics and defense industries. Be a part of a growing supply chain of companies driving the Texas economy. Topics: Semiconductors, AI, data centers, skilled workforce and University research.

• • Steve Putna, Associate Director – Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute
  • Dr. Laura Marmolejo, Dean of Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Technology – Austin Community College
  • Johnnie Cain, Operations Manager – NXP Semiconductors
  • Contribution from other leading manufacturers, Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, etc
    

TOUR: Bus Tour to RELLIS Campus (by registration only)

• • Guided bus tour with an overview of the Texas A&M RELLIS Campus in Bryan, TX
  • Presentation and photos at the (RIC) Research Integration Center – Bush Combat Development Complex
  • Demonstration at the (BAM) Ballistic, Aero-optics and Materials Range. Use cases: Hypersonic flight and explosions, directed energy and materials and structures.

12:00pm

FIRESIDE CHAT: Texas Sports & Entertainment (featuring an International Showcase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup)  

The sports & entertainment industry is emerging as a leading factor in building communities. Sports arenas, new teams, investors and global events are coming to Texas. The user experience is evolving as we embrace technology and in-person experiences. Topics: International markets, technology, AI, College and professional sports.

• • Ryan Walsh, CEO – Harris County Houston Sports Authority
  • Dr. Laura Murillo, CEO of Houston Hispanic Chamber and FIFA Host Committee Member
  • Other participants from Dallas Sports Commission, Nuevo León Mexico, and professional sports franchises and college teams

12:30pm

KEYNOTES: The Texas Brand – Stories that tell the Story (produced by students of Texas A&M College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts)  

Texas is a brand. Iconic slogans, brands and movies have been made about Texas. How do you leverage the Texas brand to help you grow your business? Hear from movie and film professionals and industry icons on the future of the industry in Texas. Topics: Film, podcasting, social media and storytelling.

1:00pm

PRESENTATION: Building a World-Class Healthcare Ecosystem (sponsored by Dallas City College)

The Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston is the largest medical center in the world. It features 54 medical institutions, 21 hospitals and 4 medical schools – and is the backbone of the healthcare system in Texas. Whether you are in Dallas, Austin or East/West Texas, you will want to learn how to be a part of the network. Learn about the innovation and workforce solutions to this massive industry in Texas. Topics: Research/Innovation, Workforce, skilled nursing, healthcare services, etc.

• • Christina Tobin Robinson, Executive Director – Houston City College
  • Ellen Bookout, Director of Talent Acquisition & Workforce Management – Texas Children’s Hospital
  • Jobi Martinez, Vice President of Workforce – Harris Health
  • Contribution from other leading healthcare and medical technology start-ups in Texas
    

TOUR: Bus Tour to RELLIS Campus (by registration only)

• • Guided bus tour with an overview of the Texas A&M RELLIS Campus in Bryan, TX
  • Presentation and photos at the (RIC) Research Integration Center – Bush Combat Development Complex
  • Demonstration at the (BAM) Ballistic, Aero-optics and Materials Range. Use cases: Hypersonic flight and explosions, directed energy and materials and structures.

1:30pm

PRESENTATION: Texas: An Emerging Biotechnology State (sponsored by Blinn College)

The Brazos River Region has a long-term goal of growing a highly skilled workforce to fuel a burgeoning biotechnology industry cluster, anchored by FUGIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. The global contract manufacturing leader has committed to a multi-million dollar expansion, strengthening the regions life science network eager to add supporting companies to the region. For the industry to flourish, regional biotechnology associations and companies need to work to grow the entire state ecosystem.  Topics: Research/Innovation, Workforce, start-ups, CPRIT, Agriculture.

2:00pm

PRESENTATION: The State Impact of the Commercialization of Space (Sponsored by the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation) 

Texas has a thriving space industry, driven by private industry and the long-standing federal space program centered at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Texas is a leader in commercial space flight with launch sites, manufacturing facilities and supporting national defense contractors hiring thousands of employees. Learn how this industry intersects with nearly every industry discussed at the Summit. Topics: National defense, Mars, Research/Innovation, Space travel, satellites, workforce, etc…

• • Norman Garza, Commissioner – Texas Space Commission
  • John Cowen, Jr., Mayor – City of Brownsville
  • Jim Penniman-Morin, Mayor – City of Cedar Park
  • Special presentations by leading companies Axiom Space, Firefly Aerospace, and others

2:30pm

DRONE EXPO: Texas’ Role in Multi-modal Autonomy (sponsored by Dallas College)

The Texas drone industry is a leading sector driven by adoption in public safety, commercial delivery, and enterprise operations like energy, construction and farming. Dallas College is supporting an effort to provide skilled labor to an industry in need of operators with technical skills and experience.  The states pro-business regulatory environment coupled with an increasing number of drone zones is making Texas the national leader. Topics: Infrastructure, Air rights, LIDAR, workforce, national security, consumer delivery.

• • Adrian Doko, CEO – Imperial Arial
  • Kendal Prosaic, Community Affairs – Wing (A Google company)
  • Emilien Marchand, Partnerships & Policy – Wise (A Boeing company)
  • Arthur Erickson, CEO – Hylio

3:00pm

CLOSING BELL: NYSE Closing Bell Simulation (recorded closing bell ceremony with YTexas at NYSE on Aug 28th).

We close out the event with a live-recording of the NYSE closing bell celebration with YTexas at the New York Stock Exchange on August 28th. Parting words of gratitude and closing remarks from our 2026 host event cities. The story continues in 2026. Join the YTexas movement!

• • February 11th – Dallas Regional Showcase – Communities Foundation of Texas
  • March 26th – Central Texas Regional Showcase – Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center + Boring Bodega
  • May 2026 – South Texas Regional Showcase – City of Brownsville
  • June 18th – Fort Worth Regional Showcase – Texas A&M Fort Worth Campus
  • Sept 2026 – Houston Regional Showcase – TBD
  • December 2026 – TBD

3:30pm

VIP RECEPTION: Texas A&M Hotel and Convention Center (across the street)

AI & MACHINE LEARNING

AUTONOMOUS & ELECTRIC VEHICLES

AGRICULTURE

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

BIOTECHNOLOGY

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

CORPORATE BRANDING & NETWORKING

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CREDIT & INCENTIVES

DEVELOPING SUPPLY CHAIN RELATIONS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

INTERNATIONAL RELOCATION

LEGISLATION & PUBLIC POLICY

NATIONAL DEFENSE & CYBERSECURITY

RELOCATION CASE STUDIES

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

REGIONS: NORTH TEXAS (DFW MSA)

REGIONS: SOUTH TEXAS (ALAMO REGION)

REGIONS: CENTRAL TEXAS (AUSTIN MSA)

REGIONS: EAST & DEEP EAST TEXAS

REGIONS: WEST TEXAS AND HIGH PLAINS

REGIONS: GULF REGION (HOUSTON MSA)

POWER & ENERGY

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SITE SELECTION

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

TRANSITIONING EMPLOYEES

UNIVERSITY & WORKFORCE RELATIONS

VENTURE CAPITAL & PRIVATE EQUITY

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT