Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, TX – The City of Brownsville is proud to announce that Mayor John Cowen, Jr. has been named to the Board of Directors of the Border Trade Alliance (BTA), effective immediately. The BTA is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving trade, travel, and security across North American borders.
In his new appointment to the BTA Board, Mayor Cowen will bring his extensive private sector experience and deep understanding of border opportunities and issues to the forefront. His leadership as Mayor of theCity of Brownsville, the 18th largest in the State of Texas, coupled with his regional experience as Vice-Chair of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO, equips him with uniqueinsights into border trade and relations.
Mayor Cowen’s commitment to fostering economic growth and security in border Cities aligns seamlessly with the BTA’s mission.
“Joining the Border Trade Alliance Board of Directors is a significant opportunity to advocate for policies and initiatives that will strengthen our trade relations and border security,” said Mayor Cowen. “I look forward to working with other board members from Canada, Mexico, and the United States to advance our shared goals.”
The BTA is enthusiastic about Mayor Cowen’s addition to the board, recognizing his valuable contributionto the ongoing dialogue and collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing North American trade and border relations. The BTA Board of Directors includes South
Texas leaders including Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., Sofia Benavides, Cameron County Commissioner Precinct 1; Honorable Richard Cortez, Hidalgo County Judge; Ralph Cowen, Port of Brownsville Commissioner; Teclo Garcia, CEO – Mission Economic Development Corporation; Joey Lopez, Cameron County Commissioner Precinct 2; Roy Rodriguez, McAllen City Manager; Pete Sepulveda, Executive Director of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority; Daniel Silva, President andCEO, Rio Grande Valley Partnership; and, Javier Villalobos, McAllen City Mayor.
The BTA serves as a pivotal forum for stakeholders in Canada, Mexico, and the United States to collaboratively address crucial issues impacting border affairs and international trade. As North America’s premier authority on border-related topics, the BTA represents an extensive grassroots network encompassing over 4.2 million individuals and organizations. These include business leaders, chambers ofcommerce, academic entities, economic development corporations, industrial parks, transport companies, customs brokers, defense firms, manufacturers, and various governmental agencies.
