Texas Border Business
MISSION, Texas — The Mission Economic Development Corporation welcomed a local, state and national champion of workforce and business development to its Board of Directors on Wednesday.
Julian Alvarez III, a former Texas Workforce Commissioner, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization, Mission EDC CEO Teclo J. Garcia said following Alvarez’s swearing-in ceremony during a special-called meeting on Wednesday.
“It’s an honor to have someone of his caliber on our board,” Garcia said. “His business acumen and vast public service align seamlessly with our mission.”
Alvarez, who currently serves as the Executive Vice President-Director of Community Relations at Lone Star National Bank, was appointed to the Mission EDC board by Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza and confirmed by the Mission City Council.
The former Texas Workforce Commissioner for Labor represented more than 14 million Texas workers during his six-year tenure on the three-member board. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed him to the post in 2016 and 2019.
His public service, however, began much earlier.
Alvarez initially worked as a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, transitioned to academia and went on to become the CEO and President of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, where he led the region’s economic and workforce development efforts.
“On top of that, he refereed collegiate football and advised former Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on public policy and legislative affairs as her regional director for South Texas,” Garcia said.
Alvarez has been a leading voice and catalyst for economic development throughout Texas and the United States. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor appointed him as an Apprenticeship Ambassador to promote the department’s apprenticeship programs, develop strategies to meet the needs of high-demand industries and expand equitable opportunities for workers from historically underserved and underrepresented communities.
“Mission EDC’s commitment to fostering economic growth aligns with my own passion for community development,” Alvarez said. “I have no doubt that together we will create opportunities and advance the prosperity of the Mission community.”
The new Mission EDC board member has also served on numerous boards, participated as a guest speaker at prestigious conferences, such as South by Southwest and the Texas Tribune Festival, and received numerous accolades and awards for his work as a public servant.
