Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Laura Nassri Warren to the Finance Commission of Texas for a term set to expire February 1, 2032. The Finance Commission serves as the governing body for the state’s banking, savings, and loan, and consumer credit agencies. Abbott also appointed William “Chip” Jenkins and Bradford “Luke” Ledbetter and reappointed Sharon McCormick to the commission.
Warren, AIA, NCARB, is the founder and principal of The Warren Group Architects, Inc. Her career spans more than 36 years in architecture, project development, and economic planning. She has led the design and construction of major industrial, governmental, educational, and healthcare facilities, including the 500,000-square-foot Stanley Black & Decker Manufacturing Plant in Monterrey, the UTRGV-DHR Medical Research Facility in McAllen, and the Hidalgo County Courthouse in Edinburg. Her work has also included master planning and development of manufacturing facilities, cross-border trade infrastructure, and civic projects throughout Texas.
In addition to her architectural career, Warren has held leadership positions in business, education, and community organizations. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Texas Finance Commission and co-chairs the Texas Financial Education Endowment. She is a member of the South Texas College Foundation Board and the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Development Board. Her previous leadership roles include serving as chair or president of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone, and Easterseals Rio Grande Valley.
Warren has also focused on workforce development and mentorship, recruiting and mentoring South Texas College graduates and helping prepare future project managers and industry leaders. She has worked to expand opportunities for women and Hispanic professionals in architecture and related fields. Her honors include being named 2023 Architect of the Year by multiple regional chapters of the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, 2024 NYC Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, and 2023 Humanitarian of the Year by Easterseals Rio Grande Valley. In 2023, the City of Pharr proclaimed March 6 as “Laura Nassri Warren Day” in recognition of her leadership and community service. She also became the first woman to serve as president of McAllen South Rotary.
Her latest achievement is the design of a new state-of-the-art Multi-Use Facility in Pharr, Texas. Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernadez said, “The ground that we set on today will soon give rise to a new architectural marvel.”
