The Texas Economy: Wrecked, in Reckoning or Recovery Amidst COVID-19?

Virtual Meeting - January 28 – 30, 2021

The 2021 Texas Lyceum Pub Con will explore truths and myths of the Texas Miracle, the impact of a global pandemic on the Texas economy (trade, GDP etc) and the projected path forward for a growing economy. What are the steps necessary to safeguard and promote our economic growth? Think in essence of laying the groundwork for the success of future generations.

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Texas Lyceum and TX 2036

PubCon Schedule

Thursday, January 28: 

6:00 pm: Welcome

- Castlen Kennedy, 2021 Texas Lyceum President, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Apache Corporation, Texas Lyceum Class of 2015

- Tam Hawkins, Conference Co-Chair, CEO, Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, Texas Lyceum Class of 2018

- Crayton Webb, Conference Co-Chair, CEO, Sunwest Communications, Texas Lyceum Class of 2018 

6:05 pm: Frontline Profile: Commercial Real Estate

- Linda McMahon, President/CEO, The Real Estate Council, Texas Lyceum Class of 1995

6:15 pm: Fireside Chat

- Sponsor Introduction: Gabriela Saenz, Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, CHRISTUS Health

- The Hon. Joe Straus, Former Speaker of the House, Texas House of Representatives

- The Hon. Dade Phelan, Speaker of the House, Texas House of Representatives, Texas Lyceum Class of 2019 

Friday, January 29

8:00 am: Welcome

8:05 am: Sponsor Introduction

- Michael Lunceford, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Mary Kay Inc., Texas Lyceum Class of 1980
- The Hon. Margaret Spellings, President & CEO, Texas 2036, Texas Lyceum Class of 1996  

8:25 am: Frontline Profile: Hospitals and Healthcare
No industry more represents the frontline of COVID. We’ll dig into the business of healthcare and what the pandemic has meant financially to the hospital sector.

- Monica Vargas-Mahar, Chief Executive Officer, The Hospitals of Providence East Campus, Texas Lyceum Class of 2018

8:35 am: Frontline Profile: Tourism & Hospitality
Planes, trains, conventions and vacations – how is the tourism and meeting business in Texas surviving in light of the pandemic? Can Texas’ budding convention business re-emerge post-COVID?

- Maura Gast, Executive Director, Visit Irving 

8:45 am: Panel Discussion: The Texas Miracle: Economic Immunity or Imagination?
Despite the global pandemic and economic downturn, businesses continue to move to Texas. What are the factors contributing to those decisions? Is the Lone Star State enjoying “economic development immunity”?

- Moderator: Leona Allen, Deputy Publisher, The Dallas Morning News

- Jessica Breaux, Economic Development Manager, Amazon

9:40 am: Frontline Profile: Non-Profits
COVID has brought huge demand to philanthropic organizations serving communities in need.  From food pantries to domestic violence shelters, requests for assistance are at an all-time high.  How are non-profits surviving?

- Chris Bugbee, President and CEO, OneStar Foundation

9:50 am: Break

10:00 am: The Big Picture

- Moderator: Renard Johnson, Founder, METI, Texas Lyceum Class of 2011

- Robert S. Kaplan, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas 

10:30 am: Frontline Profile: Retail
Every Texas city and town has seen some of its favorite shops and restaurants close amidst COVID. Our frontline profile will explore the trials and tribulations of retail business over the last year.

- Robert Taylor, President, United Supermarkets

10:40 am: Frontline Profile: Entertainment/Small Business
If small business if the backbone of the Texas economy, is the back about to break? We’ll explore the ups and downs small business owners have faced and what’s ahead.

- Tim League, Founder, Alamo Drafthouse 

10:50 am: Panel Discussion: The Intersection of Race, Equity & COVID-19
Minority communities in Texas have been more adversely impacted, economically and health-wise, by COVID-19. Why? And if not for COVID-19, would the collective conversation about the Black Lives Matter movement still have contributed to an unprecedented global racial justice movement?

- Moderator: Alberta Phillips, Austin Journalist and host of ATX Now In Color! Public affairs show on KAZI-FM radio, KAZI-FM Radio

- Steve Klineberg, Founding Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University

- Michelle Lugalia-Hollon, Director of Policy, Mayor Nirenberg's Office, City of San Antonio, Texas Lyceum Class of 2019

- Gabriela Saenz, Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, CHRISTUS Health

- The Hon. Sylvester Turner, Mayor, City of Houston

11:45 am: Closing Remarks

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Crayton Webb at [email protected] or Tam Hawkins at [email protected].