Brett Culp, Acclaimed Documentary Filmmaker
Brett Culp is an acclaimed filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and keynote speaker whose work has inspired audiences around the world. His films have featured on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Rather than thinking as a traditional filmmaker, his projects are collaborative efforts, pulling diverse groups of people into dialogue and ultimately leading to stronger communities and greater impact. Brett has developed an expertise for creating ‘mini movements’ that inspire the heroic spirit. Brett has been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Tonight, WIRED, The LA Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and many more. The newest edition of the college textbook “Documentary Storytelling” devotes an entire chapter to Brett’s production style. Brett is the co-founder of The Rising Heroes Project, a 501c3 that supports charitable organizations and empowers community leaders.
Pia Orrenius, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Pia Orrenius is a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, working on regional economic growth and demographic change. She manages the regional and microeconomics group in the Dallas Fed Research Department, is executive editor of the publication Southwest Economy and co-edited Ten Gallon Economy: Sizing up Economic Growth in Texas (2015, Palgrave MacMillan). Her academic research focuses on the labor market impacts of immigration, unauthorized immigration and U.S. immigration policy. She is coauthor of the book Beside the Golden Door: U.S. Immigration Reform in a New Era of Globalization (2010, AEI Press). She holds a PhD in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and bachelor degrees in economics and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign.
Monica Cruz, Ph.D. Texas Demographic Center
Dr. Cruz serves as the State Data Center lead for the Texas Demographic Center and supports the data needs of the Center’s network of statewide governmental entities and local affiliates. Her professional experience encompasses work in the non-profit sector, the Texas Senate, the City of San Antonio, and several higher education institutions. She also serves on the national steering committee for the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Data Center Network and the American Community Survey Data Users group. Dr. Cruz is dedicated to helping governmental entities utilize data to develop public policy that best serves the needs of their communities.
Jeremy Mazur, Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Policy, Texas 2036
Jeremy Mazur directs Texas 2036’s work in the area of infrastructure and natural resources, which includes water, oil and gas, and energy. Since joining Texas 2036 in September 2021, he has played a leading role in the energy expansion project, charting Texas’ energy future that includes cleaner oil and gas and other sources of energy. Drawing on over 20 years of experience working in the Texas legislature and critical state agencies, Jeremy works directly with state and legislative leaders on policy changes needed for Texas’ energy and water future. Before coming to Texas 2036, Jeremy’s legislative career began in the late 20th century as a policy analyst with the Sunset Advisory Commission. From there, he served as a Chief of Staff for State Representative Bill Callegari, and as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for State Senator Van Taylor .He also served as Director of Governmental Relations for two state agencies essential to Texas’ future: the Texas Water Development Board and, more recently, the Railroad Commission, Texas’ leading oil and gas, pipeline safety and surface mining regulator.
Gabriel Collins, Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy
Gabriel Collins is the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy & Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute. He was previously an associate attorney at Baker Hostetler, LLP, and is the co-founder of the China SignPost™ (洞察中国) analysis portal. Collins has worked in the Department of Defense as a China analyst and as a private sector global commodity researcher, authoring more than 100 commodity analysis reports, both for private clients and for publication.Collins’ research portfolio is global. His work currently focuses on legal, environmental and economic issues relating to water — including the food-water-energy nexus — as well as unconventional oil and gas development, and the intersection between global commodity markets and a range of environmental, legal and national security issues. His analysis draws from a broad swath of geospatial and other data streams, and often incorporates insights from sources in Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Collins received his B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He is licensed to practice law in Texas.
Taylor Landin, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Greater Houston Partnership
Taylor Landin is Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. The Greater Houston Partnership is the principal business organization serving the greater Houston region, with over 1,000 member companies that together employ about a fifth of all metro Houston workers. The mission of the Partnership is to make the Houston region a great place to live, work, and build a business.At the Partnership, Taylor leads a team of public policy and advocacy professionals who work to advance the Houston business community’s policy priorities at the federal, state and local levels. This is Taylor’s second stint with the organization where he was previously Vice President of Public Policy for three years before joining AT&T as Regional Vice President for External Affairs where he was responsible for stakeholder relations and advocacy throughout Southeast Texas.Taylor began his career working on campaigns and for elected officials. These positions included two presidential campaigns, the Office of Legislative Affairs in the White House and staff for two members of Congress from Texas.
Ashley Morgan, Director, Texas Water Development Board
Ashley Morgan of Georgetown joined the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on October 6, 2025. Prior to her service at the TWDB, Morgan served as an attorney at Erben & Yarbrough, an Austin-based legal and governmental affairs firm, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Attorney General, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Morgan is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the UT System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, a docent with the Docents of the Governor’s Mansion, and an active member of the Stephen F. Austin Alumni Association. An East Texas native, Morgan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and political science from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1998 and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 2007.
Martha Castex-Tatum, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Houston
Martha Castex-Tatum serves as Houston’s Mayor Pro Tem and City Council Member for District K, where she is a leading advocate for public safety, infrastructure, community development, and economic opportunity. She chairs the City Council Economic Development Committee and serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs, Ethics and Governance, Labor, and Proposition A committees. Beyond Houston, Castex-Tatum is a past TML president, was elected to the National League of Cities Board of Directors and serves as chair of the NLC Information Technology and Communications Federal Advocacy Committee, helping shape national policy on broadband, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. A graduate of Leadership Houston Class XXXVI, she holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas State University and is committed to restoring public trust through responsive and engaged leadership.
Dalton Rice, City Manager, City of Kerrville
Dalton Rice, MSHS, CPM, has been the City Manager of Kerrville since October 2023. Previously, he served as City Manager for Morgan’s Point Resort. With 13 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Dalton also has experience as a paramedic, firefighter, and healthcare administrator. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Law, an MSHS in Health Care Quality, and is a Certified Public Manager. Dalton is active in professional organizations, including ICMA and TCMA, and serves as chair on the KEDC board and a board member on Elevate Adult Education. He is also a Rotary Club member and engages in community activities. Dalton is married to Anna, and they have three children: Rhett, Ryker, and Rylan. His hobbies include flying, skydiving, scuba diving, camping, and traveling with his family.
Brad Brundrett, Councilmember, City of Rockport
Brad Brundrett is a Rockport native and city councilmember who brings a strong background in public service, emergency response, and community leadership. A lieutenant with the Missouri City Fire Department, he began his fire service career with the Rockport Volunteer Fire Department and has more than 17 years of experience as a firefighter and paramedic. Brundrett also works with his family’s business, Griffith & Brundrett Surveying & Engineering, Inc., and is actively involved in local civic organizations. He returned to Rockport in 2013 to raise his family and continues a more than 100-year family legacy in Aransas County.
Joe Dooley, Senior Policy Manager, US Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
Joe Dooley is a senior manager for Google’s U.S. Governor Affairs and Public Policy team. In this capacity, he leads strategic policy initiatives including those involving artificial intelligence, kids’ online safety, computer science education and digital skilling, antitrust, and others. Prior to joining Google in 2014, he served as a senior adviser to former Governor Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan, as well as to the climate policy program at the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Jeremi Suri PhD, Mack Brown Distinguished Professor for Global Leadership, History, and Public Policy, The University of Texas at Austin
Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the University’s Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Professor Suri is the author and editor of eleven books on politics and foreign policy, most recently: Civil War By Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. Professor Suri is a popular public lecturer and comments frequently on radio and television news. His writing and teaching have received numerous prizes, including the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas and the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts. Professor Suri hosts a weekly podcast: “This is Democracy.” He publishes a daily newsletter on history, politics, and leadership: Democracy of Hope.
JJ Rocha, Director of Public Policy and Engagement
JJ Rocha serves as the director of public policy and engagement for the Texas Municipal League, where she leads legislative strategy, stakeholder outreach, and advocacy efforts on behalf of Texas cities. JJ earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Edward’s University and completed her Master of Public Affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Since joining TML in 2010, she has held multiple roles across the organization throughout her tenure.
Rick Ramirez, Director of State and Federal Relations
Rick Ramirez serves as the director of state and federal relations for the Texas Municipal League, where he advances legislative and intergovernmental strategies on behalf of Texas cities. He previously held senior intergovernmental relations roles with the cities of Sugar Land and Austin and brings more than 12 years of experience working with the Texas Legislature, Congress, and state and federal agencies. Rick holds an engineering degree from Texas A&M University and is a licensed professional engineer with a focus on municipal engineering.
Mike Martin, Legislative Counsel, Texas Municipal League
Michael Martin is legislative counsel for the Texas Municipal League, where he provides legal and legislative guidance to city officials across more than 1,170 Texas cities. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marymount University and a law degree from Tulane University Law School. Before joining TML, Michael served as chief of staff to a New Orleans city councilmember, worked as in-house counsel for the City of New Orleans, and served as an assistant city attorney for multiple Texas cities. He has extensive experience representing public and private clients in state and federal court and advocating for governmental bodies at the local, state, and federal levels. He is licensed to practice law in Texas and Louisiana (currently inactive).