Writer: Joshua Andino
2 min read May 2023 — Optimism. Pride. Opportunity. These were just some of the key themes that emerged throughout the discussions hosted by Invest: San Antonio 2022-2023 and Capital Analytics, with over 150 business leaders and representatives attending the networking and leadership summit.
In her opening remarks at the event, Capital Analytics’ President & CEO Abby Melone noted that despite global macroeconomic concerns, San Antonio would remain on the upswing. “What stood out for our team as we started our deep-dive into the market was the sense of communal comradery that seemed to emanate from every interview.” She added, “As we point out in our analysis, the region has proactively sought to capitalize on its diversity, both in terms of population demographics and its businesses, to ensure it remains on a steady growth path.”
San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh provided the opening keynote address, highlighting the city’s growth and robust small businesses, which make up 96% of the city’s business community. “There’s over 2.5 million people in San Antonio today,” said Walsh. The new growth would mean the city will continue to focus on remaining responsive to both business and resident needs and concerns. “It is critical that we continue to provide top-notch customer service to our city every day,” he said.
The first panel, ‘Building Blocks: Navigating development and demand in San Antonio’s
changing landscape for real estate,’ assessed how San Antonio’s growth and current market conditions are influencing the size, scale and type of projects real estate developers and contractors are working on today. Presented by Charles Leddy, CEO of Presidian Hotels and Resorts and moderated by Rahul Patel, founder and managing partner of Patel Gaines, panelists included Thad Rutherford, president and CEO of SouthStar Communities, Leo Gomez, president and CEO of Brooks, Thomas Roth, director of development for the San Antonio Housing Trust, and Karl Joeris, chief operating officer for Joeris General Contractors. An ongoing theme throughout the discussion was the changing dynamic around home ownership and build-to-rent communities, with all panelists agreeing that more housing, of all types, was essential to maintaining San Antonio’s growth moving forward. Gomez explained that it would take an intentional dedication of resources to address the issue, saying, “I urge people to not give up on the American Dream.”
The second panel, ‘The South Central Ecosystem: Economic development, infrastructure growth and Greater San Antonio’s capacity for more in today’s economy’ was presented by Jennifer Browning Shemwell, CEO of real estate brokerage Phyllis Browning Co. and moderated by Rebecca Viagran, CEO and president of the South Texas Business Partnership. The conversation included Curt Kruse, San Antonio market president for Vantage Bank, Jason Giulietti, president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, Jesus Saenz, executive director for San Antonio International Airport, and Sarah Carabias Rush, chief economic development officer for greater:SATX. Carabias Rush noted that while San Antonio was well aware of the need for infrastructure development across the wider region, she urged the recruitment of new industries as key for smart growth, saying: “We have to diversify our corporate base,” to drive further opportunities for residents and smaller, local businesses alike.
The final panel, ‘Twin Pillars: How healthcare & higher ed are driving innovation and economic diversity across Greater San Antonio,’ was led by representatives from the region’s higher education and healthcare-life sciences sectors. Moderated by Dr. Shreekanth Mandayam, vice president for research at Texas State University, the panel covered the innovative work and workforce needs that San Antonio’s local eds and meds industries are developing. Panelists included Joe Fisher, president and CEO of Hallmark University, Becky Cap, senior vice president for business development at BioBridge Global Advanced Therapies, Tarra Washington, CEO of Kindred Hospital San Antonio Medical Center and Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College. Across the board, panelists were excited for the changes underway in their respective industries, but understood that the opportunity meant heightened demand and expectations.
“The challenge is creating those pathways,” explained Hallmark University’s Fisher, as stakeholders across a number of industries looked to develop workforce pipelines increasingly early even as jobs themselves continue to evolve.
Closing remarks were delivered by Max Crampton-Thomas, Capital Analytics’ regional editor for southern markets, who thanked attendees and sponsors for their support and interviewees for their insights and contribution to the publication.
For more information, visit: https://capitalanalyticsassociates.com/
To watch the Invest: San Antonio 2022-2023 Leadership Summit in full, please visit our Youtube Channel.
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About Capital Analytics & Invest: San Antonio 2022-2023
Capital Analytics is an integrated media platform that produces in-depth business intelligence through its annual print and digital economic reviews, high-impact conferences and events and top-level interviews via its video platform, Invest:Insights.
The Invest: San Antonio 2022-2023 report provides an in-depth look at what makes the region’s economy tick and the challenges that remain from the perspective of over 200 local leaders and elected officials.
Invest: San Antonio looks at greater San Antonio’s key industries, including healthcare and life sciences, financial services, real estate, technology, tourism and infrastructure, that drive the local economy. The area has enjoyed continuous growth and economic expansion in recent years, fuelled by business friendly policies and a number of business relocations and expansions during and after the pandemic. Based on this solid foundation, the region is poised to continue its robust growth in the years to come.
For more information, contact:
Max Crampton-Thomas
Regional Editor
305-523-9708 Ext: 233
