Originally scheduled to speak to attendees at the banquet was U.S. Congressman Will Hurd, who will be unavailable to attend due to an unexpected and unavoidable commitment in connection to his recent appointment to the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). As a former undercover CIA officer and amid increasing threats to the homeland and around the globe, Congressman Hurd has become the first representative from the 23rd district of Texas to be appointed to the HPSCI. 

State Representative Alfonso “Poncho” Nevarez graciously accepted the invitation to deliver the keynote address at the Chamber’s annual event. He is currently serving his second term representing the constituents of House District 74. District 74 includes the counties of Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, and Val Verde. 

Representative Poncho Nevarez is the current Vice-Chair of the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, member of the Natural Resources Committee, and member of the Local and Consent Calendars Committee. His top priorities in the legislature are supporting children through funding public education, advocating for border issues and infrastructure, and fighting to represent the rights of the underserved.