Those looking on the horizon into the economic forecast for 2024 and beyond may join the Bryan College Station Chamber of Commerce and area experts for the annual Economic Conference in January. Through speakers and panels, the local business landscape will be discussed as the Brazos Valley responds to growth. The conference is on Wednesday, Jan. 24, beginning at 8 a.m. kicking off with opening remarks and the first session.
The 2024 Economic Outlook Conference is open to the public. Purchase single tickets or to reserve a table of eight; space is limited. To reserve space, visit bcschamber.org or email Hayley Bisacre at hayley@bcschamber.org.
Susan Ballabina: Chief of Staff to the President, Texas A&M University
Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., is the chief of staff to the President of Texas A&M University. In this role, she spearheads the delivery of the president’s vision, working in concert with the cabinet and guiding staff of the Office of the President. Previously, she served as external affairs officer and senior vice president for academic and strategic collaborations, leading strategic partnerships and community impact programs and initiatives for the university. Susan is active in the community and has chaired the University’s State Employee Charitable Campaign for the past two years. She serves on the Salvation Army Board and the Friends of Chamber Music BCS Board of Directors. Susan began her career with AgriLife Extension in 1994, serving as a county extension agent in multiple counties before serving as a regional program leader. She also served as deputy vice chancellor and chief operating officer for Texas A&M AgriLife. Susan was named a Regents Fellow by The Texas A&M University System in 2014 and has received the Superior Service Award from AgriLife Extension four times. Tarleton State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has recognized her as a distinguished alumna.
Susan Davenport: President/CEO, Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation
Susan Davenport is the new President/ CEO of the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, having joined the organization on July 10. She joins the organization with approximately 20 years of economic development and chamber management experience, having spent 13 years with the Austin Chamber of Commerce, five years with the Greater Gainesville Chamber in Gainesville and most recently five years as the Chief Economic Development Officer with the Greater Houston Partnership. Susan has a master’s degree in Public Administration from The University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She's a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and is a member of professional organizations within Texas as well as nationally related to Economic Development.
Brian W. Piscacek: Assistant Director, Economic Development in the Economic Development & Tourism Department, City of College Station
Brian Piscacek has been with the City of College Station for over eleven years in several roles and currently serves as Assistant Director, Economic Development in the Economic Development & Tourism Department. In this position, Brian has been instrumental in the City’s pursuit of growth and development, providing administration and management of industry and retail recruitment, engaging in business retention and expansion efforts, and enhancing the tourism economy. Brian plays an integral role in the development and implementation of various tourism initiatives with the team at Visit College Station. A native of Waco, Texas, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History and a Master of Public Administration from Texas Tech University. Brian is currently pursuing the CEcD professional certification for economic development, including coursework through the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. He is a 2015 graduate of the B/CS Chamber of Commerce Leadership Brazos program, an active volunteer with College Station ISD, and previously given his time to various local nonprofit organizations including United Way of the Brazos Valley, Junior Achievement of Brazos Valley, College Station Soccer Club, and College Station Little League. Brian and his wife Michel, a teacher at Greens Prairie Elementary in College Station, have two children: Mason (11), a 5th grader at Pecan Trail Intermediate, and Avery (7), and 1st grader at Greens Prairie Elementary.
Ginger Carrabine: Bryan ISD Superintendent
Ginger Carrabine believes in the power of education and positioning students for post-secondary pathways including college, workforce and public service. Ginger draws from her experiences spanning from the classroom to a multitude of administrative positions. Since her arrival in Bryan ISD as Chief of Staff, Deputy Superintendent and now Superintendent, she has remained steadfast in serving 16,000 students and 3,000 employees. Additionally, Ginger has been instrumental in the passage of two bond elections resulting in $187 million in bonds for school district improvements. She is thankful for the community’s investment in our facilities including the state-of-the-art Sadberry Intermediate School, Rudder High School additions and the Ruby Haliburton Auxiliary Complex. As an impactful leader within the community, Ginger serves on the boards of the United Way of the Brazos Valley, Faith in Action affiliated with Habitat for Humanity and is an ex officio board member of the Brazos Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Bryan ISD Education Foundation. She serves on the advisory board for the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, is a member of the Bryan Rotary Club and was appointed in 2023 to the UIL Legislative Council for the State of Texas. A recipient of numerous awards, she was most recently named Woman of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley and was honored by Texas A&M University as a Transformational Leader at the 2023 Dean’s Roundtable. Alongside transparency, safety and security, Ginger has made family and community engagement a top priority. She has taken the lead on many projects that have encompassed the involvement of students, families, and the community at large. Under her leadership, the district built its first-ever home for a family in need by partnering with BCS Habitat for Humanity. Ginger has also been essential in the inception and continuation of the Bryan ISD Showcase, a community event that highlights all of Bryan ISD students, schools and programs. She believes in the importance of making sure families and the community are involved, informed and welcomed. Ginger obtained her master’s degree from the University of Houston and received her bachelor’s degree from Lamar University. Ginger is married to Mike Carrabine, a teacher and the head basketball coach at Rudder High School in Bryan ISD. They are the proud parents of three adult children who are products of public education and are now successful professionals.
Joey Dunn: Deputy City Manager, Community Services at the City of Bryan
Joey Dunn has more than 30 years of experience in municipal government. Born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications & Human Relations, with a minor in music from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1991, Joey moved to Texas to attend graduate school in architecture at Texas A&M University. In 1994, Joey obtained his Master of Urban Planning degree from Texas A&M University. Joey’s municipal career began while still in graduate school in 1993 as a Historic Preservation Intern with the City of Bryan Main Street Project, involving efforts to begin the revitalization of Downtown Bryan. From 1994 through 2006, Joey held positions with the City of Bryan as well as the City of College Station as Director of Planning & Development Services during a time of significant growth and development. He returned to the City of Bryan in March 2006, where he has served as Deputy City Manager for Community Services, overseeing a number of departments including Planning & Development Services, Economic Development, Coulter Airfield, Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Library Services and Special Projects. Joey currently serves as Region 7 President of the Texas City Managers Association, or TCMA, and is a certified city planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners, or AICP. Joey serves as the City of Bryan liaison to the Blinn College Brazos County Advisory Board, the BCS Chamber of Commerce and Destination Bryan Board of Directors. Joey is a long time member of the Bryan Church of the Nazarene, and is secretary of the Bryan-College Station Salvation Army Advisory Board. Joey and his wife, Leslie, now claim Bryan as their true hometown, and have four grown children, sons Chandler, Caleb and Conner, and daughter Claire.
Tim Harkrider: College Station ISD Superintendent
Tim Harkrider, Ph.D., is the superintendent of schools for the College Station Independent School District. After being named superintendent in the summer of 2023, Tim hit the ground running by informing the College Station community about CSISD’s 2023 bond package that was voted on in the Nov. 7 election. Results from the election saw the largest bond package passed in the history of the district, totaling $299.12 million. Prior to starting in College Station ISD, Tim served as superintendent in Willis ISD for 10 years. He was named Texas Association of School Boards Region 6 Superintendent of the Year in 2018 and was one of five finalists in the state competition. In addition, he earned the 2019-2020 Empowered Superintendent award from the K-12 Chief Technology Officer Council for his work to advance meaningful use of technology in classrooms. Under Tim’s leadership, Willis ISD made gains academically and increased index scores in more than 50% of the areas rated by the TEA each year since 2016. He led Willis ISD through a tremendous amount of growth with the passage of bond packages in 2015 ($109.5 million), 2020 ($100.15 million) and 2022 ($143 million). Before his tenure as superintendent in Willis ISD, Tim served as principal at Willis High School, Reagan Middle School (Grand Prairie ISD) and Dickinson Elementary (Grand Prairie ISD). His career in education began as a teacher and baseball coach, serving stints in Mt. Enterprise ISD, Union Grove ISD, Pine Tree ISD, Kilgore ISD and White Settlement ISD. After earning All-Southwest Conference honors in 1992 and 1993 as a shortstop for the University of Texas baseball team, Tim was selected in the 8th round of the Major League Baseball draft in 1993. He spent four years playing professional baseball before an injury ended his career. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Stephen F. Austin State University, his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington, and his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University. Tim and his wife, Toni, have three children: Dylan (26), Reece (21) and Meredith (14).
Judge Duane Peters: Brazos County Judge
Duane Peters has served the residents of Brazos Valley as an elected official for nearly 30 years. Prior to beginning his first term as County Judge in January 2011, Duane served as a County Constable for ten years. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas A&M University. Duane and his wife, Bettie, reside in Brazos County. They have four daughters and eight grandchildren. When Duane is not at the County Administration Building, he enjoys spending time with his family on the family ranch.
JP BEATO III JP Beato III
[ PHOTO by JP Beato III - REAL ESTATE CENTER ]
James Gaines: Chief Economist for the Texas Real Estate Center, Texas A&M University
After retiring in 2020, economist James Gaines, Ph.D., rejoined the staff in 2021. His new role is a slimmed down version of his position as chief economist, which he held for five years. James continues making presentations, reviewing manuscripts and giving media interviews. Hired as an economist in 2005, James was named chief economist in 2015. During his 15 years at the center, James has specialized in housing and land development issues. He is author of more than 50 center reports and articles and is the organization’s principal speaker. Previously, James spent 16 years with KPMG and Arthur Andersen providing real estate consulting services. He also served five years as president of the Rice Center, an urban research center affiliated with Rice University. His decades of experience included a broad array of professional activities, primarily in real estate research and education, urban economics, land-use analysis and development and project risk assessment. James has worked extensively with major corporations, developers, investors, financial institutions and government agencies across the country. In 2019, James was part of the Texas Realtors delegation representing the United States at the MIPIM 30th Engaging the Future conference in Cannes, France. James started his professional career as an assistant professor of finance and real estate at Kent State University and later was an associate professor of real estate and finance at the University of South Carolina, where he taught undergraduate and graduate-level real estate courses. His assignments have involved all aspects of real estate analysis, including modeling market potential and economic capabilities, investment and/or development project risk assessments, identifying alternative land uses, financial and valuation issues, site development and construction risks and opportunities and strategic corporate real estate planning. In addition to his consulting background, James has been an active real estate educator, not only at the university level, but also for professional programs in real estate appraisal, GRI, CCIM and other training courses. James authored numerous professional papers, articles, monographs and technical reports covering a wide array of real estate topics and analyses.
Michael Parks: Executive Director, Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Michael Parks has been with the Brazos Valley Council of Governments, or BVCOG, since 2022. He has served as the Assistant Executive Director and is currently serving as the Executive Director. In addition to BVCOG, he also served as the Executive Director of Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley and of the Bryan/College Station Community Action Programs. Prior to this, he served as the Director of the Bryan/College Station MPO for close to six years and for nine years as staff transportation planner for Las Cruces, New Mexico. He is an Aggie twice over! He received his Bachelor of Planning and Master of Public Administration from New Mexico State University (the NMSU Aggies). He works regionally in the seven counties that make up BVCOG in the areas of workforce development, regional transportation planning, economic development, homeland security, housing, workforce, health care, broadband development, weatherization, energy assistance and other regional issues. Michael’s accomplishments include Vice-Chair of RPO America, Co-Chair of the National Association of Regional Council’s Transportation Committee, Texas delegate for the Rural Planning Organization — Council of Peers for the National Association of Development Organizations, City of Bryan Planning & Zoning Commission, City of College Station Transportation Advisory Committee, guest lecturer and former board chairman of the Brazos Valley Community Network (a government local area fiber-optic network) and a United Way Loaned Executive. He is also a Certified Planner of the American Planning Association. Recipient of the Al J. Notzen Award for Texas Regional Unity, the Greater Brazos Valley Transportation Excellence Award and the Special District’s Leadership Award for Technology Innovation. But his most proud accomplishments are being a Pre-K Sunday School teacher, Little League board president/coach and an Assistant Scoutmaster. Married 34 years to Fanette, together they have two grown Texas A&M Aggie graduate children, Shaena and David.
Dan Rudge: Executive Director of the Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization
Daniel Rudge is the Executive Director of the Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization, or BCSMPO. Daniel, or Dan, as he prefers to be called, has over 25 years of experience in the Transportation Planning profession and worked in six different states primarily in Virginia and Florida. Prior to joining the BCSMPO, Dan was the Director of Planning for Lee County, Florida Transit Department, also known as LeeTran, involved in integrating transit into the local governments Comprehensive Plan. While at the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Dan served as the Chief of Planning/Manager of Mobility Programs and was responsible for statewide and local transportation planning initiatives across DRPT’s transit, transportation demand management and rail programs. Dan also worked closely with Virginia’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) serving as DRPT’s MPO liaison, with the Virginia General Assembly as DRPT’s Legislative Services Director, and developed and taught grantee training. Prior to joining DRPT, Dan was the Executive Director for the Springfield, Missouri MPO. Prior to being an Executive Director, Dan worked with three other MPO’s and has written long-range transportation plans, congestion management process plans, coordinated human service agency plans, transit development plans and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans. In addition to his MPO work, Dan was a Research Associate with the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) in Florida where he was involved in planning and implementation of transportation demand management programs, technical assistance to municipalities integrating alternative transportation/transit into local growth management initiatives, developing citizen participation programs and developing strategic plans for public and private sector organizations. Dan’s other activities included serving as a project planner for the State Transportation Policy Initiative, Land Use Regulations That Support Access Management, and various transit Development plans. Dan also received national recognition for developing and conducting 16-40 hour transportation training seminars in nine states, co-authoring two award-winning transportation handbooks and editing an international newsletter. Dan holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Tech.
