LTCC January Luncheon- Lake Travis Economic Forecast at Sonesta

The annual Lake Travis Economic Forecast provides attendees with first hand information about growth and development in the South Lake Travis area. Hear from city officials, the school district, an area residential and commercial Realtor and a representative from TXDoT. 
Speakers
Dr. Brad Lancaster, Superintendent of Schools, LTISD
Steve Jones, City Manager, City of Lakeway
Kara King, Council Member, The City of Bee Cave
Doug Land, Broker, Kuper Sothebys International Realty
Bruce Byron, TXDOT


Kara King, Council member, City of Bee Cave

Kara King has been serving on the Bee Cave City Council since early 2013 and is in her second term. Previous to her election she helped draft the City’s Home Rule Charter. She has also served on the Economic Development Board. 

Kara grew up in Plano graduating from Plano Senior High School.  She is very proud to have then graduated from Texas A&M University, majoring in biomedical science, a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and served in many capacities with student government.   After college she taught middle school science, then went on to medical marketing and medical telehealth sales, before returning to the classroom as a current secondary science substitute teacher for LTISD. 

In addition to serving the city of Bee Cave, she serves in other capacities in the community.  She started the Austin Stop the Clot Charity, a division of the National Blood Clot Alliance, after suffering a near fatal blood clot and bi-lateral pulmonary embolisms in September 2010.  She also is the Texas Ambassador for the National Blood Clot Alliance, as well as serves on the Principal's Council for LTHS, on PTO committees at both LTMS and Bee Cave Elementary and she and her family are active members of Emmaus Catholic Church in Lakeway.  Perhaps most importantly, she is a proud member of Leadership Lake Travis, class of 008! 

She and her husband of 18 years, Ben, have lived in Bee Cave since 2008, and have a 10th grader, 6th grader and 4th grader, who are involved in way too many extra-curricular activities! 

Steven Jones, City Manager, City of Lakeway
Steve Jones began his career in municipal government in 1985, and has been the City Manager of Lakeway since April 2005.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the Texas City Managers Association. 
 
Steve has served on many boards and committees including serving as the director of an economic development corporation, a steering committee member for the Austin-Travis County regional radio system and communications center, a member of the Texas Municipal League Legislative Committee, and a member of Austin Energy’s Rate Review Public Involvement Committee.  He currently serves as a small cities representative to the Austin-Travis County Emergency Services Division. 
 

He currently manages the day-to-day operations of the City of Lakeway under the direction and guidance of the Lakeway Mayor and City Council.  


Dr. Brad Lancaster is the Superintendent of the Lake Travis Independent School District, a position he has held since January 2012.

A former teacher, assistant principal, principal, executive director for curriculum, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in the Midway, Allen, Ennis and College Station school districts, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Baylor University as well as Master of Science in Educational Administration and Doctorate of Education degrees from Texas A&M University in College Station. 
 
Dr. Lancaster currently serves on the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium; he previously served on both the Texas Association of School Administrator’s Legislative Services Committee and the TEA Commissioner’s Cabinet of Superintendents; and is Past President of the Fast Growth School Coalition.
 
He and his wife Karen have two children, Julia, graduate of Texas A&M University, and Will—who currently attends Texas A&M University.

Doug Land is a Broker/Associate at Kuper Sotheby's International Realty and has worked in Real Estate in the Lake Travis area for 22+ years. He has owned and/or managed companies for 18 years. He has a double degree in Computer Systems and Accounting from Oklahoma State University and worked in banking prior to entering Real Estate. He has consulted with LTISD, Fire Department and local municipalities over the years. His wife, Mary, is also a real estate broker and a graduate of University of Texas. He has called Lakeway home since 1992 and is active at the Lakeway Church and the Hills country club.


Bruce Byron, TXDOT, Public Involvement Lead
Bruce Byron leads public involvement for the Austin District of the Texas Department of Transportation. He currently manages the Loop 360 and RM 620 feasibility studies. He grew up in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Richardson, Texas. Upon graduating from the University of Texas, he was commissioned in the U S Navy during the Vietnam War. After graduating from the LBJ School of Public Affairs, he worked in Plainview and Sugar Land, TX. As a former city manager with over forty years of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, he has developed land, consulted in finance and infrastructure and managed the Capital Area Transportation Coalition, a business association supporting regional mobility.
 
 

Watch video from last years event here: