HAYS CALDWELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
The Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership will bring together leaders in economics, aerospace innovation and commercial development for its annual Economic Outlook luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 8th. The event will take place in the Grand Ballroom on the Campus of Texas State University, offering attendees a forward-looking discussion on the trends shaping the region’s economic future.
HCEDP President and CEO Mike Kamerlander will open the program and welcome guests before introducing the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Mark Wynne, vice president and associate director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Wynne, who has been with the Dallas Fed since 1989, advises the Bank’s president on national and international economic conditions, leads the Bank’s international economics group, and has conducted extensive research on fiscal policy, business cycles, inflation and global economic shocks. His work has appeared in top peer-reviewed journals, and he co-edited “The Federal Reserve’s Role in the Global Economy: A Historical Perspective.” Wynne also teaches economics at several institutions, including University College Dublin, the University of Rochester, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Following Wynne’s keynote, a panel of regional leaders will provide local perspectives on workforce, innovation and economic growth.
The panel includes Dr. Haiyong Liu, professor and chair of the Department of Finance and Economics at Texas State University; Maureen Gannon, co-founder and chief revenue officer of X-Bow Systems Inc.; and Scott Dozier, general manager of the San Marcos Premium Outlets.
Liu, a nationally recognized expert in labor economics, health economics and applied microeconomics, is expected to outline the workforce trends he believes will define 2025 and beyond. Liu, who previously spent nearly 20 years at East Carolina University and has earned multiple awards for research and teaching, will anchor the event’s first segment, addressing workforce participation, demographic shifts and the region’s evolving labor pipeline.
The discussion will then shift to emerging industries with Gannon, a veteran aerospace executive who has helped raise more than $100 million in start-up capital for X-Bow Systems and co-founded Firefly Space and Galactic Unite. Gannon will speak on supply-chain resilience, private-sector investment and the specialized talent needed to support rapid growth in the aerospace and defense sectors. Dozier, who oversees one of the region’s largest retail and tourism destinations, will round out the panel with insights on branding, consumer behavior and market forces influencing local economic activity. A 13year leader within Simon Property Group and former operations director at Atlanta’s Lenox Square, Dozier will discuss retail trends, tourism impacts and the importance of strong regional identity in a competitive marketplace.
The luncheon will conclude with a fast-paced lightning round, allowing all three panelists to offer brief perspectives on emerging economic trends, innovations expected to reshape their industries and strategic investments they believe would strengthen the region’s long-term economic outlook.
Kamerlander said the event aims to give business and community leaders actionable insight as they prepare for the year ahead.
“Understanding our workforce, supporting innovation, and telling a strong regional story are all essential to building economic resilience,” he noted. “This discussion will help ensure our region makes informed decisions as we look to 2026 and beyond.”
The Economic Outlook Luncheon is one of HCEDP’s premier annual events, designed to support data-driven planning and strengthen collaboration across Hays and Caldwell counties.
To purchase a ticket go to tinyurl. com/y4c637zh
MARKWYNNE
