A South Texas discussion on emerging industries and economic growth

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The South Texas Business Partnership recently held its 2025 South Texas Summit in San Antonio. 

One of the panels was titled “Emerging Industries & Economic Growth.” The four panelists were: Nathan Burkhart, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, John B. Dickson, CEO of Bytewhisper Security, William Rafferty, regional director for the Southwest Research Institute, and William Steele, CEO and co-founder of Supply Pay. 

The discussion explored how new sectors are shaping South Texas’ future economy. 

Here is a video recording of the entire discussion:

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Rebecca Viagran, President & CEO of South Texas Business Partnership. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

Rebecca Viagran, president and CEO of the South Texas Business Partnership, said:

“Welcome to the 2025 South Texas Summit, where your journey toward leadership and lasting impact begins. 

“The South Texas Summit is hosted by the South Texas Business Partnership, in partnership with the San Antonio Business Journal. The event serves as a vital platform for regional collaboration, innovation and progress. 

“Today we bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, government officials and industry professionals from across South Texas. The event will serve as a vital platform for networking, strategic dialogue and building meaningful partnerships that drive regional growth, with a focus on three major goals:

1. Forging Strategic Partnerships – Strengthening regional and external collaboration to drive innovation and impact.
2. Generating New Business Opportunities – Cultivating initiatives that foster economic growth and job creation across South Texas. 
3. Elevating Awareness of South Texas Industries – Showcasing the diverse economic strengths that define our region.”

Summit Host Committee

The summit host committee comprised: Mario Barragan of AT&T, Rachel Benavidez of VIA Transit, Larry Gomez of TelResource, Inc., Sonia Gonzalez of Linebarger Attorneys At Law, Ben Reed of Kenedy EDC, and Erica Valadez, of Lone Star National Bank.

South Texas Summit Sponsors

The Platinum sponsor was PMI U.S. The Gold sponsor was Dignity Memorial. The Lunch Presenting sponsor was AT&T. The Silver sponsors were: Toyota, Texas; Texas A&M University San Antonio; and Southstar. The Bronze sponsors were: Brooks, and Charter Communications. The Media Partner was San Antonio Business Journal.

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