Economic summit Thursday to feature flood recovery panel, AI keynote

The Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its ninth annual Hill Country Economic Summit on Thursday at the Hill Country Youth Event Center, bringing together local leaders, state officials and a nationally recognized keynote speaker for a half-day program on the region’s economic outlook and recovery.

The summit runs from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with coffee and a hot lunch provided.

The program opens with a community update from Kerrville Assistant City Manager Michael Hornes and Mayor Joe Herring Jr. The second session focuses on tourism’s economic impact and features Spencer Zamora and Nate Gieryn from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism alongside Kerrville CVB President and CEO Julie Davis.

The third session, a long-term flood recovery update, draws together some of the central figures in the July 4 recovery effort. Panelists include Chris Hughes, owner of Broken Arrow Ranch and chair of the Kerr Together Business Recovery Group; John Dunn, board president of the Hunt Preservation Society and chair of the Kerr County Long-Term Recovery Group; Todd Bock, executive director of KerrEDC; Tara Bushnoe, general manager of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority; and former Mayor Bill Blackburn.

The keynote, titled “AI and Our Future: What’s Ahead Now That AI Is in the Forefront,” will be delivered by Glen Guyton, a Certified Speaking Professional and founder of GuyStar Enterprises. Guyton has more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning the U.S. Air Force, national nonprofit organizations and Fortune 500 companies.

Tickets are available at kerrvillechamber.biz.