SAN ANTONIO — With the hope that the health impact of the novel coronavirus will peak locally sometime in the next few weeks, San Antonio leaders on Tuesday evening announced an 19-member economic transition team that will plan what the gradual re-opening of the city's businesses – and return to normal daily activities – will look like after current stay-home orders are lifted.
The team, expected to have a plan assembled by May 1 to present to city council, will be led by two regional company presidents: Kevin Voelkel, of Toyota Manufacturing Texas, and Julissa Carielo, of Tejas Premier Building Contractors. Filling out the rest of the team are San Antonio-area CEOs, school administrators, entrepreneurs and other leaders. They are:
- Leonard Aguilar, political director of Southwest Pipe Trades Association
- Magaly Chocano, CEO of Sweb Development
- Pete Cortez, CEO of La Familia Cortez
- Jennifer Delgado, president/CEO of Stability Staffing and Consulting
- Suzy Hart, general manager of San Antonio Marriott Properties
- Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, president/CEO of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
- Kenneth Kamp, pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
- Pedro Martinez, superintendent of San Antonio ISD
- Buddy Morris, chairman of Spire Risk Management
- Jody Bailey Newman, entrepreneur of The Friendly Spot Ice House
- Bobby Perez, executive vice president of Spurs Sports and Entertainment
- David Smith, manager of Bexar County
- Bede Ramcharan, founder/CEO of Indatatech
- Lisa Tatum, president of LM Tatum, PLLC
- Melanie Tawil, CEO of SwipeTrack
- Wayne Terry, principal of Terranalia Consulting
- Erik Walsh, city manager for San Antonio
Meanwhile, according to a release, City Councilor Rebecca Viagran and Bexar County Commissioner Chico Rodriguez will serve as liaisons to the team.
According to the release, the team will focus on "best practices" when it comes to local industries while also considering guidelines that continue to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg emphasized that no plans will be finalized without coordination from medical officials.
“The first step in this process is to get the guidance from our medical health experts, and that work is underway right now," he said, adding that their recommendations will be drafted by Friday.
The team's announcement comes in the days after Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state's timetable for gradually loosening restrictions on which businesses can and can't operate. Beginning Friday, Texas stores will be able to revive operations, so long as it's "retail-to-go." Last week the governor announced his own strike force created to strategize on jump-starting the state.
Meanwhile, the city and county stay-home order is currently set to expire April 30. But that could always be extended, pending approval from city councilors.