Rebecca Viagran, the former City Councilwoman on the Southeast Side, is the new president and CEO of the South Texas Business Partnership, formerly known as the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
Viagran succeeds Al Arreola Jr., who resigned in October and accepted a job as president and CEO of the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce.
Her hiring comes as leadership at some of the city’s other chambers is also changing.
Richard Perez, the longtime president and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, will resign at the end of this year from the post he has held since 2007. Cristina Aldrete also recently stepped down as president and CEO of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Chamber looks to shrink board to grow influence
Viagran left the City Council in 2021 as she hit the limit of four two-year terms, making her one of the longest-serving councilwomen in recent San Antonio history.
She then joined Texas A&M University-San Antonio as its first director of workforce development and community partnerships.
The organization now known as the South Texas Business Partnership was founded in 1982 and merged with the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce in 1994. It changed names in February to reflect a regional strategy.
Its primary goals are to help South Texas employers find qualified workers and to advocate for infrastructure, policies and programs that attract and retain residents and businesses in the area, according to its website.
madison.iszler@express-news.net