Courtesy of Sam Houston State University
Charlie Amato
Charlie Amato, chairman and co-founder of SWBC, a San Antonio-based international financial services company, was recently elected chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council.
TBLC is the only statewide CEO and senior executive-led public policy advocacy group in Texas.
“I am honored to have been elected by my peers to serve as Chairman of the TBLC,” Amato says in a statement. “This group of knowledgeable and influential business leaders is critical to the continued growth and success of the state of Texas.”
Amato replaces outgoing chair Gay Gaddis.
The Texas Business Leadership Council is a statewide network of CEOs and senior business executives who advance a long-term vision of a prosperous Texas in a globally competitive business environment. The TBLC brings expertise, research, financial resources, and advocacy to the leaders of Texas state government to provide a unique view of the potential outcomes of legislation, regulation, and statewide funding. Strategic research, ongoing education, and smart collaborations allow TBLC membership to develop thoughtful and comprehensive solutions to present to state leadership encouraging a healthy and vibrant business climate.
“Charlie Amato is a ‘closer’ and in a time when commitments can be fluid — whether they are related to public policy or business — Charlie gets the deal done,” says Justin Yancy, president of the TBLC. “Charlie is a natural leader and visionary and having the opportunity to work with him toward a more globally competitive Texas is both exciting and humbling.”
Says Gaddis, founder of T3, formerly the largest female-owned marketing firm in the country: “It has been an honor to lead this organization through a remarkable growth spurt, expanding the TBLC’s operation and scope. Further, we have achieved a reputation in the Texas and U.S. Capitol as the go-to group advocating for the issues which Texas businesses see as most consequential to Texas’ future success. Our relevance is at an all-time high. I am so excited that Charlie is taking the helm. Charlie is known globally for his ability to build relationships and I know that his efforts will be exponentially more successful because of the work we have done together.”