As we close out another quarter, the Real Estate Council of San Antonio continues to champion the growth and vitality of our city’s commercial real estate community. In this quarter‘s Council Monitor, you’ll find updates from RECSA leadership, highlights from recent programs and advocacy efforts, and a look ahead at what’s next for 2026. We thank our members, sponsors, and volunteers for making 2025 a year of collaboration, progress, and community impact.
INSIDE
Chair’s Corner
Trey Dawson
Government Affairs
Aaron Parenica
Programs
Crystal Acker
Membership
Laura Gilliland
Community Relations
Joyce Watson
C H A I R ’ S C O R N E R
As I reflect on the past year, I am struck by both the challenges and the remarkable progress we’ve made together. The commercial real estate industry in San Antonio continues to navigate major headwinds. Construction costs remain high, supply chains are unpredictable, financing is tight, and the shortage of skilled labor persists. Yet, despite these realities, RECSA members continue to move our city forward through determination, collaboration, and passion.
At RECSA, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that the voice of the real estate industry is heard loud and clear at every level of government. From local policy discussions that shape how we grow and build, to state legislation that influences how we do business, we remain engaged on the issues that matter most to our members and our community.
This year has brought a wave of change at City Hall. With a new mayor and several new council members, the transition has presented both challenges and opportunities. We have focused on building strong relationships with each of them to ensure city leadership understands the essential role our industry plays in supporting San Antonio’s economic vitality, housing supply, and infrastructure.
We also helped launch an advisory council to support the Alamo Colleges Allies Construction Trades Program through tools, equipment, instructors, and apprenticeships. By aligning training with industry needs, we’re preparing the next generation for successful careers in construction and development.
Community service remains at the heart of what we do. On October 4, we held our 3rd Annual Community Project, this year building a Mindfulness Garden for SA Youth, a nonprofit empowering at-risk youth through education and workforce development. Projects like this reflect our ability to use our professional expertise to make a tangible difference.
I would also like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to James McKnight of Ortiz McKnight, PLLC James is this year’s recipient of the Lewis Westerman Impact Award, which we presented on September 17. This award recognizes one emerging superstar whose integrity, professionalism, boldness, and work ethic are destined to galvanize our next generation of leaders for years to come. James’s dedication to excellence and his contributions to both his company and our community make him a truly deserving honoree.
We are also proud of our strong industry representation on local boards. Greg Mann, Managing Principal at Milam Real Estate and Chair of RECSA’s Presidents Council, was recently appointed to the SAWS Board of Trustees. His leadership will be instrumental in guiding one of our city’s most critical utilities. Likewise, RECSA continues to support candidates with the technical expertise and vision needed to serve effectively on the CPS Energy Board of Trustees.
Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing major initiatives, including the proposed Sports and Entertainment District downtown. This project has the potential to transform our urban core and strengthen San Antonio’s position as a vibrant, dynamic city.
Much has been accomplished this year, and much work still lies ahead But as I look around at our engaged members who give their time, resources, and ideas freely, I am confident about our shared future Together, we are building a stronger RECSA, a stronger industry, and a stronger San Antonio
Growing up, I remember hearing about professional sports teams relocating to new cities for one reason or another. The Charlotte Hornets, the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Oilers, to name a few. I was young and unaware of how those decisions were made and how many factors were involved. Even then it was hard to believe a host city would let an established team leave.
For those of us who’ve even casually followed local news over the last home arena for the Spurs in San Antonio, we can see firsthand how tha here. It’s happened elsewhere before.
I haven’t been an avid follower of the NBA or the Spurs only casually Most of my family’s time goes to what our three girls are into, which hasn’t included basketball so far Even so, I have deep appreciation for how important the Spurs organization is to our city! Both for what happens on the court and, just as importantly, for how the organization engages with and supports the greater San Antonio community
The 20+ year-old Frost Center is falling further out of modern NBA standards The Spurs need a new home, one way or another I’m optimistic and hopeful that the greater San Antonio community will vote Yes on Propositions A and B to authorize funding for both the next evolution of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and a new home for the Spurs. Doing so would help keep the organizations here for a long time to come!
But the risk is real. Once a funding plan is established, it will likely take five to seven years to deliver a new arena. If our community becomes complacent and too many people choose not to vote, a “no” outcome is possible. The Spurs can’t wait forever. If “yes” doesn’t win out in a big way on November 4, it could signal to the Spurs that San Antonio may not truly value their presence. In that case, it only makes sense the organization would begin to look more seriously at other options rather than continue to wait for a local funding strategy.
NOW is the time to act and show the Spurs that the greater San Antonio community wants them here for the long term. Early voting started on October 20 for Bexar County residents, and Election Day is November 4. GO VOTE!!!
Alongside efforts to support the “Yes” vote on Propositions A and B, here are a few highlights from what’s been going on with our RECSA Government Affairs initiatives. We’ve been busy!
There have been many conversations and meetings regarding the open seats on the SAWS Board, which are now filled. We’ve already met with all three new board members to advocate for our local real estate industry. We’ll continue offering feedback and technical expertise to help our local leaders make the best decisions possible.
Conversations and meetings continue around the open seat on the CPS Energy Board, which has yet to be filled. The RECSA Board voted last month to endorse Brandon Seale. These discussions have also involved our new San Antonio City Councilmembers and Mayor. RECSA will continue to seek out and engage with local leaders on issues that affect the real estate industry.
G O V E R N M E N T A F F A I R S
For City staff, we’ll be presenting the latest version of the RECSA Real Estate Development 101 material later this year. A group of local volunteers first developed and presented the initial version of the material to senior City staff back in 2012. We did it again in 2017 so it was time for round three. These efforts continue to strengthen RECSA’s partnership with the City of San Antonio. We’ll provide staff with insight into why and how investments are made in real estate project d h th j t d l d before, during, and after City staff may see part of a submitta to the presentation and discussion.
Also, a few of us RECSA volunteers Jim Welch and Caleb Ch (Pape-Dawson), most notably have spent a TON of time with County staff this year. Have any of you experienced issues w Bexar County Stormwater Permit over the last few years? Or confused by the different terms staff has used for parts of th process? That’s all been revamped and reset through a partne between County Staff and RECSA volunteers over the past se months. There will be a transition period, but the new proces should be in full effect after the New Year. As always, please out to Stephanie with any feedback, questions, or issues relat this or any other policies and procedures affecting how we g projects completed.
Next up is another update of the Bexar County Floodplain Court Order. Any volunteers?
After talking about this idea with local TxDOT leadership for more than three years now, on October 23, RECSA helped facilitate our first open forum with local TxDOT leaders and staff from the San Antonio District Office. Now, there is no expectation of solving all the worlds challenges in one conversation, but this first virtual workshop opened the door for a more open and regular line of communication between TxDOT and RECSA members. For this initial session, we collectively agreed that the processing of plat reviews and issuance of Letter of Occurrence (LOCs) was the most pressing and impactful topic to cover first. For those who logged in, we'd appreciate any feedback on how the discussion went, as well as any suggestions on future workshops that we'll start talking to TxDOT about soon.
Stephanie and all of our RECSA volunteers have been deeply engaged throughout 2025 in a variety of government affairs initiatives, and we’ll continue that engagement through the rest of the year and beyond. On behalf of RECSA staff and volunteers, it’s been a pleasure to serve alongside each of you as we work to support the growth of our city for the greatest benefit of our community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Stephanie or come find me at an upcoming RECSA event to discuss any of this further.
THANK YOU!
P R O G R A M S
After a well-earned summer vacation, RECSA kicked off Q4 with the Legacy & Leadership Luncheon, where we honored Lewis Westerman with tales told by his dear friend and colleague, Ed Kelly (Affinius Capital, retired). Ed shared personal and professional lessons in conversation with Manny Ruiz (American Bank), leaving the audience with valuable insight from an industry legend.
September also featured a tour of the Creamery District, guided by David Adelman and Luis Miguez Martinez (AREA Real Estate) and their partners at the Only One Hospitality Group, Tomas Vidal and Morris Saide. This was RECSA’s first-ever tour and happy hour, if you can believe that! David, Tomas, and Morris spoke to a soldout crowd about their initial vision for the project, how that vision evolved into what we enjoy today, and the lessons learned along the way. Guests enjoyed a rooftop happy hour courtesy of our friends at IBC Bank and Only One Hospitality. Keep an eye out for more exclusive tours like this one!
Although the ULI/RECSA joint forum was rescheduled to April 27, 2026, we kept our date with the Plaza Hotel on October 8 and instead hosted a mi in support of, and generously sponsored by, the San Antonio Spurs Win Together Campaign RECSA and ULI members converged over cocktails the Plaza Hotel’s atrium to hear from campaign representatives about ho we can help support the sports and entertainment district initiative ahea the November 4 County election. It was a fantastic event and a great dis of our organizations coming together for a great cause!
After you vote on Tuesday, November 4, make your way to our annual Barshop Award Luncheon at the Mays Family Center at the Witte Museum, sponsored by SouthState Bank, Sol Schwartz & Associates, and Embrey. Keynote speaker Esperanza “Hope” Andrade (President & CEO, Alamo Trust; former Secretary of State), and moderator, Emily Baucum (Alamo Trust), will dive into candid conversation before we announce the recipient of the coveted Barshop Award. This is one of RECSA’s signature, not-to-be-missed events, with the largest attendance. Be sure to register for your table before it is too late!
In December, we will host the annual Holiday Party at Pearl on Thursday, December 4. Stay tuned for more details and for registration information. Thank you to Joeris for their generous sponsorship pledge. If you or your company are interested in sponsoring this year’s event, there is still room for you! Please contact Casey Weed or me for details.
And last, but not least, we will close out 2025 with the State of RECSA program which will be a luncheon, rather than breakfast, at the San Antonio Country Club. This is NOT just a Government Affairs Update like the old days. You won’t want to miss what we have in store for our audience, so please keep your eyes out for more details and for registration information. Our friends at Killen, Griffin & Farrimond have graciously pledged their sponsorship.
Thank you all for supporting our programs. I look forward to seeing you at our next event!
M E M B E R S H I P
2025 has been a great year for RECSA so far, and the Membership Committee is proud to report continued growth and engagement across the organization! As of the fourth quarter, we’ve welcomed 41 new members this year bringing more connections, more collaboration, and a stronger voice for our industry as a whole.
Highlights from the third quarter include the addition of 11 new members, as well as a fantastic Member Mixer hosted by Turner Construction. Our new Lattes & Learning series has quickly become a favorite program among members, and we had an excellent turnout at our most recent session featuring Joyce Watson (Clearly Zimmermann) and Eric Whittington (The Whittington Group). We’re also excited to announce the recent creation of a new membership level Allied Partner designed to strengthen collaboration and engagement with industry-adjacent professionals and organizations.
The Membership Committee continues to work hard to enhance members benefits and ensure that RECSA delivers meaningful value to all who join. We’re focused on finishing 2025 strong and building momentum into the new year. As always, we thank all of our members for your continued support and involvement, and we look forward to seeing you all soon at upcoming events!
A warm welcome to our newest members from Q3:
Big State Electric
Axis Structural, LLC
DNT Construction, LLC
Keystone Concrete
V.K. Knowlton Construction
Frontier Waste Solutions
Nirvana Architecture Studio
Identity Architects
Diego Andrade
WFG National Title Company
The Home Depot
CultureSpace
C O M M U N I T Y R E L A T I O N S
As we wrap up another successful quarter, RECSA’s Community Relations Committee has completed our signature Community Project, celebrated our UTSA Scholarship Recipients, and continued to grow our partnership with the Alamo Colleges District.
Community Project
On Saturday, October 4, we reached the culmination of the third annual Community Project with Event Day at SA Youth. Over 70 volunteers transformed SA Youth’s backyard into a beautiful and soothing mindfulness garden, complete with brand-new turf, swings, zen gardens, hardscape, and over 100 plants. We raised over $50,000 in donations, volunteer time, and in-kind services, and we absolutely could not have done it without the support of our members, volunteers, and sponsors, as well as the leadership of Community Project Chair, Luke Robinson (RVK Architecture).
SA Youth empowers San Antonio’s high-risk youth and young adults to achieve their full potential by providing equality educational programming in a safe environment. The garden now provides a place for youth to engage their senses through texture, scent, and sound, creating a space where they can enjoy nature while developing life skills.
Scholarships
RECSA also recognized recipients of our endowed scholarships at a celebration lunch on Friday, September 12 RECSA awarded three scholarships: The Quincy Lee Memorial Endowed Scholarship, the Leadership Development Endowed Scholarship, and the new Martha Mangum Endowed Scholarship Combined, these scholarships provided nearly $17,000 to eight students in the UTSA Embrey Real Estate Finance and Development Program We awarded the Martha Mangum Endowed Scholarship for the first time this year, and the inaugural recipient was Gracie Johnson.
Alamo Colleges Founder’s Council
The first Alamo Colleges Founder’s Council meeting in May was a huge success. Over 40 community partners and Alamo Colleges faculty and staff gathered to discuss program needs, current challenges and ways the council can provide assistance. Since then, the Council has continued to strengthen its infrastructure, expand its membership, and participated in an Allied Construction Trades departmental meeting to discuss the state of the industry and our immediate needs. If you would like to get involved in the Founder’s Council, contact Chair Clayton Henson (Whiting-Turner).
As always, thank you for your continued support and involvement, Together, we can strengthen our community and continue to make RECSA a positive force in San Antonio,
