Speakers

• 

  Clayton Ripps PE Deputy District Engineer, San Antonio District | Texas Department of Transportation.
  

  Clayton Ripps PE

  Deputy District Engineer, San Antonio District | Texas Department of Transportation.

  Clayton Ripps has been with TxDOT for over 26 years, gaining valuable experience in planning, design, and construction of numerous roadway projects in the San Antonio area. In his current role as Deputy District Engineer, Clayton oversees district maintenance, traffic operations, construction, and transportation planning and design sections. Over the years, Clayton has played a key role in the planning and development of numerous large-scale mobility projects that were delivered on an accelerated schedule, allowing the San Antonio Region to construct more needed projects earlier than planned.

  Clayton graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.

• 

  Ernesto De La Garza Interim Assistant City Manager | City of Corpus Christi
  

  Ernesto De La Garza

  Interim Assistant City Manager | City of Corpus Christi

  Ernesto (Ernie) De La Garza, Interim Assistant City Manager for the City of Corpus Christi, oversees the departments of Public Works, Airport, Solid Waste, and Information Technology. He will continue his role as Director of Public Works during his interim assignment. Ernesto has served as the Director of Public Works since November 2022. He has over 27 years of experience in transportation engineering. He began his career with the Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District, serving in roles in planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations. Key positions held were District Materials and Pavement Engineer, Design Build Deputy Project Manager, and Director of Construction. He also served as General Manager for Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC. Ernesto is also currently an adjunct lecturer for Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering. He teaches courses in pavement design, pavement management, construction management, and construction technology. Ernesto is a licensed professional civil engineer in Texas and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University, Kingsville.

• 

  George Villarreal PE Division Director | Texas Department of Transportation
  

  George Villarreal PE

  Division Director | Texas Department of Transportation

  George brings more than 22 years of experience in safety, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and traffic engineering. His career has been dedicated to advancing roadway safety, deploying innovative transportation technologies, and leading statewide programs that save lives and improve mobility.
  From 2017 to 2022, George served TxDOT as Deputy Director of the Traffic Safety Division, where he oversaw the Traffic Management, Traffic Engineering, Behavioral Traffic Safety, and Crash Data and Analysis sections. During this time, he played a pivotal role in supporting the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), advancing traffic control device policies, and launching the TRF Special Crews section to strategically deploy ITS and signal staff across Texas. Beginning in September 2025, George begin serving as the Traffic Safety Division Director.

  George holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and Nevada. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Transportation Engineering at Texas Tech University and remains an active member of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) .

• 

  Humberto Gonzalez PE, MBA Division Director, Transportation Planning and Programming | Texas Department of Transportation
  

  Humberto Gonzalez PE, MBA

  Division Director, Transportation Planning and Programming | Texas Department of Transportation

  Since November 2022, Tito has served as the Division Director of the Transportation Planning & Programming Division for TxDOT overseeing updates to the state’s 10-year Unified Transportation Program and Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan, along with statewide efforts supporting International Border Trade, Freight, Corridor Planning, Traffic Data Collection & Analysis, Public Involvement Outreach, and coordination with Metropolitan Planning Organization planning activities.

  Tito is a Laredo native and a 2003 graduate of Texas A&M University at College Station where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In 2010, he received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Texas A&M International University in Laredo.

  After graduating in 2003, Tito joined the TxDOT Laredo Area Office where he served as a Construction Project Engineer on several large-scale mobility projects for the area. In 2007, he attained his Professional License in Engineering from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. Then in 2012, Tito was appointed as the Laredo District Design Engineer, where he supervised the PS&E development, Utilities, and Bridge sections for the District. In 2015, Tito accepted a position in the private sector as a Senior Project Manager and also served as a Board Member for the Laredo Chamber of Commerce. Tito returned to the TxDOT Laredo District in 2019, where he served as the Director of Transportation Planning & Development and was also appointed to the Laredo-Webb County Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee. In May 2022, Tito was appointed as the Deputy District Engineer for the Laredo District where he oversaw the day-to-day operations for eight counties within the district while managing the unique transportation & international trade challenges along the border region to help improve the safety & reliability of the District’s transportation network.

  Tito is married to his wife, America and has two sons, Jacob (18) and Trey (12). He is an avid Aggie sports fan, and enjoys traveling, and spending time with his family.

• Ryan Eaves PE Director, Field Operations Section | Texas Department of Transportation
  Ryan Eaves PE

  Director, Field Operations Section | Texas Department of Transportation

  Ryan Eaves is a Director, Field Operations Section at the Department of Transportation, Texas, applying their technical expertise to optimize infrastructure delivery and operational efficiency. Eaves maintains a distinct focus on geotechnical engineering and large-scale transportation systems, ensuring that complex field operations align with rigorous safety and structural standards. Their approach integrates advanced engineering principles with administrative oversight to streamline project lifecycles across diverse regional environments. By prioritizing data-driven decision-making, Eaves enhances the reliability of critical transportation networks while managing multifaceted operational teams. Their leadership style emphasizes the synthesis of technical precision and strategic resource allocation to meet evolving public infrastructure demands. Throughout their tenure at the Department of Transportation, Texas, Eaves has navigated various technical and managerial roles, consistently advancing the organization’s capacity for complex project execution. As a Geotechnical Branch Manager, Eaves oversaw critical subsurface investigations and structural assessments, providing the technical foundation necessary for long-term infrastructure stability. Their earlier contributions as a Transportation Engineer involved coordinating multi-disciplinary teams to resolve intricate construction challenges and improve project delivery timelines. These roles collectively demonstrate a deep commitment to engineering excellence and the systematic improvement of operational workflows within the public sector. Eaves holds a Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas at Austin, which provided the academic framework for their career in civil engineering and infrastructure management. Their professional trajectory reflects a sustained focus on technical leadership, operational oversight, and the continuous development of transportation systems that serve the public interest