Rebecca Viagran
President/CEO
Rebecca J. Viagran is a San Antonio native. Her family has a 200-year legacy in San Antonio and South Texas.
Rebecca made a commitment at a very young age to serve those in her community and served as the City of San Antonio Councilwoman for District 3- representing the South & Southeast side of San Antonio from 2013 to 2021.
Ms. Viagran now proudly serves as the President & CEO of South Texas Business Partnership where she is eager to bolster San Antonio, Bexar County, and the entire South Texas Region. She is amplifying the organization’s mantra that “All Roads Lead South” and aims to bring the area together with a collective voice.
Viagran earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree in Urban and regional Planning from Texas State University
She recently served as the Director of Workforce Development and Community Partnerships at Texas A&M University- San Antonio where she led the University’s strategy for advancing initiatives and partnerships to increase educational attainment and enhance the talent pipeline throughout the region .
During her tenure on the City Council, Viagran served as the Chair of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee for the City of San Antonio. In this role, she led the city’s work on global economic development while ensuring that San Antonians have access to the education, training, and support services they need to thrive in a 21st-century economy.
During her time representing District 3 and the City of San Antonio, Viagran led the resurgence of educational, cultural, economic, and reinvestment in South San Antonio. She was instrumental in fostering tremendous economic development and revitalization at Brooks, a former Air Force Base, brought a new medical school, expanded the Hike and Bike Trail, and attracted thousands of new high-paying jobs to the Southside
In 2013, Viagran was named the City Council’s liaison for the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, which she secured in 2015, and led the effort to create a World Heritage Office and Work Plan. She represented the City of San Antonio in numerous speaking engagements on world heritage and cultural representation from East Asia to South America.
In March of 2021, Viagran was appointed to the Alamo Management Committee and now serves as Vice Chair representing the City of San Antonio on the development and execution of the Alamo Master Plan. She also serves as a Tri-Chair for the Alamo Citizens Advisory Committee. Viagran served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for National League of Cities. She finished her tenure as the longest-serving Latina ever in City Council District 3.
The Honorable Rebecca Viagran was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019, and in that same year named “La Campeona” by Visit San Antonio for her advocacy of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. In 2021, she was awarded and named a “Legend of the Southside” by the South and West San Antonio Chambers of Commerce for her tireless advocacy in the effort to create opportunity and prosperity.
Because of her strong roots in the Southside community and South Texas, it is her vision to continue providing opportunities for prosperity, public safety, and progress for the entire city of San Antonio.