You are invited to join fellow Texas leaders from throughout our great state to discuss the issues in the rural cities and counties.  You will hear from business leaders, economic development leaders, and city and county officials!

Cost:
Earlybird - $250 per attendee through April 1st
Discount applied automatically at checkout!
Standard - $300 per attendee through April 23rd

Vendor Members receive 3 complimentary registrations each!

The agenda will include topics regarding:

• Building Our Communities, 11 True Stories - Deb Brown is a passionate champion for rural communities and an unapologetic believer in the power of small towns to thrive. As the co-founder of SaveYour.Town, Deb has spent the past decade teaming up with Becky McCray to deliver hands-on, actionable solutions that help rural places dream big and get things done. Her practical, upbeat style energizes leaders and doers nationwide.

  Deb’s roots run deep—from her innovative and impactful tenure as a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director (with the IOM designation from the Institute for Organization Management) to her boots-on-the-ground experience in retail management, foreign casualty insurance underwriter, and even bartending.

  Deb is also the author of the book "From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town," a must-read playbook for anyone serious about rural renewal. She’s renowned for her ability to turn big ideas into real-world action, all while building authentic connections and telling stories that move communities forward. With Deb, every conversation is a spark, and every project is a step toward a brighter future for small towns everywhere. - Keynote Speaker Deb Brown

• Communicating in the Age of Digital Disconnection: How Face-to-Face Relationships Transform Teams and Communities - Jeff Rogers brings more than 30 years of experience as a facilitator, coach, and mentor in the relationship and personal growth space. Known for his “no-nonsense,” highly engaging style, his sessions are immersive, energizing, and packed with insights leaders can use immediately to affect change. Attendees consistently walk away inspired, equipped, and ready to connect on a deeper level. Don’t miss this keynote, your relationships, your leadership, and your community will feel the difference. Keynote Speaker Jeff Rogers

• Improving Water Quality -Chris Feriante, JD, MS, MSL, M. Ed. – University of Houston    

• Small Town, Big Impact: Innovation in Action - Join the City Manager John Naron, Police Chief Justin Soza, Library Director Elsie Purcell and Public Information Officer Jamie Kindred from the City of Hondo as key municipal leaders share real-world strategies for making every dollar count, transforming local services, and leading with vision in small communities.

• Dredging is Obsolete - Nanobubbles from Oil & Gas industry advancements are making traditional dredging of wastewater treatment plants obsolete. - Larry Jones, E3 Entegral Solutions

• Less Work. More Results. How AI Is Transforming Rural Economic Development - Rural communities are being asked to do more without adding staff. This interactive workshop shows how economic developers can use AI as a practical, everyday tool to reduce workload, speed up research, and improve results—without being a technology expert or working longer hours. - Eric Kleinsorge, GSLI Chairman and CEO

• Harnessing Resources for Rural Prosperity with Texas Rural Funders, Dr. Kelty Garby

• And more….

Network with your peers, engage with experts, and gain valuable knowledge to support and grow your community.

✅ Breakfast & Lunch Provided

✅ Networking Mixer sponsored by Advanced Water Well Technologies & Giant Restoration and Maintenance

Thank you to our generous sponsors!!

For questions or more information, contact: Nichole Bermea, ARCIT Executive Director • nicholebermea@gmail.com • 210.701.4357