Commission

Zahn holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from Baylor University. He is Partner in the Law Offices of Charles W. Zahn, Jr. where his practice is concentrated in the fields of real estate and water law. He is a long-time resident of Port Aransas, Texas, where his community involvement and organizational affiliations are extensive. He is Vice-Chairman of the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Planning Organization, Chairman Emeritus of the Nueces County Board of Park Commissioners, a member of the Board of Directors and Vice-Chairman of the Texas State Aquarium, and is the current Chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority. He has been an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for over 65 years and is the Past President and Chairman of the Board of the South Texas Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Because of his commitment to his community, he has received numerous awards with the Boy Scouts of America, including its 2018 Distinguished Citizen Award, has been named 2005 Citizen of the Year by the City of Port Aransas, is a recipient of the Jerry McDonald Award for Service to Youth, the President’s Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the President’s Award from the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, the Henry Baldwin Award for service to the City of Corpus Christi from the Corpus Christi United Chamber of Commerce and is the recipient of the Port Aransas Boatman of the Year Award and a member of the Port Aransas Boatmen Hall of Fame.

He has been married to wife, Linda, for 51 years. They have two children and 3 grandchildren.

Port Corpus Christi Commission Vice-Chair, Wayne M. Squires, is a Pennsylvania State University graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer and President of Orion Drilling Company, LLC. Orion Drilling Company, LLC is engaged in the business of design, manufacture, operation and transportation of land oil and gas drilling equipment. Operating in four states with approximately 700 employees, Orion is one of only two land drilling contractors in North America to hold an API 4F certification. Orion additionally holds API Q1, ISO 9001, API 7K and ASME certifications. Commissioner Squires has over 34 years of experience in the Oil and Gas Industry including Co-founder and President of Pioneer Drilling and President of PRC Drilling Company. He currently serves on the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Foundation Board of Trustees, and is Co-chairman for the Texas State Aquarium Capital Campaign. Mr. Squires also served as past President of the Del Mar College Foundation.

Richard Ralph Valls Jr., was born in Laredo, Texas. He is a graduate from St Mary’s University with a BBA Degree. Richard Ralph Valls Jr., is the third generation Valls family member to be involved in International Trade and became a licensed U.S. Customs Broker in 1989. He is the Owner/Vice President of Valls International, Inc., Advisor/Partner of Valls Ship Agencies, Inc., and Advisor/Partner of Valls Holdings, Ltd. Valls is active in civic and professional affairs currently serving as member of the Executive Board for Driscoll Children’s Hospital Foundation Board, the Board of Directors of Foster Angels of South Texas and the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center.

David P. Engel is a Southern Methodist University graduate with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a graduate of the Harvard University Owner President Master Program. He is the principal of Engel and Associates, LLC, has 40 years of experience in all areas of business management including; operations, acquisitions, divestitures, and financial performance improvement. Prior to forming his management consulting practice, David was President of Airgas Southwest, Inc., with branches in the states of Texas, New Mexico and Northern Mexico. Airgas Southwest, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), which is the largest distributor of welding supplies and packaged gases in the United States. Engel currently serves on the board of the Susser Holdings Corporation (NYSE: SUSS) and Susser Petroleum Partners (NYSE SUSP), The Fordyce Company, and he is part of the Advisory board for Heldenfel’s Enterprises, Inc. Engel is a past Chairman of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Commission, the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System and the Lexington Museum.

Richard Lee Bowers received a B.A from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and an R.O.T.C. Commission in the United States Army Reserve shortly after. Branch assignment was Army Intelligence and he served a tour in Vietnam, after which he was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Captain, USAR. After his tour, Mr. Bowers became an Analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency, and joined the staff of the American Embassy in Singapore where he monitored Soviet Bloc Shipping to North Vietnam. Later, Richard Bowers joined the Benilite Corporation as Southeast Asia Representative, successfully promoting the sale of a titanium ore plant. At Benelite, Mr. Bowers was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Sales before relocating to Corpus Christi, where he eventually became Manager, and then President of Hitox Corporation, a Benilite spin-off company. Mr. Bowers served as a Commissioner for The Port of Corpus Christi Authority in the 1990’s. Through development and purchases in the global manufacturing and processing sector, he successfully took Hitox Corporation public. After several years he resigned from Hitox Corporation, and started Filler Minerals Modifiers Co. After his eight-year service as a Port Corpus Christi Commissioner, He rejoined Hitox Corporation (TOR Minerals), and retired several years later. In retirement, he formed Texas American Minerals to prospect in Central and South America. Mr. Bowers is married to Connie Ellen Bowers together they have one daughter, Courtney Elizabeth Bowers De Hoyos.

W. Wes Hoskins professional experience includes, Chairman of the Board for Coastal Bend Bancshares; President & CEO of First Community Bank; Director of First Community Bank; President of WBH, Inc. Commercial Real Estate Holdings Co.; and Auctioneer with Buddy and Wesley Hoskins Auctioneers. Civic and professional leadership roles include, Federal Reserve of San Antonio Advisory Board; Federal Home Loan Bank Dallas Board of Directors; American Bankers Association PAC Committee Chairman, Regulatory Task Force Committee, and Financial Education and Advocacy Initiative Committee; Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Board of Directors, and numerous committees; Texas Bankers Association Chairman, Board of Directors, and Texas Legislative Lobby; Corpus Christi Downtown Management District Board of Directors; and Gregory Portland Independent School District Trustee and Secretary/Treasurer. Commissioner Hoskins is a participant of numerous charitable organizations and events including, American Cancer Society Cattle Barons; South Texas Children’s Heart Institute; Driscoll Foundation/Fiesta de Los Niño’s; Navy League; Alice Chamber of Commerce; Gregory-Portland Booster Club Past Vice President and Trustee; City of Portland Traffic Advisory Committee; First United Methodist Church Portland Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, Staff Parish Committee Chair; and the Alice, Texas Airport Advisory Committee. Wesley Hoskins is a graduate of Southwest Texas University with a Bachelor of Education in Communications and a Political Science Minor.

Catherine Tobin Hilliard is a native of San Diego, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996 and earned her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where she was a member of the St. Mary’s Law Review. After law school, Hilliard returned to South Texas to work as a civil litigation attorney for 10 years at Gonzales Hoblit Ferguson LLP. In 2005, Hilliard became the first female Hispanic partner and served as managing partner of the firm. In 2010, Hilliard joined forces with her husband at Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, LLP, a highly successful and internationally recognized plaintiffs’ law firm.  Hilliard has been honored as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star several times during her career.  Mrs. Hilliard is a member of the American Bar Association, Corpus Christi Bar Association, and Coastal Bend Women Lawyer’s Association.  Hilliard also served as a member of the State Bar of Texas – Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession Committee from 2000-2003 and taught Legal Research and Writing as an Adjunct Professor at Del Mar College in Fall 2001. Community service long has been a priority for Hilliard, who became a Trustee for St. Edward’s University in 2016 and serves currently as Treasurer. She is Chair of the Incarnate Word Academy’s School Board of Directors and has been an active board member since 2016. She currently serves on the boards for the Texas State Aquarium, Triumph Over Kid Cancer Foundation, Art Museum of South Texas, Fryderyk Chopin Society of Texas, and the Bailando International Dance Festival. Catherine is married to Bob Hilliard and, together, they manage a household of 7 children.