J.R. GONZALES
President and Chief Executive Officer
JRG COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Biography

J.R. Gonzales is a nationally recognized public speaker, professional trainer, communications consultant, and long-time community activist, along with being the founder and president of JRG Communications, Inc., a marketing and public relations firm that develops outreach strategies at local, state, and national levels.

JRG Communications, Inc. offers services in professional development, public affairs, public/media relations, political consulting, and media production in both English and Spanish.

Using his experience in organizational development, strategic planning, and leadership training, Gonzales is a featured trainer and public speaker for organizations nationwide. A highly sought-after instructor and facilitator, Gonzales conducts training programs for a variety of nonprofit organizations and develops curriculums for business professionals in the areas of public speaking and conducting effective meetings. He also provides public speaking training to individuals, elected officials, corporate executives, and CEOs.

With extensive experience running both national and regional organizations, Gonzales has served as Chairman of the Board of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce, and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Gonzales has also served as the acting president and CEO of the USHCC during an organizational transition period.

For over 16 years Gonzales volunteered for the American Heart Association and helped architect the organization’s Hispanic outreach efforts. Gonzales served on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association at both the Affiliate and National levels, and was selected to serve as the National Chairman by the American Heart Association's Women and Minorities Leadership Committee.

Building bridges between communities to advance business initiatives, Gonzales established a multi-chamber alliance to include the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Capitol City African American Chamber of Commerce, and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. Today, this multi-ethnic Chamber Alliance continues to find solutions to issues affecting the minority community in Austin, Texas.

Gonzales' passion for leadership development was the driving force behind the creation of several Hispanic chamber leadership programs around the country, including the nationally renowned Hispanic Austin Leadership (HAL) program for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. His innovative programs identify, train, and encourage adults of diverse backgrounds, occupations, and cultures to pursue leadership roles.

J.R. Gonzales was born in Mercedes, Texas. In 1976 he graduated from Crockett High School in Austin, Texas and then from Texas State University in 1981 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations/Advertising from the school of Journalism, and a minor in Speech Communications.