Partners in Advancing Your Goals

Leticia Van de Putte has been a practicing pharmacist since 1980 and served in the Texas Legislature for over two decades, representing a large portion of San Antonio and Bexar County. She has received over 200 awards and citations for her advocacy on behalf of small businesses, veterans, families, quality education, healthcare and economic development. Some of her accolades include the Community Advocate of the Year Award, Fighter for Free Enterprise Award, Fearless Trailblazer Award, MALDEF Lifetime Achievement Award, the Edward R. Roybal Award by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and the Vietnam Veterans of America Texas State Council’s Legislator of the Year Award. Texas Monthly named her one of the “Top Ten Legislators,” and she is the subject of a book, Latina Legislator: Leticia Van de Putte and the Road to Leadership, by Dr. Sharon Navarro. 
 
Nationally, Leticia has held prominent positions on boards such as Texas Pharmacy Association, Families USA, Milbank Memorial Fund, and the National Assessment Governing Board. She has served on commissions like The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse Advisory Commission, and foundations like the National Conference of State Legislatures Foundation, and American Legacy Foundation. She currently serves on the board of the Latina Leaders Network and is a sought-after, dynamic speaker. Leticia is especially known for her advocacy for active-duty military members, veterans, their families, and her efforts to combat human trafficking.

Secretary Andrade is a successful entrepreneur and business leader with over three decades of experience in the San Antonio community. She previously served as Texas Workforce Commissioner, TransportationCommissioner, Chief Elections Officer, Senior Advisor and Liaison to Governor Rick Perry for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs, and Chief International Protocol Officer for the state.
 
During her leadership the Secretary of State’s Office, she led 14 international and domestic trade missions to promote Texas, ensured efficient movement of goods at all Texas international crossings, promoted the “Texas Wide Open for Business” initiative, and attracted new businesses that created hundreds of jobs. She also worked closely with over 90 consulates to foster international business relationships and helped sure the largest foreign investment in Texas. Her efforts expanded voter outreach and resources, and she made history as Texas’ first Latina and longest-serving Secretary of State.
 
Her civic involvement includes leadership roles with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio, United Way, the San Antonio Symphony and the Board of Trustees for Our Lady of the Lake University.
 
She has received numerous awards and accolades, including, Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hope for Children Esperanza Award, San Antonio Leadership Hall of Fame Award, the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and Woman of the Year Award.

Jim served in the Texas Legislature for 20 years representing House District 60. Throughout his tenure in the Texas House of Representatives, he chaired various committees, including Natural Resources, Energy Resources, Ways and Means, Economic Development, and the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief. During his prominent legislative career, Representative Keffer was a recognized leader among his peers. 
 
In just his fourth term, he was selected as Chairman of the House Economic Development Committee. During the 78th Session, he collaborated with Democratic colleagues to usher in several business reforms and establish the Texas Enterprise Fund, which serves as the primary economic development tool used by the governor to attract and retain businesses in the state.
 
Representative Keffer earned a reputation as a powerful advocate for rural communities, leading efforts to reform the education system, eliminate Medicaid fraud, and provide additional financial security for retired teachers. While serving as Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee he successfully passed bills that created revenue sources for our public schools through reforming the state’s business tax, establishing the Enterprise Fund, and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute.
 
He capped off his successful legislative career as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, where he played a key role in the passing historic legislation to fund the state water plan. He served three terms as Chair of the Energy Resources Committee and led the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief. Additionally, he held both chair and vice chair positions of the Economic Development Committee and was a member of numerous other committees, including Business and Industry, Redistricting, and Pensions and Investments.
 
Before his tenure in the Texas Legislature, Keffer served as Republican County Chairman for Eastland County. In 1997, he became the first Republican to ever represent District 60, which encompasses Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Eastland, Hood, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, and Stephens Counties. Representative Keffer has received numerous awards and citations for his work and was named one of the “Top Ten Legislators” by Texas Monthly.
He is currently president of EBAA Iron Sales, Inc., an iron foundry with locations in Eastland and Albany, Texas, and is a graduate of Texas Tech University.