Pub. 60 2019-2020 Issue 3

7 SPRING 2020 What made you decide to joinTADA?Have you been involved in the auto industry before? I don’t come to TADA from the automotive industry per se. Before accepting my position here at TADA, I spent my career — well, except for one tax season — in the public affairs sector. I have been heavily involved with health care policy and legislative policy. My first job in 1991 was a clerkship for the Texas House of Representatives Transportation Committee. I transitioned into the health care industry and spent many wonderful and fulfilling years working on health care policy in Oklahoma and here in Texas. I worked with the Texas Hospital Association, and then as vice president of advocacy for the Texas Medical Associa- tion for 16 years. Because of my work in the Texas legislature, I have deep ties and wonderful relationships that have been nurtured for years with many of the senators and representatives who serve our state. Public affairs is an industry of relationships, as is the auto industry. While I may come from a different industry, the skillset that I acquired outside of the auto in- dustry will serve me well in fulfilling my role with TADA. Describe your educational background. What did you study? I have a BBA in accounting fromBaylor University, aMaster of public affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University. Right after I earned my undergraduate degree, I spent some time in the accounting field. It took one tax season for me to realize that the accounting field was probably not for me. After I finished my graduate degrees, in 1990, I went right into working for the chair of the state Senate on the busi- ness and commerce committee, and I have been in public affairs ever since. Are there any specific individuals that had a major impact on your career? I have been very fortunate in my career to have met some wonderful and influential people, and many have left lasting impressions on my life, both professionally and personally. Lou Goodman, EVP and CEO of the Texas Medical As- sociation, was instrumental in showing me best practices within the association industry. Lou ran the largest medical association in the country for 22 years before he retired, and I worked with him for 16 years of those years. Lt. Governor Bob Bullock, State Senator Chris Harris, and State Representative Steve Wolens are all wonderful people that taught me so much and went above and beyond in shar- ing their insights, wisdom and advice. I appreciate them all. In my personal life, it would be my parents and my wife, Lissa. My dad was a football coach and my mom was a school teacher. With a father as a football coach, as you can imag- ine, it was all about the team. He taught me that you have to work as a team, and wins happen when everyone is engaged – the sort of things that are, of course, so important in the association world. InterviewWith Darren Whitehurst  DARREN WHITEHURST — CONTINUED ON PAGE 8