Christian Alvarado of Austin is co-founder of CB Capital, an Austin based investment and real estate development firm. He is the past board president for Austin Angels, board member of Friends of the Children Austin, a member of the Dell Children’s Trust, and a volunteer for the Lake Travis Youth Sports Association. Governor Abbott previously appointed him to serve on the board of the Department of Information Resources, and he is a former member of the One Call Board of Texas. Christian is an active member of the State Bar of Texas and previously served as Chief of Staff at the Railroad Commission of Texas and as a corporate attorney at Jackson Walker, LLP. Alvarado received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Texas and a juris doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law.

You just started serving on the TxDMV board. What are your thoughts about this new venture?

I am excited to embark on this new venture. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is a dynamic state agency with a diverse set of roles and responsibilities, including regulating vehicle dealers and manufacturers; credentialing buses and big trucks for commerce; issuing oversize and overweight permits; and awarding grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts.

TxDMV is a large operation with an annual budget of $300 million that generates revenues over $1.9 billion for the State of Texas. The revenue generated is used to build and maintain our infrastructure and increase economic prosperity. I am honored to serve with such talented staff and alongside my esteemed board members in this new capacity.

Do you think your experience is typical of board members, and how do you think your background experience will enhance your contributions to this board?

Those who have built successful businesses know that it takes hard work, attention to detail, and the ability to analyze large amounts of information quickly to make decisions for the greater good. That is what we do at CB Capital, and that is the same approach I plan to bring to the TxDMV Board for the citizens of Texas.

My background will guide my thinking on providing a predictable regulatory climate, maximizing efficiencies and performance and eliminating waste.

In your perspective, is the agency fulfilling its mission to the public? To the regulated community?

The agency’s mission is “to serve, protect and advance the citizens and industries in the state with quality motor vehicle-related services.”

I believe the agency has done a terrific job serving both the public and the motor vehicle industry. TxDMV strives to fulfill its mission every day through constant improvement of programs and performance metrics for both the public and the regulated community. The board makeup contains members with diverse backgrounds and experience, including those from each facet of the motor vehicle industry, who are committed to the mission and goals of the agency.

What are the agency’s future challenges? 

All organizations, both in the public and private sectors, are faced with similar challenges. Many people from across the country and world are realizing what Texans have always known: Texas is one of the best places to live and conduct business. As a result, Texas continues to experience rapid population growth, and TxDMV must adapt and respond to these changing demographics and the impact on products and services. A large part of overcoming this challenge is improving department technology so consumers have optimized mobile and web-based service options, as well as protecting the public and consumers – both from a public safety as well as a data security perspective.