Nacogdoches Community Stakeholders Conference Call

John M. Gonzales is director of the Southwest-South Central Regional office, which represents eight states. He helps lead the regional offices’ efforts to build and maintain relationships in the area. He also works with a variety of members and elected officials on pivotal issues, programs, and services to maintain legislative, political, and grassroots resources that are key to achieving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s public policy goals.

Gonzales brings more than 25 years of experience in the federal government and politics to his role in the U.S. Chamber’s Dallas regional office. He has been a member of the regional team since 2005.

Before joining the Chamber, Gonzales was district director for Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), where he managed the daily operations of the office.

Gonzales served on Sen. Phil Gramm’s (R-TX) reelection campaign in 1989. In 1991, he joined the Bush-Quayle 1992 reelection campaign in Washington, D.C., working in the Treasury and Finance Division.

In 1993, he joined Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R-TX) campaign for the U.S. Senate. After a landslide victory, Gonzales moved back to Dallas to join her district office. During his five-year tenure, he served in a number of roles.

After a short stint in the private sector with a telecommunications company, he rejoined Sen. Gramm’s office as deputy state director of constituent services until 2002.

Gonzales serves on the board of directors of the North Texas Commission, the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives, and the North Texas District Export Council. He also serves on the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition as a Texas advisory board member.

A native of Dallas, Gonzales graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management. He resides in Dallas with his family.