H.R. No. 663
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Joe H. Morin retired from the Economic Development
and Tourism division in the Office of the Governor in January 2017,
concluding a distinguished tenure that spanned 15 years in state
government; and
WHEREAS, In 2001, Mr. Morin became the legislative director
for the Texas Department of Economic Development, and he assisted
in attracting the Toyota manufacturing facility to the state; he
also served as a small business advocate in the Office of the
Governor, and he led the effort to create the first statewide online
one-stop shop business portal; moreover, he recruited and organized
the state's first Small Business Innovation Research National
Conference with a view toward bringing more federal technology
funding to Texas-based entrepreneurs; he ultimately managed
finance and tax incentives programs in the Economic Development and
Tourism Office; and
WHEREAS, Before joining state government, Mr. Morin was
employed for two years as vice president of business development
for Harvard Technologies in Austin; he previously supported the
business community for 15 years as president of the Texas
Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce, where he
developed new chamber organizations, created strategic
partnerships with over 50 major Fortune 500 corporations, and
launched key alliances with The University of Texas, Texas A&M
University, and the U.S. Small Business Administration; in
addition, he cofounded a mentorship program, Step Up To Success,
which was recognized as a model youth entrepreneurship initiative
by the U.S. Department of Commerce; he began his career in 1979 with
SER-Jobs for Progress; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Sinton, Mr. Morin is an alumnus of
Southwest Texas State University and The University of Texas at
Austin; over the years, he has served on the boards of the Greater
Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Society of
Association Executives, and the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities
Association; he also cofounded the Economic Growth Business
Incubator, which is dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurs in Austin;
along with his wife, Lupe Morin, he received the Greater Austin
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015;
and
WHEREAS, Through his skill, vision, and commitment to the
business community, Joe Morin has contributed to the prosperity of
the Lone Star State, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his
many accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Joe H. Morin on his retirement from
the Office of the Governor and extend to him sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Morin as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Israel
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 663 was adopted by the House on March
16, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House