In this issue’s Q&A, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler interviews Bryan McMath, who was named Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board in September.

Bryan McMath was named Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on September 4, 2024, after serving as Interim Executive Administrator for six months. He joined the TWDB in 2018 as a Government Relations Liaison before being named Director of Government Relations in January 2021. In that role, he coordinated communications regarding legislative and policy matters affecting the agency and provided leadership in developing and communicating the TWDB’s legislative priorities.

Previously, Bryan worked for nearly 15 years at the Texas State Capitol. While his final six years at the capitol focused on natural resource and water issues, he has supported other public policy areas during his career, including the state budget, energy, ethics, financial institutions, government organizations, regulated industries, and transportation. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Texas State University.

As Executive Administrator, what are your top priorities for the Texas Water Development Board?

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has a very good reputation at the Capitol, among state leadership and other state agencies, and throughout the state. However, there’s always room for improvement. My top priority is to make the TWDB not just one of the best state agencies in Texas but the best state agency in Texas. There’s no finish line with respect to this goal, but along the way, we will deliberately have checkpoints to measure our success.

What are you looking forward to the most in your new role?

When I was Texas Senator Kel Seliger’s Chief of Staff, a big priority in his office was enabling staff success. I hope to continue that at the TWDB, and I want staff to feel empowered and valued. I want staff to know that agency leadership believes in them, we want them to help contribute to our success, and that everyone’s voice matters. I am looking forward to enabling the overall success of our agency, but more importantly, the individual success of everyone who is a part of it.

Which aspect of your previous experience do you consider to be the most valuable to you in your new role as Executive Administrator?

While an undergrad at Vanderbilt, when I was thinking about going to law school, I decided to major in English after receiving advice from a friend’s father, who was a lawyer. English and history were my weakest subjects growing up, so I saw majoring in English as an opportunity to strengthen a weakness. How does that apply to this question? The ability to listen. I learned in college that listening is essential to passing classes. I also learned the importance of formulating my thoughts into well-spoken or well-written words. I want everyone at the TWDB to strive to be the best communicators they can be, whether it’s internal communications or communicating with the public. If I had to choose the most valuable tool I’ve learned from my previous experience, it would be the ability to communicate effectively.

What are the most immediate issues regarding water that you are focused upon?

My biggest focus is the tremendous need to address water, wastewater, and flood issues across the state and, just as importantly, how to finance those needs. As the population grows, we are focused on making sure we have enough water and the right infrastructure in place for the next generation and the generations after that. We’re also working to protect life and property against all types of flooding, whether it is coastal or riverine, or a combination thereof.

What are some of the TWDB’s accomplishments regarding water that you are most proud of?

As the TWDB’s former Director of Government Relations, I can say the agency has been incredibly effective and successful at getting legislative priority bills passed and exceptional item requests fulfilled. But more importantly, we have built trust. We have built upon the confidence that the state legislature and leadership have in our agency, but that’s just the start. Now, we must prove ourselves worthy of that trust and confidence, and going forward, my hope is that the legislature and state leadership continue to support our agency and efforts. That support will significantly help us lead the state in ensuring a secure water future for Texas.

Looking out over the next 20 years, what do you consider the biggest challenge facing Texas regarding water?

The biggest challenge will be reaching a paradigm shift where everyone in Texas recognizes the true value of water. However you choose to define true value, I would suggest that we define it as all of the above, whether it’s the cost of water, how we use it, or how essential it is not just to prosperity but to life. I want people 20 years from now to treat water as preciously as they treat life itself.