
GEORGE KELEMEN
George Kelemen joined TRA as President and CEO in November of 2015. He returned to Texas after 11 years in Washington, DC, working in senior leadership positions for several of the largest and most influential associations in America. Most recently, George served as the Senior VP of Government and Political Affairs at Airports Council International — North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial airports in the U.S. and Canada. He served as ACI-NA’s chief lobbyist and led the development strategies to influence congressional and legislative actions affecting airports and the aviation industry, particularly ACI-NA’s work with Congress’ leadership.
Prior to joining ACI-NA, George served as the Senior Director for External Affairs at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the Cancer Society’s lobbying arm in Washington, DC. George cultivated, developed and maintained corporate relationships, as well as coordinated outreach to members of Congress, specifically Congressional Republicans. He also spent 10 years at AARP in various government relations and advocacy leadership capacities at federal and state level.
Originally from Houston, George began his career working in Texas, in various political and government affairs roles, as well as in state
government, in the gubernatorial administration of George W. Bush. He has a comprehensive understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes and landscapes at both the federal and state levels, as well as a network of bipartisan contacts and relationships in Austin, Washington, and across the US.
George has a proven ability to effectively communicate with internal and external audiences alike, as well as with decision and policy makers, in addition to native fluency in Spanish. George earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Houston. He lives in Austin with his wife and two children.
JUSTIN WILLIAMSON
Justin currently serves as the Director of Marketing & Communications for the Texas Retailers Association (TRA), a position he has held since April 2017. Prior to joining the TRA, Justin served as the Director of Communications and Spokesperson for the Texas State Rifle Association, the state’s largest and oldest 2nd Amendment organization.
Before working for non-profit associations, Justin served as an Account Executive for an award-winning digital firm and as the Digital Strategist for the highly successful Proposition 1 (2014) and Proposition 7 (2015) ballot propositions. He attended Southwestern University, where he majored in Political Science.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee |
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Amber Gustafson | Chair | Amber’s Designs |
Luke Gustafson | Vice Chair | Brookshire Brothers |
Kathryn Sharp | Secretary | Stage Stores |
Susan Sessions | Treasurer | Academy Sports & Outdoors |
Jason Cooper | Immediate Past Chair | Brookshire Grocery Company |
Jay Bueche | Texas Federation of Drug Stores Rep | H.E.B. |
Michael Smith | Member at Large | Walgreen’s |
Theresa Flores | Member at Large/TRAPAC Chair | Mary Kay |
Chuck Bell | Small Retailer Rep. | Bracken Textiles/Clothes Mentor |
Kathy Sweidel-Caton | Texas Food Council Chair | Lewis Food Town |
TRA Directors (term ending 2018) |
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Brian Gamberini | Director | The Home Depot |
Michael Diamond | Director | Scott’s Miracle Grow |
Kristina King | Director | Sears |
Leslie Lockett-Sweet | Director | HEB |
Ray Pohlman | Director | AutoZone |
John Raney | Director | Texas Aggieland Bookstore |
Michael Walker | Director | Rehkopf Enterprises |
Jack Tracy | Director | Ziegler’s Foods |
John Vuong | Director | Pyburn’s |
April Martin Nickels | Director | Kroger Company |
TRA Directors (term ending 2019) |
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Jeff Mooney | Director | Dollar General |
Patricia Salmon | Director | Goodwill Industries Houston |
Carrol Cox | Director | Cox’s |
Rebecca Acuna | Director | Pepsico |
Arnold Grothues | Director | JC Penny |
Leigh Ann Hernandez | Director | Neiman-Marcus |
Mike Lewis | Director | Lewis Food Town |
Alfonso Cornish | Director | Target |
Meredith Preloh | Director | Lowe’s |
Kathryn Sharp | Director | Stage Stores |
Rex Solomon | Director | Houston Jewelry |
Kelli Hollinger | Director | Texas A&M Center for Retailing Studies |
Opio Dupree | Director | Macy’s |
Joe Stalnaker | Director | Avangard Innovative |
TRA Directors (term ending 2020) |
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Steve Bercu | Director | Book People |
Phil Rozenski | Director | Novolex |
Mike Hiltner | Director | Best Buy |
Susan Sessions | Director | Acadamy |
Michael Smith | Director | Walgreens |
Tony Wood | Director | Baywood Foods |
Kathy Mitchell | Director | PetsMart |
Mandy Tomlin | Director | United Supermarkets |
Bruce Levy | Director | Rice Epicurean Markets |
Daniel Morales | Director | WalMart |
© Texas Retailers Association 2018. All Rights Reserved.