In 2021, Beto was appointed by San Antonio’s District 1 to serve as a Board Member and Vice Chair for the Port Authority of San Antonio. Since then, he has played a significant role in fostering economic development and attracting high-impact enterprises to the Port, positively impacting our city. In 2022, Beto was selected to represent the United States on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Task Force on Digitalization in Energy, contributing to international discussions on technology and sustainability. From 2015-2017 served as a Public Involvement Specialist for the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, supporting urban transportation planning in the region.
In 2023, Beto co-founded the Better Futures Institute (BFI), an organization dedicated to tackling urban and social challenges in San Antonio. BFI operates at the nexus of technology, data, design, media production, and workforce development. This year, BFI launched its inaugural internship program, offering paid opportunities to students and enhancing their career readiness, with a focus on serving the West Side and South Side of San Antonio.
Beto’s contributions to public policy have been recognized by esteemed institutions such as the Aspen Institute’s Latinos & Society and the Center for Urban Innovation, where he served as a scholar and co-authored reports on the civic engagement potential of Millennials. His achievements include receiving a MacArthur Foundation Grant, being named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for Social Entrepreneurs, serving as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and participating as a Presidential Leadership Scholar.
Beto earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was recognized as a UT-System Bill Archer Fellow. He furthered his education with a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, serving as a U.S. Latino Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Center for Public Leadership and as a New World Social Innovation Fellow at the Harvard Social Innovation and Change Initiative.
Meet anna
Anna Fernandes is a Mexican-Brazilian-American who grew up along the U.S./Mexico border. From a young age, after her family immigrated to the United States from Brazil and Mexico when she was just a few months old, Anna has been deeply committed to public service and dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers to opportunity.
She pursued her education with a focus on effecting change, earning a degree in Political Science from St. Edward’s University followed by a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio. Anna has channeled her passion for advocacy and social justice into a meaningful career, initially serving at the Texas House of Representatives and RAICES San Antonio, where she worked tirelessly to support immigrant rights.
Currently, Anna is a technology executive at Welcome Tech, a forward-thinking company that aims to develop an essential “operating system” for immigrant families in the U.S., furthering her impact by merging technology with social innovation to create lasting change.
Anna and her husband Beto, who met in high school, live in Downtown San Antonio. They are big foodies, and enjoy supporting local shops and restaurants!
