Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Laura Ryan to the Texas Transportation Commission for a term set to expire on February 1, 2017. The Texas Transportation Commission governs the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is responsible for policymaking regarding the state’s highway system, developing a statewide transportation plan, assisting the development of public transportation and adopting rules for TxDOT’s operation.
Laura Ryan is vice president of market representation and dealer development for Gulf States Toyota, Inc. She was previously appointed by Governor Abbott to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) Board and was also designated by the Governor as chair of the Board. She will be stepping down from the TxDMV Board upon her appointment to the Transportation Commission. During her tenure as chair of the TxDMV Board, Laura initiated many processes to make the department more innovative, customer-oriented, and efficient. She has held various executive level positions during her twenty-plus years in the automotive industry, including both manufacture and retail operations. Laura stays involved with her community through several volunteer and charity organizations such as Boys and Girls Country, Operation Interdependence, and National Charity League. She attended Penn State University and has been engaged in the following continuous executive education programs: Gallup Organization Strengths Training, University of Texas Future Leaders, and Columbia University – Finance.
