The Building Texas Show

Are you classifying your workers correctly? The difference between a 1099 contractor and a W-2 employee isn't a choice — it's the law. And getting it wrong can cost your business everything. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Neil Katz, CEO of Exceptional HR Solutions, to break down one of the biggest HR risks facing growing businesses in Texas: worker...

How does a barrier island with only 53,000 residents handle over 9 million visitors a year? In this episode of The Building Texas Show, we sit down with ‪City of Galveston Mayor Craig Brown to uncover the massive economic engine driving this historic Texas city. From becoming the 4th largest cruise port in the U.S. (moving 2 million passengers) to managing the unique challenges of sea-level rise a...

In this episode of The Building Texas Show’s Mayoral Series, host Justin McKenzie travels to Alpine, Texas, to sit down with Mayor Catherine Eaves for a candid and substantive conversation about rural governance, emergency medical services reform, tourism growth, civic engagement, and the future of Far West Texas. Alpine serves as the gateway to Big Bend National Park and is positioning itself as...

Bastrop, Texas is one of the fastest-growing small cities in the state. Mayor Ishmael Harris joins The Building Texas Show to explain how Bastrop,‪@btxntvonline‬, is balancing explosive growth, global investment, and small-town heritage. In this episode of ‪@thebuildingtexasshow‬ host Justin McKenzie sits down with Ishmael Harris, Mayor of Bastrop, as part of our statewide Texas Mayor Interview Se...

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most misunderstood — and fastest-growing — regions in Texas. In this episode of ‪The Building Texas Show‬, host Justin McKenzie sits down with the City of Edinburg‬ Mayor Omar Ochoa to explore why Edinburg is emerging as a major economic hub for South Texas, how regional collaboration is reshaping the Valley’s future, and why businesses, engineers, and families...

We're excited to present an episode of the Building Texas show, live from Fort Worth. Our guest, a professor at Texas Christian University, shares insights into the city's dynamic growth and his work in finance and private equity. This discussion highlights the intersection of education and business within the vibrant Fort Worth community. The numbers don't lie: The city of Ft. Worth just secured...

Tomball, Texas is one of the rare communities that has experienced explosive regional growth without losing its identity. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Mayor Lori Klein Quinn to explore how Tomball has intentionally planned its future—while fiercely protecting its past. Founded in 1907 and once known as Oil Town USA, Tomball has evolved from a rail...

Is Pflugerville becoming the new economic heart of Central Texas? We sat down with Mayor Doug Weiss to uncover how this quiet suburb transformed into a major powerhouse while fighting to keep its small-town soul. From the strategic impact of the SH-130 corridor to being named the 'Trail Capital of Texas,' discover how Pflugerville is balancing massive economic development with local job creation a...

​ @CityofHelotesTexas sits at the gateway to the Texas Hill Country—and with growth accelerating across Central Texas, the city is facing the same hard questions many small towns are struggling with. In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow host Justin McKenzie sits down with Helotes Mayor Rich Whitehead for a candid, inside look at how a growing Texas city balances development, financial discipli...

In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow we sit down with Heather Fazio from the @texascannabispolicy to discuss the emerging marijuana marketplace in Texas. We explore the nuances of current marijuana policy and the potential impacts of THC and CBD on the state's economy. This conversation sheds light on the future of cannabis drug testing and related regulations. Texas cannabis policy is changin...

Is Texas about to overtake Silicon Valley? In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow we sit down with Robert Pieroni from @gener8tor to uncover why the Lone Star State is becoming the ultimate destination for entrepreneurs. From the massive economic impact of the 2026 World Cup to the explosion of local venture capital, discover the hidden opportunities waiting for Texas founders. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Co...

What makes the City of Lubbock one of the most underrated growth stories in the state? In this episode of The Building Texas Show host Justin McKenzie sits down in Lubbock with Mayor Mark McBrayer for a deep, honest conversation about how this West Texas city is planning for the future — not just the next election cycle, but the next 100 years. Lubbock is often associated with @texastech but as Ma...

Is Sugar Land poised to become the most exciting suburb in Texas? In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Justin sits down with Mayor Carol McCutcheon—the first female mayor of Sugar Land—to discuss the massive transformation happening in 2026. From the revitalization of the Imperial Historic District to the city's pivotal role in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, we cover exactly how this region i...

Is the Texas space industry the new gold rush? In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Justin McKenzie sits down with Mike Pryor from the Texas Space Coalition to reveal how the state is transforming into a global aerospace powerhouse—and why it’s happening in unexpected places like El Paso. If you are looking to pivot your career or understand the future of the Texas economy, this conversatio...

Midland, Texas is evolving beyond oil and gas—emerging as a hub for space, infrastructure, workforce development, and long-term growth in Texas. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Mayor Lori Blong explains how Midland is planning for the next 5, 50, and 100 years. In this conversation, host Justin McKenzie and Lori Blong, Mayor of Midland, discuss infrastructure-led economic development,...

Welcome to the Building Texas Show! In this episode, we chat with Mayor Tom Gilgore about Lakeway, a beautiful community situated just west of Austin. Discover the charm of the Texas Hill Country and the unique austin lifestyle that makes this area a prime location for real estate. We dive into what makes living in austin texas so appealing, especially in growing residential areas like Lakeway. Is...

League City, Texas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Houston–Galveston region — and in this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Nick Long, Mayor of League City, to talk about what’s driving that growth and how the city is managing it responsibly. Mayor Long shares his journey from growing up in League City to serving more than a decade in local governm...

In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Gus Pappas, Mayor of Bellaire, for a deep, candid conversation on what it takes to govern one of the Houston region’s most distinctive communities. Bellaire is a fully built-out enclave city surrounded by Houston—unable to expand outward, yet actively investing inward. Mayor Pappas shares how disciplined zoning, long-t...

In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Gary Forni, Chairman of the Central Texas Angel Network, for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation on how angel investing actually works in Texas. If you’re an entrepreneur raising capital, a founder trying to understand investor decision-making, or a community leader working to build an innovation ecosystem in your c...

In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow host Justin McKenzie sits down with Rob Hardy, Mayor of Sunrise Beach Village, for a deep conversation on small-town leadership, life on Lake LBJ, and what it really takes to run a city of just 800 residents in the Texas Hill Country. Located in Llano County, Sunrise Beach Village is a unique waterfront community with five public parks, a locally run police...

In this audio-only episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie returns to his hometown of Del Rio, Texas for an in-depth conversation with Al Arreola, Mayor of Del Rio. Mayor Arreola shares how Del Rio is entering a new era of economic growth—driven by infrastructure investment, regional collaboration, and the city’s unique position along the U.S.–Mexico border. From the long-term imp...

In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Whit Runion, founder of Fuel Perfect to unpack an often-overlooked but mission-critical topic: diesel fuel risk. Whit explains how fuel polishing works, why diesel fuel no longer lasts like it used to, and how contaminated fuel can silently disable generators at hospitals, data centers, utilities, nursing homes, and ot...

In this news-style episode of ‪@thebuildingtexasshow‬ host Justin McKenzie sits down with Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth to discuss how the city is navigating rapid North Texas growth while preserving its unique identity. From higher education and workforce pipelines to major employers, tourism, housing, and large-scale master-planned development, this conversation provides a grounded look at what’s...

College Station, Texas sits at the center of the Texas Triangle—and at the center of one of the most dynamic growth stories in the state. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Mayor John Nichols to explore how College Station is managing rapid growth driven by Texas A&M University, a transient student population of nearly 80,000, and an expanding priva...

In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie travels to Pampa in the Texas Panhandle to sit down with Mike Borger, Mayor of Pampa, to explore one of the most compelling rural growth stories unfolding in Texas today. Once known primarily for oil, gas, and agriculture, Pampa is now positioning itself at the center of data centers, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and nex...