The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) board of directors on June 16 announced the selection of Ron Papsdorf as the organization’s new executive director, effective July 13, 2026. The announcement was made during the H-GAC Board of Directors meeting held at H-GAC on June 16.
Papsdorf, who currently serves as H-GAC’s chief transportation officer, will succeed Chuck Wemple, who is retiring after service as executive director since 2018.
“It is with great enthusiasm that the Board of Directors announces Ron Papsdorf as H-GAC’s incoming executive director. Ron’s extensive experience and vision for regional cooperation align perfectly with the needs of our 13-county alliance,” said Ty Prause, Colorado County Judge and chair of the H-GAC Board of Directors. “While we will deeply miss Chuck Wemple’s outstanding leadership as he begins his well-deserved retirement, we are excited about the future under Ron’s leadership and confident in his ability to advance H-GAC’s mission of fostering collaboration among our member governments.”
In his current role as chief transportation officer, Papsdorf has been instrumental in advancing the region’s transportation priorities and fostering collaboration among member governments. Prior to joining H-GAC, he served as division director at the Denver Regional Council of Governments, where he led the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and coordinated transportation planning for the Denver metropolitan region.
“I am honored to be chosen by the H-GAC board to serve the region in this new role,” Papsdorf said. “Our region is growing and changing rapidly, and I am eager to work with the board, our staff, our communities, and our partners to make us the best region in the country to live, work and do business.”
Outgoing executive director Chuck Wemple expressed strong support for his successor as he prepares to pass the baton.
“Each leader at H-GAC is responsible for building a strong foundation that the next generation can count on to provide stable footing as they create new opportunities for service and take our organization to the next level of service,” said Wemple. “It is an honor to pass the baton to Ron. He is exactly the leader our organization needs to make sure we maintain focus on the needs of our region, while exploring new avenues to improve quality of life for nearly eight million people. The region and our agency are in excellent hands.”
Papsdorf earned a bachelor of science in Urban Planning from Michigan State University and pursued graduate studies in Environmental Planning at Arizona State University. His 20-plus-year career has been defined by a commitment to data-driven regional planning and building consensus among diverse stakeholder groups.
As a regional planning entity, H-GAC administers several critical functions across the Gulf Coast region. These include serving as the MPO for the eight-county Houston-Galveston Transportation Management Area; operating the public workforce system through the Gulf Coast Workforce Board and its operating affiliate Workforce Solutions; coordinating small business, economic development and regional resources through the Gulf Coast Economic Development District; and supporting older adults through the Area Agency on Aging across the 12 rural counties outside Harris County.
HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL
Houston-Galveston Area Council H-GAC is a voluntary regional association of local governments and local elected officials from the 13-county Gulf Coast planning region, which includes an area of 12,500 square miles and nearly eight million people. H-GAC promotes efficient and accountable use of local, state, and federal tax dollars; serves as a problem-solving and information forum for local governments; and helps analyze trends and conditions affecting the region. For more information, visit h-gac.com.