Chris McGowan is a planner, economic developer and community builder. Chris has spent 20 years working to transform Texas cities. His passion for placemaking, inspired design, and innovation drive his work today. Chris believes that everyone has a part to play and engages at all levels. What Chris does best is bring diverse interests together with creative solutions to achieve big plans.

Most recently Chris' work has been in Waco, TX.  For the past nine years Chris has led the transformational revitalization of Downtown. Today, Waco is one of the most exciting up and coming places in Texas. Prior to Waco, Chris was in Houston. There he worked to understand and manage issues of growth in the Greater Houston Region and cities along the Gulf Coast. Today the Houston region has one of the hottest urban development markets in the country.

Chris has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Chris is married to Cristi McGowan and they have one child, who keeps changing his middle name based on whatever his favorite color is that day. Today, he’s Oliver Red McGowan.

Philosophy

Always be Visionary because it takes forever to build a city. Not unlike the cathedral builders of old, or the developers of the great pyramids we aspire to make our mark on a place for generations. To do this we have to think and act big. Your community or business has a story to tell and I want to help you be prepared to offer context, common values and connecting points that relate your story to your goals and get the most out of your project. 

What Chris does

  • Creates outstanding places for people to live work and play
  • Attracts, facilitates and promotes transformational development activity
  • Raises community expectations
  • Develops and implements proven, strategic placemaking initiatives
  • Builds strategic partnerships
  • Gets results

Experience

  • Waco, Texas 2007-2015
    • $600 million in new public and private real estate development activity in downtown Waco, Texas.
    • Imagine Waco strategic planning initiative
    • Founder, 1000 Friends of Waco
    • Founder, thInc Space creative co-working space and network for creative entrepreneurs
    • Founder, Director, Waco Downtown Farmers Market
    • Founding Director, Creative Waco
    • Director, LAUNCH Innovative Business Accelerator
    • Team lead, Innaugural Cohort, Urban Sustainability Accelerator, Portland State University
  • Greater Houston Region 1998-2007
    • Gulf Coast Economic Development District
    • Houston Region Livable Centers Initiative
    • Project NEMO: Regional Sustainable Development and Low Impact Development programs
    • H-GAC Sub-regional planning initiative
    • Regional CDBG
  • Affiliations