Pike Powers, whose tireless work for more than 28 years helped build Austin and Texas into major technology centers, will be honored as the 2005 Austinite of the Year at the Chamber’s 128th Annual Meeting on Monday, January 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth Street.

“The face of the Austin region would look much different than it does today if it weren’t for the persistence and dedication of Pike Powers,” said 2005 Chamber Chair Kirk Watson of Hughes and Luce, LLP. “Over the years, Powers has worked to improve and grow our region’s high tech community and economy. I look forward to honoring him for all he has done for the business community.”

Even before he opened Fulbright & Jaworski’s Austin office in 1978, Powers began advancing the region’s high tech, information and entrepreneurial economy. From his days on Governor Mark White’s Science and Technology Council to his appointment to Governor Rick Perry’s Science and Bio-technology Council, Powers has been a go-to participant in attracting and retaining the most innovative businesses to this region.

Powers was a leader in creating the Texas Technology Initiative which was established in 2002 as a collaborative effort between the government, academia, and private industry. In response to the TTI strategy and the need to be globally competitive with incentive programs, the State of Texas created a $295 million Enterprise Fund under the leadership of Governor Perry and Powers.

“I had the opportunity to see his career grow over the years,” said former Texas Governor Mark White. “He was a leader then and he has been a leader all his life. Pike has done so much for Austin, and I think it’s only appropriate that he be named Austinite of the Year.”

Powers was Chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in 1989 after serving several terms as Vice-Chair for Economic Development. He currently serves on the board of the Greater Austin Economic Development Corporation which oversees the Opportunity Austin job creation program.

As a board member of numerous technology groups, Powers is a “civic entrepreneur” who advises Austin’s newly emerging technology leaders on creating new companies and shaping the region’s collaborative future.

Powers and his wife, Pamela, have been married for 38 years. They have two children, Pike Powers V and Shannon Powers.