Austin’s economy and environment has thrived under the leadership and guidance of Mayor Will Wynn who will be honored as the Austin Chamber’s 2007 Austinite of the Year at its 130th Annual Meeting next month.

Some of Mayor Wynn’s most notable contributions to Austin include his leadership in economic growth, transportation and quality of life issues creating a positive business climate for Austin. Specifically, he has led initiatives on clean energy and climate protection, downtown development and regional transportation improvements. His city leadership and partnership with the Chamber have helped to secure projects such as Samsung, Hewlett-Packard and Home Depot adding thousands of new jobs and increased payroll for Austin and Central Texas.

Wynn was elected as Austin’s 50th Mayor in 2003 and re-elected in 2006 by an overwhelming majority. Prior to first being elected to Austin City Council in 2000, Wynn served as Chair of the Downtown Austin Alliance, and has long been a leading advocate for transforming downtown Austin into the most vibrant urban core in the country.

“Mayor Wynn has a proven dedication to our city and works tirelessly to help make Austin the ‘Human Capital’,” said 2007 Chamber Chairman Roger Mitchell. “His commitment to efforts such as downtown development and growth of the clean energy industry in Central Texas have garnered national praise and continue to make Austin a superior place to live and work.”

Wynn has risen to a position of national leadership on energy and climate issues. Since 2004 he has chaired the Energy Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, helping to drive national debate on federal energy policy and climate protection and is a key member of the U.S. Mayors Council on Climate. Protection

As chairman of the Board of Directors for Austin Energy, the nation's most successful utility-sponsored green power program, Mayor Wynn promotes both an award-winning energy-efficiency program that has eliminated the need for a 500-megawatt coal-burning power plant near Austin and a green-building program that was the first of its kind in the world.

“Mayor Wynn has helped Austin rise as one of the top places for doing business,” said Gary Farmer, 2006 Austinite of the Year and 2008 Chair of Opportunity Austin. “His leadership and focus on uniting efforts to attract companies has helped establish Austin’s place as a global leader.”

The Chamber will discuss the successes of 2007, look forward to 2008 and honor Mayor Will Wynn as the Austinite of the Year on Tuesday, February 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth Street. Additionally, the Chamber will honor its volunteers of the year.

Reserve your table by January 30 to ensure premiere seating at this sell-out event. Tickets are $45 for members and $75 for future members. Tables of 10 will be sold at $450 for members and $750 for future members. To purchase tickets, visit www.austinchamber.com/events.

The Austin Chamber is the pre-eminent business organization in Central Texas, with more than 2,700 business members in five counties.