In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, we sit down with former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, collaboration, and what it takes to guide a city through growth and transformation.

Hosted by Stephanie Reyes, President and CEO of RECSA, alongside policy expert Rob Killen, this episode explores Ron’s journey into public service, his approach to building coalitions across government, and his vision for San Antonio and Bexar County’s future.

Ron reflects on lessons learned during his time as mayor, the importance of long-term planning over short-term wins, and why strong relationships between city and county leadership are essential for economic development, infrastructure, housing, and quality of life. The conversation also touches on workforce development, transportation, housing strategy, climate action, and the responsibility leaders have to create opportunities for the next generation.

This episode offers valuable insight for developers, business leaders, and policymakers who care about the future of San Antonio and the role thoughtful leadership plays in shaping the city our kids will want to call home.

Topics Covered

1. Ron Nirenberg’s path into public service and leadership
2. Why collaboration between city and county governments matters
3. The role of long-term vision in economic development
4. Housing, transportation, and workforce challenges facing San Antonio
5. Building coalitions to move complex projects forward
6. Leadership lessons from serving as mayor during periods of change
7. Creating opportunity and quality of life for future generations

Resources

RECSA: https://recsanantonio.com/

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city.

Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media.

In this episode, we sit down with Randy Smith, co-founder and CEO of Weston Urban, to explore his unexpected journey from attorney to developer and his vision for San Antonio's future. Randy shares how a breakfast at IHOP led him to Rackspace and eventually to transforming downtown San Antonio with projects like Frost Tower, the Milam Building, and the upcoming downtown baseball stadium. We discuss why downtowns matter, the importance of people over buildings, and how San Antonio's unique community spirit sets it apart. Randy also opens up about the challenges of capitalizing development projects, his passion for creating family-friendly spaces, and why he believes San Antonio does community better than anywhere else in America.

Topics Covered:

1. (00:34) - From Attorney to Developer: Randy's unexpected career journey
2. (8:34 - Moving to San Antonio: Why Randy and Rachel chose San Antonio in 2005
3. (13:41) - The IHOP Breakfast: Meeting Graham Weston and joining Rackspace
4. (15:19) - Founding Weston Urban: "Building the city our kids want to call home"
5. (23:00) - Frost Tower: Breaking San Antonio's 30-year office tower drought
6. (25:09) - The Frost Tower Land Deal: Complex three-way swap with Frost Bank and the City
7. (28:53) - Why Downtown Matters: Economics, community, and San Antonio's identity
8. (37:55) - Downtown Baseball Stadium Update: Current status and challenges
9. (42:05) - "Who Has It Better Than Us?": Randy's philosophy on gratitude and perspective
10. (47:00) - The Power of People: Why humans matter more than buildings in San Antonio's future

Resources:

1. https://recsanantonio.com/
2. https://westonurban.com/

Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media