Chuck Wemple is the Executive Director of the Houston-Galveston Area Council an agency located on the upper Texas Coast with an annual operating budget of over $600 million and nearly 500 team members who focus on improving quality of life for the region’s 13 counties, 123 cities, and over 8 million people. Areas of public service include transportation planning, community and economic development, public safety, senior citizen services, workforce development, rural 911, socioeconmoic modeling, and disaster recovery.

Chuck is the Immediate Past Chair of the Executive Directors’ Council for the National Association of Regional Councils, and American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow. He is the recipeint of the National Walter Scheiber Leadership Award for significant impacts at the local regional, state and national level and the highest honort that can be bestowed upon an Executive Director of a Council of Governments. Chuck was recently selected as one of the 250 Government Champions by Local Gov 2030 and National Academy of Public Admisitration which recognizes iindividuals working in government who exemplify “democracy at the doorstep” through dedication, innovation, and the highest sense of public service.

He is a certified foresight practitioner from the Institute for the Future, and is currently exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and public service and local governments. Chuck is also a competitive fencer and aspiring magician.