Secretary Andrade, a successful entrepreneur and business leader in the San Antonio community for more than three decades, previously served as Texas Workforce Commissioner, Texas Transportation Commissioner, and Texas’ Chief Elections Officer, senior advisor and liaison to Governor Rick Perry for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs, and Chief International Protocol Officer for Texas.
Under her leadership, the Secretary of State’s Office led 14 international and domestic trade missions to promote Texas, ensured the efficient movement of goods at all Texas international crossings, promoted Texas Wide Open for Business, brought new businesses to local communities creating hundreds of new jobs, worked closely with over 90 General Consuls to develop business relationships with their prospective countries, worked closely with international companies to bring the largest foreign investment to Texas, and increased outreach and information resources to voters. She was the first Latina and longest serving Secretary of State in Texas History.
Her civic service includes leadership roles with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio, United Way, the San Antonio Symphony and the board of trustees for Our Lady of the Lake University.
She has been recognized and honored with numerous awards and accolades such as, The Woman of the Year by Women in Transportation, Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hope for Children Esperanza Award, San Antonio Leadership Hall of Fame Award, the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and Woman of the Year Award, Perry Transportation Award, she was inducted into the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame, and was most recently inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor.