Esperanza “Hope” Andrade is the Co-Founder & Partner of GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises, a former Texas Secretary of State, and a lifelong advocate for San Antonio and its business community.
Hope has been a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and government official in the state of Texas for more than three decades. She has served as Texas’ first Latina Secretary of State, Texas Workforce Commissioner, and Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner. An entrepreneur who has created and grown multiple companies, Hope brings a broad business perspective with particular expertise in healthcare, transportation, workforce, and economic development.
Hope has served as Tri Chair of Connect SA, on the Executive Committee Member of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Chair of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of Free Trade Alliance, Board Member of the San Antonio Symphony, and Trustee of Our Lady of the Lake University. She currently serves as Chair of Via Transit Authority, Chair of the Alamo Management Committee, Board Member of Alamo Trust, Inc., Board Member of Texas State Aquarium, Board Member of Great Springs Project, Member of LBJ Women’s Campaign School Advisory Board and Board Member of the TexasHispanic Policy Foundation.
She has been the recipient of numerous personal and community awards such as the Texas Department of Transportation’s Roadhand Award, the San Antonio Business Journal’s Leadership Legacy Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonian Award from the Northside Chamber of Commerce, Trefoil Award from the Girls Scouts of Southwest Texas, Small Business Advocate from the U.S. Small Business Administration, 2017 Junior Achievement San Antonio Business Hall of Fame Laureate, and SAMCO Lifetime Achievement Award.
