Tom Pauken
Chairman
2008-Present

Tom Pauken is Chairman for the Texas Workforce Commission. Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the three-member Commission in March 2008. His Commission appointment expires February 1, 2009.

Chairman Pauken brings years of experience in public service to the Texas Workforce Commission. He has held numerous leadership and business positions and is an attorney and mediator.

In 2007, he served as Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on Appraisal Reform.

He served in the White House Counsel Office under President Reagan and was appointed by the President to serve as director of ACTION, where he founded the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program. He was instrumental with the implementation of First Lady Nancy Reagan's Just Say No to Drugs campaign.

Chairman Pauken is a United States Army veteran. He received a commission in Military Intelligence and served in Vietnam as a Province Intelligence Officer and as a senior analyst for the Office of Strategic Research Analysis.

He serves on numerous boards of directors and advisory councils, including President of TWP, Inc., Member, Future Matrix, Trustee of Capital Partners II, Ltd., Liquidating Trust, Member and former Chairman of Tutogen Medical, Inc., Member and former Chairman of TOR Minerals International, Inc., Past Vice President of Garvon, Inc., and Past President of KRZI Radio.

Chairman Pauken is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus. He received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from Southern Methodist University.

Chairman Pauken is the author of the book, The Thirty Years War. Married with seven children and nine grandchildren, he and his wife Ida reside in Dallas.

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Ronald G. Congleton
Commissioner Representing Labor
2003-Present

Ronald G. Congleton is Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission. Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the three-member Commission in October 2003. Governor Perry reappointed him on February 10, 2005. His Commission appointment expires February 1, 2011.

Nearly 35 years of experience in negotiations and commitment to representing working Texans give Commissioner Ronald G. Congleton a strong background for his new role.

Congleton joined the trucking industry as a driver in 1968 with Consolidated Forwarding then transferred to McLean Trucking in 1970. While with McLean, he became head steward with Teamsters Local 745 in Dallas where he cultivated his leadership skills. Congleton remained head steward with Local 745 when he moved to Yellow Freight Systems in 1986, where he also was a registered hazardous material handler. He remained with Yellow Freight Systems until 1997. Congleton was chosen to be president of the 7,500-member Local 745 in 1997 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2002. Prior to his retirement, he served as the chairman of the Southern Region Grievance Committee for nine southern states and was a member of the National Grievance Committee in Washington, D.C., from 2000 to 2002.

Before entering his career in trucking and serving Texas' workers, Congleton served our nation in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967. As a shipfitter, he served aboard the cruiser U.S.S. Chicago from 1963 to 1965. From 1965 until 1967, he served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise in Southeast Asia.

Community Activities

• 32nd Degree Mason
• Honorary Deputy Constable, Dallas
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lewisville Post 9168

Honors and Awards

• National Defense Service Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

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Andres Alcantar
Commissioner Representing the Public
2008-Present

Andres Alcantar is the Commissioner Representing the Public for the Texas Workforce Commission. Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the three-member Commission in August 2008. His Commission appointment expires February 1, 2013.

Alcantar most recently served as deputy director of the governor’s Budget, Planning and Policy division, which advises the Governor on federal, state and local issues and provides executive oversight to state boards and commissions. His focus included workforce, business and economic development, competitiveness, and public and higher education issues. He also served as the office’s liaison to the Texas Workforce Commission and several other state agencies.

He was previously an advisor in Governor George W. Bush’s Office of Budget and Planning on workforce and health and human service issues, and a director for the state Health and Human Services Commission.

Alcantar received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in public administration from Texas Tech University.