Darryl Byrd, a shining model of civic engagement and socially conscious leadership, was on track to become the next chairman of the board for the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. His potential appointment was a source of great optimism for the chamber, as he has spent the past two decades inspiring fellow San Antonians to contemplate the transformative power of community organizations and businesses in uplifting their communities.
Impressive Career
During his impressive career, Darryl Byrd held prominent roles such as CEO and managing director of the Pearl Brewery. He also co-chaired Leadership San Antonio and played a pivotal role in founding SA2020, serving as its first CEO, which emerged from then-Mayor Julián Castro’s visionary initiative. In 2011, Castro praised Byrd as a “person of vision,” capable of envisioning a realistic and promising future beyond the present circumstances.
Recently, as the managing principal of ULTRAte Strategy, Darryl Byrd showcased his expertise by guiding nonprofits, public agencies, and private companies towards their best potential. His anticipated appointment as chairman of the chamber board held promise for injecting a fresh perspective into the community’s role. Additionally, it would have been a historic moment, marking the first time an African American male assumed this position in the chamber’s 130-year history.
In the last 10 months, Byrd’s talents led him to serve as the chief growth and strategy officer for Perfected Claims, a Virgin Islands-based company specializing in investigating mass-casualty tort claims. Founded by political operative Christian Archer, the business collaborates with renowned trial attorney Mikal Watts.
A Potential Problem
Multiple sources reported that about a month ago, Katie Harvey, the current chair of the chamber board and CEO of KGBTexas Communications, informed Darryl Byrd of an issue that could potentially hinder his anticipated election as board chair.
According to multiple sources, Harvey raised concerns with Byrd regarding his affiliation with trial lawyer Mikal Watts, which led to doubts within the board about his potential chairmanship. Byrd, who had been recruited rather than seeking the position, gracefully stepped aside when Harvey seemingly implied that he was no longer wanted. Although Byrd prefers to avoid public commotion, his friends have expressed outrage on his behalf. They are particularly upset because Harvey denies influencing Byrd’s decision to withdraw from consideration for the chairmanship. When questioned, Harvey stated that the issue of Byrd’s connection with Watts never came up during their conversation. She explained that they primarily discussed his upcoming term, travel responsibilities, and the location of the entity he’s associated with, which is in the Virgin Islands.
The President of the whole U.S travels around the world yet a Chamber Chairman can’t go as far to the Virgin Islands even at the local level? That is absurd to quantify his ability.
Board Members Excited About The Change
Harvey asked him to think about it and let her know his decision, leading to a conversation the following day where Byrd said, “I don’t think the timing is right.” Harvey shared this version with the chamber board’s executive committee, many of whom were excited about Byrd’s potential leadership in 2024.
However, Byrd’s account differs from Harvey’s recollection. Though he wishes to avoid conflict within the chamber, he clarifies that Harvey invited him to the lunch meeting and conveyed during that meeting that his association with Watts posed a problem. Byrd acknowledges the demanding nature of his job at Perfected Claims, with extensive travel, but asserts that the idea for him to step aside as board chair came from Harvey, not himself.
A Public Apology
Archer stated on Thursday that Katie Harvey owes Darryl Byrd and Mikal Watts a public apology, while also urging the chamber to clarify its stance on law firms or lawyers being members.
The chamber board had a chance to embrace a visionary leader in Byrd, but they mishandled the opportunity, raising questions about the process’s integrity.
Lack of Value Placed on Black Community
Harvey’s role in San Antonio is beginning to show a lack of diversity, doing the least to meet a minimum standard of inclusiveness. Harvey’s media agency- KGBTexas services the CPS and VIA accounts (to name a few) here in San Antonio to ensure her client’s messaging and advertising gets out. The message is not getting out to the minority community vs. other communities.
Black businesses have value, Black leaders have value yet are told and shown over and over they can’t do what others can. We cannot possibly travel and chair a board simultaneously, we cannot possibly convey messaging for the people equitably, and on and on…
Renee R. Wallace
We need more eyes on operations that are supposed to be fair and equitable. For years San Antonio’s largest entities (for example VIA and CPS) have included minorities in their media messaging at a very equitable rate. With Harvey’s seat on the Chamber board and control over the some of the largest entities media messaging, all we can say is that blacks are getting cut out of the rooms she is in lately with reasoning that is weak at best.
San Antonio has bright, educated ‘visionary’ leaders in the Black Community (yes, unfortunately we have to remind people of this) yet their is always a stoppage to let that beautiful part of San Antonio shine. So what that Byrd has traveling to do, don’t we all? Harvey has locations in Houston and San Antonio and travels to both of her media agencies and still is involved in the board, why can’t Byrd do the same as her? Seems like an easy answer that we are so tired of hearing ‘no’ too for obvious reasons.
Archer is very on point with his statement that Harvey owes a public apology.
