Michael Heiligenstein

As the first Executive Director of the Mobility Authority, Mike brings a unique blend of qualifications to the position. He served 23 years as a Central Texas public official in the rapidly growing communities of Round Rock and Williamson County. As both a City Councilman and County Commissioner, he initiated and helped supervise over $500 million in capital improvement projects. In 2000, he spearheaded a $350 million transportation initiative that changed the dynamics of mobility throughout Central Texas. Mike was actively involved in all aspects of implementing the program: public presentations; contract management; rating agency presentations; pricing as well as personally engaging in needed land acquisition for the Central Texas Turnpike Project. Mike has also been a leader in environmental and other public infrastructure causes throughout his public career. As County Commissioner he was instrumental in putting the arguments of parkland on the Williamson County Agenda. The County now has over 1,000 acres of parkland under phase of development. He was influential in the first phase of the Brushy Creek Regional Trail. He chaired the Clean Air Force (the regional air quality initiative of Central Texas) where he actively participated in the development of the EPA Early Action Compact for Central Texas. He also chaired the air and water quality subcommittees for the National Association of Counties and became chair of the Conference of Urban Counties before resigning his commissioner's seat and private sector employment to assume the Executive Directorship of the Mobility Authority. Mike was a founding board member and two-time vice chair of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council and is a founding member, board member and executive committee member for the Envision Central Texas project. Mike also serves on the board of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association as well as the board of the Texas Transportation Institute.Mike earned a MA in Government from the University of Texas in Austin and a MBA, in finance and management, also from the University of Texas in Austin.