BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Gilberto Salinas, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation (GBEDC), has been honored on an international stage for his more than two decades of leadership in regional economic development.
Salinas received the Unsung Hero Award: Longtime Engagement during the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The annual gathering—which drew over 1,500 economic development professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to the Crescent City under the theme of navigating transformative growth—recognizes individuals whose sustained behind-the-scenes dedication has shaped communities and mentored rising talent across the profession.
According to the IEDC, the Unsung Hero Award: Longtime Engagement specifically honors veteran practitioners who have demonstrated decades-long commitment to the organization and the broader economic development field without always seeking the spotlight.
"Economic development has always been about more than attracting companies or creating jobs. It's about creating opportunities that change people's lives and strengthen communities for generations to come," Salinas said in a statement released by GBEDC. "I'm incredibly honored by this recognition, but the most rewarding part of this work has always been the people I've had the privilege of working alongside and the communities we've been able to serve."
The New Orleans accolade caps a year of major recognition for the South Texas economic development executive. Earlier in 2026, Salinas was named one of the Top 100: Influential Pros to Know by the Texas Business Journals, a statewide distinction highlighting executives driving Texas's commercial and industrial expansion.
Over a career spanning more than 20 years, Salinas has built a reputation for landing high-profile industrial, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing projects. In Brownsville, his tenure has been closely tied to the recruitment and expansion of transformative enterprises, including SpaceX’s Starbase operations and autonomous surface vessel manufacturer Saronic Technologies—projects that have reshaped the Rio Grande Valley's aerospace and defense-tech profile.
Prior to returning to lead GBEDC, Salinas successfully recruited roughly a dozen companies to establish an aerospace and advanced manufacturing cluster in Kerrville, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country. Beyond Texas, his advisory and consulting work has extended to economic development organizations in Pittsburgh, New York, South Dakota, and Puerto Rico.
In addition to accepting the IEDC award in New Orleans, Salinas took on an active speaking role during the conference, participating in two featured sessions:
Founded in 2001 through the consolidation of two predecessor organizations, the Washington, D.C.-based IEDC is the largest membership organization serving economic developers globally, representing more than 4,500 members across public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, municipalities, and regional development corporations.
