(DALLAS) — Cornerstone, a leading, bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm, announced Thursday the expansion of the firm’s Texas presence and capabilities in Dallas with the addition of Matthew Garcia. The launch of the firm’s Dallas office, alongside its established presence in Austin and Houston, underscores its commitment to the Texas state and local marketplace.
“We are delighted to have Matt join the Cornerstone team,” firm President Campbell Kaufman said. “His experience working in and knowledge of the Dallas region, coupled with his relationships and enthusiasm across the state, make him the perfect fit to lead the firm’s expansion into Dallas.”
A seasoned government and public affairs executive with over two decades experience in the Dallas Region, Garcia brings a wealth of experience in policy, advocacy and stakeholder engagement. He joins Cornerstone from the Dallas Regional Chamber, where he served as Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy. In this role, he spearheaded the organization’s public policy strategy, while remaining closely engaged with legislators, key stakeholders and C-level executives across the Dallas Region for one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in Texas.
“I am excited to join Cornerstone Government Affairs and to lead the firm’s strategic growth into Dallas” Garcia said. “Dallas is home to one of the most vibrant and diverse business environments in the country and I look forward to working with the talented team in Texas to help clients navigate the intricacies of public policy landscape while realizing their strategic goals.”
Prior to his time at Dallas Regional Chamber, Garcia worked as the Director of External Affairs for Leon Capital Group where he developed the firm’s public affairs strategies across their multiple business lines.
Previously, Garcia served in the United States House of Representatives, first as District Director (2010-2013) and then as Chief of Staff-Texas (2013-2018), managing Rep. Pete Sessions’ (R-TX) office and serving as a key advisor on energy, transportation and immigration policy. Notably, Garcia served as the North Texas congressional point of contact during the 2015 F5 tornadoes that devastated Garland and Rowlett, Texas. He collaborated with city officials and nonprofit leaders to keep all federal entities informed, ensuring a swift response to the effected community. Garcia also worked alongside emergency response teams at the city, county and state levels during the 2014 Ebola crisis in Dallas to deliver accurate and timely public communication while leading information coordination with federal agencies, including the National Institute of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. Garcia currently serves as Director of the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Lyceum, and member of the following organizations:, McCombs School of Business BBA Advisory Board, Simmons Cancer Center Community Advisory Board, Reading Partners North Texas, the State Fair of Texas Chairman’s Task Force, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Brand Advancement Committee, and the SMU Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Advisory Board.