Paul J. Puente serves as the Executive Secretary of the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council, and represents construction unions across a 20-county jurisdiction. Elected in January 2013, Puente oversees 18 unions, 15 crafts, and 13 apprenticeship programs, each with a Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC).
Appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court in October 2024, he now serves on the nine-member Board of Trustees for Harris Health, helping to oversee the $2.5 billion safety-net healthcare provider that serves the residents of Harris County, Texas.
A journeyman wireman electrician and member of The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 716, Puente began his electrical career in 1990, earning a degree in Electrical Technology from San Jacinto College. He's also an organizer and assistant business manager for his local union.
Puente is a proud family man with his wife, Janie, their six children, and two grandchildren. He is active in numerous organizations, including the Harris County AFL-CIO, Houston Business Roundtable, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the Maritime Trades Department, and serves as Labor Liaison for Congressman Al Green. He also holds leadership roles in the Building Trades MC3, Port of Houston Small Business Advisory Board, and other key local initiatives.
Nombramiento original: Octubre de 2024