Gary Halbrooks

Chairman

Smith County

            
Experience
Gary Halbrooks is the CEO / President of Venue Properties, Inc. with its home office located in Tyler, Texas. Venue Properties, Inc. is a real estate company involved in the brokerage, development, investment and management of commercial real estate throughout the Southwestern and Southeastern United States.
Mr. Halbrooks attended Tyler Junior College and graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree. He is currently pursuing a Master of Jurisprudence at the Texas A&M School of Law.  He was licensed to sell real estate in Texas in 1983.
He currently serves as the Chair Presiding Officer of the Board of Directors of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA).
Mr. Halbrooks served three terms as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for the City of Tyler and was appointed to the Tyler Metropolitan Planning Organization as a representative of the Planning and Zoning Commission. It was through these experiences that he nurtured an increased interest in transportation and planning projects.
Mr. Halbrooks has served on the City of Tyler Comprehensive Plan Committee, the City of Tyler Subdivision Ordinance Committee and the City of Tyler Tree Preservation Ordinance Committee.  He is past chair of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Highway Transportation Committee, past member of the Board of Directors of the East Texas State Fair as well as a past member of the Board of Directors of the Tyler Junior College Alumni Association.
Mr. Halbrooks and his wife Toni have three children, one daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. They are members of First Baptist Church of Tyler.
Board Member Spotlight
What’s your favorite mode of transportation, and why?
• Just like the name of the movie, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. They each have their own unique perspective.
Are there any transportation projects that you’re particularly proud of?
• Certainly the development of Toll 49 and having the ability to watch it grow since the very beginning. Also the opportunity to collaborate with other counties within the NET RMA to assist with funding of their transportation/infrastructure needs.
Is there an upcoming project that you’re especially excited for?
• Segment 6 of Toll 49. As a roadway, Toll 49 is still very young in its life cycle and the completion of Segment 6 really provides the spring board to continue growth into Gregg, Upshur and Harrison counties.   
What do you enjoy most about being a board member?
• Board members are interested in transportation not only in their respective counties, but also the northeast Texas region. The NET RMA has said from the beginning that we don’t care if we lead or push, we want to champion transportation and infrastructure projects in northeast Texas because if one county benefits, we all do.
What is one of your favorite hobbies?
• I am currently involved in helping establish an equestrian program at the Brook Hill School in Bullard. It will include both English and Western disciplines. We want to have an impact on people, especially kids, using a horse as the platform for communication. There’s nothing quite like a horse to teach us some valuable life lessons!